Collegiate Etiquette Advice for 1940

“Out in the sun once more! Try to walk gracefully, balancing your head on your shoulders, one foot in front of the other, and your back straight. Relax, and enjoy your surroundings…” — Okay, this might be a little too relaxed! Lounging on the grass might be better left for when classes are completely over!

There you go! Head down, books straggling out from beneath your arm, and your shoe laces untied, as you hurry across the campus at an ungainly gallop. You arrive in the classroom and plunk yourself down in the nearest chair, heave a sigh of relief and look around you.

You admire the grace and poise of the few of your classmates who manage to walk across the lawn without looking like the leaning tower of Pisa. You envy their powers of equilibrium, but you sigh and shake your head. Such gracefulness is not for you, besides, you never have time. Some day you are going to take a day off, learn how to walk and become a second Heddy Lamarr, but until you can afford that day off you will continue to blunder along somehow.

Why The Hurry?

Why not do something about it? You don't have to imitate the posture of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, just because you have a few (?) books to carry. Classes never begin on the hour, and even so, it is better to arrive just on time, than to rush in ahead of time with that expression of terror, mingled hope and fear, we note upon your visage.

In the first place, why not, when the bells have rung, and the instructor reluctantly bids you adieu, quietly collect your books, and leave the room slowly. Hold yourself back, if necessary, and be sure to keep your head up. Remember, you are not Hawkshaw on a case, which necessitates you running along with your nose on the ground.

Now, that you're safely out of the room, walk slowly down the hall (not too slowly) and notice how many people you miss, with whom you usually collide. 

You're On The Campus Now!

Out in the sun once more! Try to walk gracefully, balancing your head on your shoulders, one foot in front of the other, and your back straight. Relax, and enjoy your surroundings as you walk along. 

Notice your fellow students, which is a pleasure you miss when you are hurrying along watching the grass. When you enter your next class, pause first at the door, size up the room and the chairs, then go in and sit down. When you rush blindly in, it is several seconds before your eyes. adjust themselves, and you lose every semblance of poise.

Remember! You're a College student, and not the Man with the Hoe. You may feel like him (just before finals) but what you need is Poise! — Sally’s Social Slants for the Oak Leaf, 1940

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