If you stop a few minutes in the street to talk to
an acquaintance, draw to one side of the pavement, near the
wall, so as not to impede the passengers, or you may turn and
walk with her as far as the next corner. And never stop to
talk in the middle of a crossing. To speak loudly in the street
is unladylike, and to call across the way to an acquaintance is
in execrable taste. It is best to hasten over and speak to her
if you have anything of im.portance to say.
When a stranger offers to assist you over a puddle, or some-
thing of the kind, do not hesitate or decline as if you thought
he was taking an unwarrantable liberty. He means nothing
but civility; so accept it frankly, and thank him for it.
On being escorted home by a gentleman, a lady expects he
will not leave her till he has rung the bell, and waited until she
is actually in the house, although it has been thought sufficient,
by men who know no better, to walk with her to the foot of
the steps, and then take their departure, leaving her to get in
as she can.
Places of Amusement. — To secure a good seat at any place
of amusement go early. It is better to sit an hour before the
performance begins than to arrive after it has commenced.
The time of waiting will soon pass away in conversation with
the friends whom you have accompanied. When practicable,
leave hats and cloaks in the apartment set apart for them.
■\Vhen invited to join a party begin to prepare in ample
ETIQUETTE. 19
time, so as not to keep them waiting for you. When a large
party is going to a place of amusement (for instance, the thea-
tre or opera) it is better that each family should go thither from
their own home (being provided with their own tickets), than
that they should all rendezvous at the house of one of the
company, at the risk of keeping the whole party waiting per-
haps for the very youngest members of it. When a box has
been taken, let the tickets be sent to all the persons who are to
have seats in it, and not retained by the taker of the box till
the whole party have assembled at the door of the theatre. If
the tickets are thus distributed, the persons from each house
can go when they please without compelling any of the party
to wait for them.
To make an entrance after the performance has begun is
(or ought to be) very embarrasing to ladies. It excites the at-
tention of all around, diverting attention from the performance;
and there is always, when the house is full and the hour late,
some delay and difficulty in reaching the seats even when they
have been engaged.
Page 9
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 you stop a few minutes in the street to talk to an acquaintance, draw to one side of the pavement, near the wall, so as not to impede the passengers, or you may turn and walk with her as far as the next corner. And never stop to talk in the middle of a crossing. To speak loudly in the street is unladylike, and to call across the way to an acquaintance is in execrable taste. It is best to hasten over and speak to her if you have anything of importance to say.
When a stranger offers to assist you over a puddle, or something of the kind, do not hesitate or decline as if you thought he was taking an unwarrantable liberty. He means nothing but civility; so accept it frankly, and thank him for it.
On being escorted home by a gentleman, a lady expects he will not leave her till he has rung the bell, and waited until she is actually in the house, although it has been thought sufficient, by men who know no better, to walk with her to the foot of the steps, and then take their departure, leaving her to get in as she can.
Places of Amusement. — To secure a good seat at any place of amusement go early. It is better to sit an hour before the performance begins than to arrive after it has commenced. The time of waiting will soon pass away in conversation with the friends whom you have accompanied. When practicable, leave hats and cloaks in the apartment set apart for them.
■\Vhen invited to join a party begin to prepare in ample
time, so as not to keep them waiting for you. When a large party is going to a place of amusement (for instance, the theatre or opera) it is better that each family should go thither from their own home (being provided with their own tickets), than that they should all rendezvous at the house of one of the company, at the risk of keeping the whole party waiting perhaps for the very youngest members of it. When a box has been taken, let the tickets be sent to all the persons who are to have seats in it, and not retained by the taker of the box till the whole party have assembled at the door of the theatre. If the tickets are thus distributed, the persons from each house can go when they please without compelling any of the party to wait for them.
To make an entrance after the performance has begun is (or ought to be) very embarrasing to ladies. It excites the attention of all around, diverting attention from the performance; and there is always, when the house is full and the hour late, some delay and difficulty in reaching the seats even when they have been engaged.