If it is a concert, where places cannot be previously secured,
there are of course additional reasons for going in due time,
and the most sensible and best behaved part of the audience
always endeavor to do so. But if you are unavoidably late,
be satisfied to pay the penalty by quietly taking back seats, if
no others are vacant. Young ladies arriving after the perfor-
mance had commenced, have been seen walking boldly up to
the front benches and standing there, looking steadfastly in
the faces of gentlemen who, with their parties, had earned good
seats by coming soon after the doors were opened. The ladies
persevered in this determined stare till they succeeded in dis-
loging these unfortunate gentlemen, and compelling them to
quit their seats, to leave the ladies of their party, and stand for
the remainder of the evening in a distant part of the room.
To laugh dcridingly or to whisper unfavorable remarks,
during the performance of a concert or a play is a rudeness
of which no lady is guilty. Occasionally are seen some of that
few who, much to the annoyance of those persons near them
who really wish to enjoy what they came for, talk audibly in
ridicule of the performers, the performers being, i^ all prob^-
20 ETIQUETTE.
bility, near enough to hear these vexatious remarks, and to be
disconcerted by them. It is also a gross breach of good breed-
ing to anticipate the "good things," or destroy the interest of
others in the plot of the piece, by stating what you may know
of either, to those near you.
At Cliurch. — Ladies should endeavor always to be in their
pews before the service begins, and when the benediction is
finished take their departure quietly, without any hurry or
bustle. If you go into a church where you are a stranger, wait
in the vestibule until you see the sexton, and then request him
to show you a vacant seat. This is better than to wander about
the aisles alone, or to intrude yourself into a pew where you
may cause inconvenience to its owners. If you see that a pew
is full you know of course that you cannot obtain a seat in it
without dislodging somebody. If a family invites you to go to
church with them or to come thither, and to have a seat in
their pew, do not take the liberty of asking a friend of your
own to accompany you; and, above all, do not bring a child
with you. Should you (having a pew of your own) ask another
lady to go with you, call for her in due time, and she ought to
be quite ready. Place her in a corner seat (it being the most
comfortable), and see that she is accommodated with a foot-
stool; and be assiduous in finding the places for her in the
prayer book or hymn book.
In visiting a church of a different denomination from your
own, comply as far as you can with all the ceremonies observed
by the congregation, particularly if you are in a foreign coun-
try. Even if some of the observances are not the least in con-
formity with your own opinions and feelings, remember that
you are there as a guest and have no right to offend or dis-
please your hosts by evincing a marked disapprobation of their
mode of worship. If you find it very irksome to refrain (which
it should not be) you need not go a second time.
Page 10
Presented as published in 1883. 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
If it is a concert, where places cannot be previously secured, there are of course additional reasons for going in due time, and the most sensible and best behaved part of the audience always endeavor to do so. But if you are unavoidably late, be satisfied to pay the penalty by quietly taking back seats, if no others are vacant. Young ladies arriving after the performance had commenced, have been seen walking boldly up to the front benches and standing there, looking steadfastly in the faces of gentlemen who, with their parties, had earned good seats by coming soon after the doors were opened. The ladies persevered in this determined stare till they succeeded in disloging these unfortunate gentlemen, and compelling them to quit their seats, to leave the ladies of their party, and stand for the remainder of the evening in a distant part of the room.
To laugh deridingly or to whisper unfavorable remarks, during the performance of a concert or a play is a rudeness of which no lady is guilty. Occasionally are seen some of that few who, much to the annoyance of those persons near them who really wish to enjoy what they came for, talk audibly in ridicule of the performers, the performers being, in all prob-
bility, near enough to hear these vexatious remarks, and to be disconcerted by them. It is also a gross breach of good breeding to anticipate the "good things," or destroy the interest of others in the plot of the piece, by stating what you may know of either, to those near you.
At Church. — Ladies should endeavor always to be in their pews before the service begins, and when the benediction is finished take their departure quietly, without any hurry or bustle. If you go into a church where you are a stranger, wait in the vestibule until you see the sexton, and then request him to show you a vacant seat. This is better than to wander about the aisles alone, or to intrude yourself into a pew where you may cause inconvenience to its owners. If you see that a pew is full you know of course that you cannot obtain a seat in it without dislodging somebody. If a family invites you to go to church with them or to come thither, and to have a seat in their pew, do not take the liberty of asking a friend of your own to accompany you; and, above all, do not bring a child with you. Should you (having a pew of your own) ask another lady to go with you, call for her in due time, and she ought to be quite ready. Place her in a corner seat (it being the most comfortable), and see that she is accommodated with a footstool; and be assiduous in finding the places for her in the prayer book or hymn book.
In visiting a church of a different denomination from your own, comply as far as you can with all the ceremonies observed by the congregation, particularly if you are in a foreign country. Even if some of the observances are not the least in conformity with your own opinions and feelings, remember that you are there as a guest and have no right to offend or displease your hosts by evincing a marked disapprobation of their mode of worship. If you find it very irksome to refrain (which it should not be) you need not go a second time.