A lady may never be under the “protection” of a man anywhere!  A young girl is not even taken about by her betrothed.  His friends send invitations to her on his account, it is true, and, if possible, he accompanies her, but correct invitations must be sent by them to her, or she should not go.

Older ladies are often thoughtless and say to a young man:  “Bring your fiancee to see me!” His answer should be:  “Indeed, I’d love to any time you telephone her”; or, “I know she’d love to come if you’d ask her.”  If the lady stupidly persists in casually saying, “Do bring her,” he must smile and say lightly:  “But I can’t bring her without an invitation from you.”  Or, he merely evades the issue, and does not bring her.

=THE RESTAURANT CHECK=

Everyone has at some time or other been subjected to the awkward moment when the waiter presents the check to the host.  For a host to count up the items is suggestive of parsimony, while not to look at them is disconcertingly reckless, and to pay before their faces for what his guests have eaten is embarrassing.  Having the check presented to a hostess when gentlemen are among her guests, is more unpleasant.  Therefore, to avoid this whole transaction, people who have not charge accounts, should order the meal ahead, and at the same time pay for it in advance, including the waiter’s tip.  Charge customers should make arrangements to have the check presented to them elsewhere than at table.

=IN STORES OR SHOPS=

Lack of consideration for those who in any capacity serve you, is always an evidence of ill-breeding, as well as of inexcusable selfishness.  Occasionally a so-called “lady” who has nothing whatever to do but drive uptown or down in her comfortable limousine, vents her irritability upon a saleswoman at a crowded counter in a store, because she does not leave other customers and wait immediately upon her.  Then, perhaps, when the article she asked for is not to be had, she complains to the floor-walker about the saleswoman’s stupidity!  Or having nothing that she can think of to occupy an empty hour on her hands, she demands that every sort of material be dragged down from the shelves until, discovering that it is at last time for her appointment, she yawns and leaves.

Of course, on the other hand, there is the genuinely lethargic saleswoman whose mind doesn’t seem to register a single syllable that you have said to her; who, with complete indifference to you and your preferences, insists on showing what you distinctly say you do not want, and who caps the climax by drawling “They” are wearing it this season!  Does that sort of saleswoman ever succeed in selling anything?  Does anyone living buy anything because someone, who knows nothing, tells another, who is often an expert, what an indiscriminating “They” may be doing?  That kind of a saleswoman would try to tell Kreisler that “They” are not using violins this season!