Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1880 — Some of the Minor Regulations of Society. [ARTICLE]

Some of the Minor Regulations of Society.

Many of the minor rules of society are s'.mply the offspring of common sense, and are practiced by thousands of people who never read a work on etiquette, nor receive i other instruction on ihe subject In conversation keep vourself in the background. Be impersonal. Avoid speaking of your birth, your travels, or other matters of the kind. You may be misunderstood, and be regarded as a boaster. When you are led to speak of them by remarks of others, speak modestly, and do not dwell on them too long. Never speak of absent persons who are not relatives or intimate friends by their Christian names or surnames, bat al ways as Mr. Blank. ■ Mrs. Blank, or Miss Blank. Never name a person by the first letter of her or his name. A well-educated and finely-cultured person proclaims herself by the simplicity and tenderness of her language. It is those , who are but haif-euucated who indulge in fine language and think it distinguished to use long words and high-sounding phrases. A hyperbolical way pf speaking is mere flippancy and should be avoided. Never use such phrases as “ awfully iollv,” “immensely pretty,” etc. Lolling,* gesticulating, fidgeting, twirling ribbons, etc., betray a sad lack of home-training. A lady should be Juiet, easy and graceful in her carriage, f an object is to be indicated, move the whole hand, or the head, but never point with the finger. The breath should be kept sweet and pure. Onions have been termed the forbidden fruit of this century. No gentleman should come into the presence of ladies with the aroma es tobacco about him. Every lady should know bow to dance, if fpr nothing mote than Che physical training it confers. In conversation all provincialisms, affectations of foreign accents, mannerisms, exaggeration and slang are detestable. Equally to „be avoided are inaccuracies of expression, hesitation, an undue use of foreign words, flippancy «ad triviality. A perpetual smile, a wandering eye, a vacant stare and a half-opened mouth, all are marks of ill-breeding. Suppression of undue emotion, whether of laughter, anger, mortification, dir appointment, or of selidinessin any form, evideuee good tr iiaiug Do not go into society unless

you out makn tro be symafudmated. require mirth, but it does demand cheerfulness and unselfishness, and yon must help to matter of conversation is as important as its manner. Flattery is always inadmissible. but between equals, or from those of superior position to those of inferior station, compliments should be not only acoeptablebut gratifying. It is pleasant to know that our mends think well of us, and it is always agreeable to know that we are thought well of by those who hold higher positions as men of superior talent or women of superior culture. Compliments which are not sincere are only flattery, and should be avoided; but the saying of kind things, which is natural to toe kind heart, and which oonfers pleasure, should be cultivated —at least not suppressed. The flattery of those who are richer than ourselves Is born of snobism. Testify your respect, your admiration, your gratitude to suen by deeds more than tiy words. Words are easy, but deeds are difficult Few will believe the first but the last carry confirmation with them. It is a great mistake to suppose that slang is in any way witty. Only the very young or the uncultivated so oonsider it Religion isatopiotoat should never be introduced into general conversation. Like politics, it is a subject dangerous to harmony. Persons are most likely to differ and least likely to preserve their temper on these topics. Long arguments in general company, however entertaining to the disputants, are, to the last degree, tiresome to toe hearers. — Exchange.