Basic Edwardian Social Graces

At the “home dinner,” the napkin, if not too soiled, should be placed in the ring to be used again at breakfast or luncheon. —  A Webster Company silver catalog page of all the napkin rings they offer.

1. A gentleman always rises from his chair when a lady enters or leaves the room. 
2. On a man's visiting card, only titles that indicate a rank or profession for life, should be used. 
3. At a ball, one may not refuse a certain dance to one gentleman and then dance it with another. 
4. A letter to a married woman is directed with her husband’s name or initials and her own as, Mrs. Thomas R. Gibbs or Mrs. T. R. Gibbs. 
5. To be polite to one we dislike is not necessarily being insincere. Politeness is not so much a manifestation toward others, as an indication of what we are ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to be well bred. 
6. On formal occasions, no napkin rings appear on the table and the napkin is used but the once. 
7. At the “home dinner,” the napkin, if not too soiled, should be placed in the ring to be used again at breakfast or luncheon. — Auburn Journal, 1904

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