Rationalizing Elevator Etiquette

“In hotels where there is a general observance of social forms, I think that if, as already said, there be no draught in the elevator, the hat should be removed in the presence of ladies, and my experience is that it is a variable custom for men to do so in such places. I may add, however, that it is a custom which obtains only in America. In England and on the continent, no gentleman thinks of doing such a thing.” – Photo source, Pinterest

The matter of elevator etiquette, having struggled to the top again, the views of one man upon the subject may be interesting. “In the first place,” said a man to whom the question was submitted, “I would say that under no circumstances should ladies expect a man to remove their hats if there be the slightest suspicion of a draught in the elevator, and my only experience has been that they are seldom without it. 

“To say nothing of the lesser and simply annoying ailments, some of the most serious maladies are traced by physicians to no more serious cause than a brief chilling draught. In the second place, the question would be where the elevator is situated. If it’s in a business building where people are supposed to go only for business purposes and where the observation of social forms and ceremonial etiquette is not important, and perhaps not even sensible, I would say that men should not be asked to remove their hats, and I do not think that they are disposed to do so. 

“When we come to a hotel elevator the question grows finer. There are hotels where it would be a little pretentious and almost out of place to indulge in such a ceremony. In the smaller country hotels, for instance, and in hotels generally where there is little pretension to social style, the removal of hats in elevators would hardly seem to be necessary. In some places, I think it would be even impolite, on the principle observed by the German Prince who, when his rustic guest poured out his coffee in a saucer, did the same thing himself that the untutored fellow may not suffer from his blunder. 

“On the other hand, in hotels where there is a general observance of social forms, I think that if, as already said, there be no draught in the elevator, the hat should be removed in the presence of ladies, and my experience is that it is a variable custom for men to do so in such places. I may add, however, that it is a custom which obtains only in America. In England and on the continent, no gentleman thinks of doing such a thing.” — The New York Times, 1890

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia