The Book of Good Manners; a Guide to Polite Usage for All Social Functions eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 295 pages of information about The Book of Good Manners; a Guide to Polite Usage for All Social Functions.

The Book of Good Manners; a Guide to Polite Usage for All Social Functions eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 295 pages of information about The Book of Good Manners; a Guide to Polite Usage for All Social Functions.
A man should acknowledge the salutation of a woman on the street, even if he does not know her, as it saves her from embarrassment at her mistake.

       When bidding farewell to a woman after a
       conversation on the street, a man should bow
       and raise his hat.

If a man offers his seat to a woman in a car or other conveyance, he should raise his hat and bow, while her escort acknowledges the courtesy by doing the same.

       When a man opens a door for a woman
       unknown to him, he should bow, while she
       enters in advance of him.

       A man should raise his hat and bow on all
       occasions when offering any courtesy to a
       woman, whether stranger or acquaintance.

       A man may bow to an elderly man or person
       of official position.

A man may offer his services to a woman in crossing a crowded thoroughfare, and should raise his hat and bow when she is safely over, but should, make no comment unless she does so first.  He may also offer her assistance in getting on or off a car, raising his hat and bowing without remark.
If a man is accompanied by a woman and another man extends a courtesy to her, he should acknowledge it by bowing and giving a polite “Thank you.”
If when walking with a man a woman meets a male acquaintance who bows, her escort should raise his hat and bow, though the two men are strangers to each other.  If the escort meets a man known to him, both men should raise their hats and bow.

  Canes and umbrellas.  These should be carried
       vertically, never horizontally, thereby
       endangering other persons’ eyes.  Especially
       is this important when entering cars or going
       up long flights of steps-as, the stairs of the
       elevated railroad.

  Conversation.  A man who meets a woman,
       and desires to engage in conversation with
       her, should ask permission to accompany her. 
       If this is granted, he may proceed a short
       distance, unless requested to go farther.

When meeting a woman on the street and stopping to converse with her, a man should raise his hat and replace it, as it is not now in good form for a man to remain bareheaded until requested by the woman to replace his hat.

       A man should avoid stopping a woman on
       the street to engage her in conversation.

Only an intimate acquaintance with a woman warrants a man joining her on the street.  If it is not agreeable, it may be very embarrassing to her.

  Smoking.  A man should never smoke while
       walking with a woman on a street.  Smoking
       on fashionable thoroughfares is bad form.

A man should avoid expectorating upon a sidewalk, and, if it must be done, should walk to the curb and use the street for that purpose.

  Walking.  A man should not walk between two
       women, but at the side nearest the curb.

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The Book of Good Manners; a Guide to Polite Usage for All Social Functions from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.