but to the weak, or with convalescents, it will be otherwise.
^'Cutting off the hair," says Dr. Copland, *'in cases of inflam-
matory excitement of the brain, or under any circumstances
calling for cold applications, can seldom be productive of in-
jury, though it seems doubtful if it be so beneficial as is gener-
ally supposed." On the other hand, keeping the hair closely
cut is often productive of good effects; it is serviceable in
head aches; frequent cutting promotes the growth of the hair,
and admits of the usual operations of combing and brushing
acting more efficiently on the scalp. In cases where cold
sponging or the shower bath is necessary short hair is a decided
advantage.
Depilatories are preparations for removing superfluous hair;
but to have the desired effect they require to be compounded
of such powerful ingredients that their use is attended with
extreme danger to the skin. They are chiefly in the form of
powders, of which a small quantity is made into a paste with
rose water, Eau-de-Cologne, or even simple water, and applied
on a piece of cambric.
Bad Practices. — It may be well to caution our young friends
against certain bad practices, easily contracted, but sometimes
difficult to relinquish. The following are things not to be
done: Biting your nails. Slipping a ring up and down the
finger. Sitting cross-kneed and jogging your feet. Drumming
on the table with your knuckles; or, still worse, tinkling on a
piano with your forefinger only. Humming a tune before
strangers. Singing as you go up and down stairs. Putting
your arm round the neck of another young girl, or promenad-
ing the room with arms encircling waists. Holding the arm of
a friend all the time she sits beside you; or kissing or fondling
her before company. Sitting too closely.
Slapping a gentleman with your handkerchief or tapping
him with your fan. Allowing him to take a ring off your fin-
ger, to look at it. Permitting him to unclasp your bracelet or,
still worse, to inspect your brooch. When these ornaments are
to be shown to another person, always take them off for the
purpose.
To listen at door cracks and peep through key holes is
78 ETIQUETTE.
vulgar and contemptible. So it is to ask children questions
concerning their parents, though such things are still done.
However smart and witty you may be considered, do not
exercise your wit in rallying and bantering your friends. If
you do so, their friendship will soon be worn out, or converted
into positive enmity. A iest that carries a sting with it can
never give a pleasant sensation to the object. The bite of a
mosquito is a very little thing/ but it leaves pain and inflam-
mation behind it, and the more it is rubbed the longer it
rankles in the blood. No one likes to have their foibles or
mishaps turned into ridicule, before other persons especially.
And few can cordially join in a laugh that is raised against
themselves.
The slightest jest on the personal defects of those you are
conversing with is an enormity of rudeness and vulgarity. It
is, in fact, a sneer at the Creator that made them so. No human
creature is accountable for being too small or too large; for an
ill-formed figure, or for ill-shaped limbs; for irregular features
or a bad complexion.
Page 53
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
but to the weak, or with convalescents, it will be otherwise. ^'Cutting off the hair," says Dr. Copland, *'in cases of inflammatory excitement of the brain, or under any circumstances calling for cold applications, can seldom be productive of injury, though it seems doubtful if it be so beneficial as is generally supposed." On the other hand, keeping the hair closely cut is often productive of good effects; it is serviceable in head aches; frequent cutting promotes the growth of the hair, and admits of the usual operations of combing and brushing acting more efficiently on the scalp. In cases where cold sponging or the shower bath is necessary short hair is a decided advantage.
Depilatories are preparations for removing superfluous hair; but to have the desired effect they require to be compounded of such powerful ingredients that their use is attended with extreme danger to the skin. They are chiefly in the form of powders, of which a small quantity is made into a paste with rose water, Eau-de-Cologne, or even simple water, and applied on a piece of cambric.
Bad Practices. — It may be well to caution our young friends against certain bad practices, easily contracted, but sometimes difficult to relinquish. The following are things not to be done: Biting your nails. Slipping a ring up and down the finger. Sitting cross-kneed and jogging your feet. Drumming on the table with your knuckles; or, still worse, tinkling on a piano with your forefinger only. Humming a tune before strangers. Singing as you go up and down stairs. Putting your arm round the neck of another young girl, or promenading the room with arms encircling waists. Holding the arm of a friend all the time she sits beside you; or kissing or fondling her before company. Sitting too closely.
Slapping a gentleman with your handkerchief or tapping him with your fan. Allowing him to take a ring off your finger, to look at it. Permitting him to unclasp your bracelet or, still worse, to inspect your brooch. When these ornaments are to be shown to another person, always take them off for the purpose.
To listen at door cracks and peep through key holes is
vulgar and contemptible. So it is to ask children questions concerning their parents, though such things are still done.
However smart and witty you may be considered, do not exercise your wit in rallying and bantering your friends. If you do so, their friendship will soon be worn out, or converted into positive enmity. A jest that carries a sting with it can never give a pleasant sensation to the object. The bite of a mosquito is a very little thing, but it leaves pain and inflammation behind it, and the more it is rubbed the longer it rankles in the blood. No one likes to have their foibles or mishaps turned into ridicule, before other persons especially. And few can cordially join in a laugh that is raised against themselves.
The slightest jest on the personal defects of those you are conversing with is an enormity of rudeness and vulgarity. It is, in fact, a sneer at the Creator that made them so. No human creature is accountable for being too small or too large; for an ill-formed figure, or for ill-shaped limbs; for irregular features or a bad complexion.