Dress, p. 12. Jewelry, watches, etc., p. 18. The hair, p. 21. The beard, p. 22. The nails, p. 24. The teeth, p. 24. Canes, p. 27. Full dress, p. 28. Dress at informal gatherings, p. 29, etc., etc., etc.
Invitations and answers, p. 32. Punctuality, p. 33. How to enter the drawing-room, p. 34. When dinner is announced, p. 36. Bearing at the table, p. 37. Soup, p. 39. Fish, p. 40. The knife and fork, p. 40. Asparagus, p. 43. The spoon controversy, p. 45. Boiled eggs, p. 47. Wine-drinking, p. 53. Finger-bowls and doilies, p. 55. When to fold your napkin, and when not to, p. 56, etc., etc., etc.
How to walk, p. 59. To stand, p. 60. To sit, p. 61. Salutations, p. 61. The lady--which side in the street, p. 67. In public conveyances, p. 67. In a carriage, p. 68. How to carry umbrella or cane, p. 68. Hand-shaking, p. 70. Street introductions, p. 71. Street recognitions, p. 72. Smoking, p. 73. Humming and whistling, p. 76. The ball-room, p. 77. Party calls, p. 98. Card-playing, p. 98. Places of amusement, p. 100. Applause, p. 105. Remain to the end, p. 106. Bar-rooms, p. 108, etc., etc.
_Simple nature, however defective, is better than the least objectionable affectation; and, defects for defects, those that are natural are more bearable than affected virtues._--SAINT-EVREMOND.
Whose garments wither shall receive faded smiles.--SHERIDAN KNOWLES.
Men of sense follow fashion so far that they are neither conspicuous for their excess nor peculiar by their opposition to it.--ANONYMOUS.
The famous French painter, Girard, when quite young, was the bearer of a letter of introduction to a high officer at the court of Napoleon I. Girard was poorly dressed, and his reception was cold; but the courtier discovered in him such evidences of talent and good sense that on Girard’s rising to take leave, he arose also, and accompanied him to the antechamber.
The change in the courtier’s manner was so marked that Girard could not suppress an expression of surprise.
“My young friend,” said the courtier, “we receive strangers according to their dress; we take leave of them according to their merits.”
Good clothes are far from being sufficient to gain one admittance to the better circles of society, but without them admittance is impossible. When we go out into the world, it is not sufficient to do as others do, we must also dress as others dress.