Early 20th C. Etiquette for Children

Crossness at the table is the height of bad manners.

A gentleman or gentlewoman is always clean, and neatly dressed. This rule applies equally to the boy and girl. Neatness in dress is necessary to self-respect. If a girl owns but one hair ribbon and a single bit of lace, she can launder these herself, so that she may look neat. Work is perfectly respectable; untidiness is a disgrace. Any boy can own a ten-cent box of shoe-blacking. He can use it, too, blacking the heels of his shoes as well as the toes.

Before leaving your room after you are dressed, see that everything is in nice order. Spread the bedclothes over the foot of the bed. Shake up the pillows and place them on a chair. Then throw the window open wide. In winter, be sure that the register is closed or the steam turned off, so that no heat may be wasted while the room is being aired.

Give a cheery “Good-morning,” to every one you meet. Never mind whether there is sunshine or rain out- of-doors; carry sunshine with you wherever you go.

Be pleasant at the breakfast table. If you do not care for oatmeal and mother insists that it is good for you, eat it sensibly, without grumbling. If you do not like what is provided, either eat it or go without. In any case, be good-natured about it. Crossness at the table is the height of bad manners. —From “The Young Folks' Book of Etiquette,” 1905

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