A Martyr to Etiquette

 In silent torture? One would think that the cumbersome clothing alone was silent torture –  At a long dinner, “A hornet got caught under her cape and traveled about, searching for an outlet, stinging as it went.”

In the antebellum days, a charming Virginia hostess “rather than disturb her company” sat still through the long dinner in silent torture. A hornet got caught under her cape and traveled about, searching for an outlet, stinging as it went.

When coffee was served in the drawing room she had to “retire.” Fever came on, and she was really ill, but the force of etiquette and hospitality combined had made it an occasion to die at one’s post.—Good Housekeeping, 1904

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