FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   881   882   883   884   885   886   887   888   889   890   891   892   893   894   895   896   897   898   899   900   901   902   903   904   905  
906   907   908   909   910   911   912   913   914   915   916   917   918   919   920   921   922   923   924   925   926   927   928   929   930   >>   >|  
submit to the thralldom of the chaperon. [MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 773] The Chaperon in Middle Class Society.--While the rules of etiquette are intended to be of general application, there are certain relaxations in middle class society not permissible in more fashionable circles. This is the case as regard the chaperon. Many young men on moderate salary would not feel they could afford to buy a ticket to the theatre or concert for a chaperon, or order a carriage. But is a girl then to be denied permission to accept the invitation? Under such circumstances middle class etiquette requires that the young man shall be well known to the family as a person of good habits and reputation. The girl, however, is not supposed to accept an invitation to a supper afterwards. She may go to a dancing party at a private house or a club in case proper chaperons are provided for the affair and they almost invariably are. But it is better taste for a party of young people to go together under the care of a chaperon. When a girl receives a young man visitor, her mother should always meet him. She should enter the parlor, be introduced if he is a stranger, converse for fifteen or twenty minutes, and excuse herself, leaving the young people to their tete-a-tete. No girl ever loses a young man's estimation through being properly looked after. Under no circumstances should the young girl be allowed to accompany a young man on an excursion without a chaperon. She should not motor with him alone; another pair of young people should go with them unless a chaperon is included. GOOD FORM IN SPEECH. "It isn't so much what you do; it is how you do it. Not so much what you think as how you clothe your thoughts that enables you to make a pleasant impression." Good breeding is shown in the use of words, quite as much as in manners. Correct use is evidence of culture and personal refinement. Use of Slang and Colloquialisms.--Slang, we are often reminded, is common--meaning vulgar. And yet, there are some slang phrases that are so expressive, and convey so much meaning in few words that the temptation to use them is irresistible. Much use of slang, however, is very undesirable, indicating lack of refinement. We may be colloquial, but must eschew the vulgar. Among the words that are bad form we find "folks," used instead of "family" or "relatives." "Ain't" is one of the most common improprieties of speech and one that has no st
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   881   882   883   884   885   886   887   888   889   890   891   892   893   894   895   896   897   898   899   900   901   902   903   904   905  
906   907   908   909   910   911   912   913   914   915   916   917   918   919   920   921   922   923   924   925   926   927   928   929   930   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

chaperon

 

people

 

common

 

meaning

 

vulgar

 

circumstances

 
accept
 
family
 

refinement

 

invitation


etiquette

 
middle
 

SPEECH

 

clothe

 
relatives
 

included

 

allowed

 
accompany
 

excursion

 

properly


looked

 

improprieties

 

speech

 
impression
 

irresistible

 
indicating
 

undesirable

 

Colloquialisms

 

temptation

 

phrases


expressive

 

convey

 

reminded

 

personal

 

culture

 

breeding

 

enables

 

pleasant

 

eschew

 

Correct


evidence
 

manners

 

colloquial

 

thoughts

 

afford

 

ticket

 

salary

 

regard

 

moderate

 

theatre