" My dear, I can't tell you In set
terms. It Is a condition of being
that Is no more definable than a
woman's charms. Either one Is or
isn't a gentleman — that's all."
" Has birth anything to do with
It?"
*' It has — and It hasn't. There
are men of the bluest blood who are
hopeless bounders and cads, and, on
the other hand, some of the most per-
29
A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD
Bachelor Etiquette
feet gentlemen I have ever met have come of obscure
origin and plain beginnings. The mere fact of not be-
ing well-born, however, has never kept a man out of
a club or society, nor would a long pedigree necessarily
give the entree. Social affiliations are indispensable,
however Inherited or acquired. No one can tell ex-
actly what makes a gentleman; still, everyone recog-
nizes one the moment he comes upon the scene."
"A man's a man for a' that," says Bobby Burns;
and after all, It's the little things that count — that go
to show whether a man Is a gentleman or no. One w^ho
wishes further Information upon this interesting subject
may do wtU to read " John Halifax, Gentleman," after
which he may brush up on etiquette. But all the dic-
tionaries of etiquette in the world will not make a man
a gentleman, If he be not kind, brave, and honorable
in love and business, truthful, loyal, and reverent.
Someone has said that courtesy is a good imitation
of Christianity, since most rules of etiquette are based
upon unselfishness and a proper regard for the feelings
of other people.
Most people have heard of the French king w^ho
was so well bred that when one of his friends dropped
a priceless wine glass. Immediately, as though through
Inadvertence, broke one himself to prove that such a
mischance, which might happen to anyone, was of no
special consequence.
There is, of course, a distinction between good man-
ners and good form. The one comes to a man through
30
A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD
Bachelor Etiquette
Innate good breeding, the other Is acquired by careful
study and a close observance of the forms of conduct
that at the moment are en regie.
" He Is gentll," says Chaucer, " who does gentll
deeds." And It has been proven that habit Is second
nature. Courtesy, conciliation, kindliness, forbear-
ance, which are the essence of politeness, w^ere taught
by St. Paul, who was the very model of a gen-
tleman. Society has agreed, here and abroad, upon
certain conventions which have through countless gen-
erations resolved themselves Into a code — a decalogue
of good behavior. The present social code In America
is patterned largely after usages In favor among the
English upper classes, although occasions may arise In
which a man Is a law unto himself. Daniel Webster
once said, after a visit In London, '' the rule of polite-
ness there Is to be quiet, act naturally, take no airs, and
make no bustle. This perfect breeding has cost a
great deal of drill." Bonaparte studied deportment
with Talma, a great French actor, and his court was
as carefully drilled in etiquette as was his army in mil-
itary tactics.
" Good manners Inspired by good principles,
prompted by goodfellowship, polished by good form,
w^ill admit a man to good society anyw^here," says Mrs.
Burton Harrison, who is one of the highest authori-
ties on etiquette. The cultured manner of to-day Is
simple, cordial, and free from all affectation.
As It Is assumed that the bachelor of to-day Is well
Page 12
Presented as published in 1906. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
" My dear, I can't tell you In set terms. It Is a condition of being that Is no more definable than a woman's charms. Either one Is or isn't a gentleman — that's all."
" Has birth anything to do with It?"
*' It has — and It hasn't. There are men of the bluest blood who are hopeless bounders and cads, and, on the other hand, some of the most per-
Bachelor Etiquette
feet gentlemen I have ever met have come of obscure origin and plain beginnings. The mere fact of not being well-born, however, has never kept a man out of a club or society, nor would a long pedigree necessarily give the entree. Social affiliations are indispensable, however Inherited or acquired. No one can tell exactly what makes a gentleman; still, everyone recognizes one the moment he comes upon the scene."
"A man's a man for a' that," says Bobby Burns; and after all, It's the little things that count — that go to show whether a man Is a gentleman or no. One w^ho wishes further Information upon this interesting subject may do wtU to read " John Halifax, Gentleman," after which he may brush up on etiquette. But all the dictionaries of etiquette in the world will not make a man a gentleman, If he be not kind, brave, and honorable in love and business, truthful, loyal, and reverent.
Someone has said that courtesy is a good imitation of Christianity, since most rules of etiquette are based upon unselfishness and a proper regard for the feelings of other people.
Most people have heard of the French king who was so well bred that when one of his friends dropped a priceless wine glass. Immediately, as though through Inadvertence, broke one himself to prove that such a mischance, which might happen to anyone, was of no special consequence.
There is, of course, a distinction between good manners and good form. The one comes to a man through
Bachelor Etiquette
Innate good breeding, the other Is acquired by careful study and a close observance of the forms of conduct that at the moment are en regie.
" He Is gentll," says Chaucer, " who does gentll deeds." And It has been proven that habit Is second nature. Courtesy, conciliation, kindliness, forbearance, which are the essence of politeness, were taught by St. Paul, who was the very model of a gentleman. Society has agreed, here and abroad, upon certain conventions which have through countless generations resolved themselves Into a code — a decalogue of good behavior. The present social code In America is patterned largely after usages In favor among the English upper classes, although occasions may arise In which a man Is a law unto himself. Daniel Webster once said, after a visit In London, '' the rule of politeness there Is to be quiet, act naturally, take no airs, and make no bustle. This perfect breeding has cost a great deal of drill." Bonaparte studied deportment with Talma, a great French actor, and his court was as carefully drilled in etiquette as was his army in military tactics.
" Good manners Inspired by good principles, prompted by goodfellowship, polished by good form, will admit a man to good society anywhere," says Mrs. Burton Harrison, who is one of the highest authorities on etiquette. The cultured manner of to-day Is simple, cordial, and free from all affectation.
As It Is assumed that the bachelor of to-day Is well