Our Deportment Or the Manners, Conduct and Dress of the Most Refined Society   By: John H. Young

Or the Manners, Conduct and Dress of the Most Refined Society; INCLUDING Forms for Letters, Invitations, Etc., Etc. Also, Valuable Suggestions on Home Culture and Training.

Compiled from the Latest Reliable Authorities,

by

JOHN H. YOUNG, A.M.

Revised and Illustrated.

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F. B. Dickerson & Co., Detroit, Mich. St. Louis, Mo. Pennsylvania Publishing Co., Harrisburgh, Pa. Union Publishing House, Chicago, Ill. 1881.

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To go through this life with good manners possessed, Is to be kind unto all, rich, poor and oppressed, For kindness and mercy are balms that will heal The sorrows, the pains, and the woes that we feel.

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Copyrighted by Freeman B. Dickerson, 1879 and 1881.

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Preface.

No one subject is of more importance to people generally than a knowledge of the rules, usages and ceremonies of good society, which are commonly expressed by the word "Etiquette." Its necessity is felt wherever men and women associate together, whether in the city, village, or country town, at home or abroad. To acquire a thorough knowledge of these matters, and to put that knowledge into practice with perfect ease and self complacency, is what people call good breeding. To display an ignorance of them, is to subject the offender to the opprobrium of being ill bred.

In the compilation of this work, the object has been to present the usages and rules which govern the most refined American society, and to impart that information which will enable any one, in whatever circumstances of life to acquire the perfect ease of a gentleman, or the gentle manners and graceful deportment of a well bred lady, whose presence will be sought for, and who, by their graceful deportment will learn the art of being at home in any good society.

The work is so arranged, that every subject is conveniently classified and subdivided; it is thus an easy matter to refer at once to any given subject. It has been the aim of the compiler to give minutely all points that are properly embraced in a work on etiquette, even upon matters of seemingly trivial importance. Upon some hitherto disputed points, those rules are given, which are sustained by the best authorities and endorsed by good sense.

As the work is not the authorship of any one individual, and as no individual, whatever may be his acquirements, could have the presumption to dictate rules for the conduct of society in general, it is therefore only claimed that it is a careful compilation from all the best and latest authorities upon the subject of etiquette and kindred matters, while such additional material has been embraced within its pages, as, it is hoped, will be found of benefit and interest to every American household.

J.H.Y.

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Contents.

CHAPTER I. PAGE. INTRODUCTORY 13

CHAPTER II.

MANNERS.

Good manners as an element of worldly success Manner an index of character The true gentleman The true lady Importance of trifles Value of pleasing manners Personal appearance enhanced and fortunes made by pleasing manners Politeness the outgrowth of good manners 20

CHAPTER III.

INTRODUCTIONS.

Acquaintances thus formed Promiscuous, informal and casual introductions Introduction of a gentleman to a lady and a lady to a gentleman Introduction at a ball The manner of introduction Introducing relatives Obligatory introductions Salutations after introduction Introducing one's self Letters of introduction How they are to be delivered Duty of a person to whom a letter of introduction is addressed Letters of introduction for business purposes 31

CHAPTER IV.

SALUTATIONS.

The salutation originally an act of worship Its form in different nations The bow, its proper mode Words of salutation Manner of bowing Duties of the young to older people How to avoid recognition Etiquette of handshaking Kissing as a mode of salutation The kiss of friendship The kiss of respect 42