Etiquette for Young Folks, 1905

 

When school is over, go directly home. Do not linger in the school-yard to play.

Do not borrow anything if you can possibly avoid it. If you must borrow a book, paper or pencil, remember that you are making use of another person's property. Be careful not to injure the borrowed article, and return it at the earliest possible moment. Never forget to return anything you have borrowed. Remember that to keep what does not belong to you is dishonest.

When you have candy, share it with those about you. If you have an apple to eat at recess, give at least one bite to the girl or boy standing beside you. Be sure that you eat the apple during recess, and not in school hours.

Do not ask questions about what does not concern you. Never ask any personal question unless you are sure the person addressed will be perfectly willing to answer it. Do not ask what was paid for anything, especially an article of dress.

What about the school-yard? School begins at nine o'clock in the morning. You are not expected to be there until that time. You are not wanted in or about the school building an hour beforehand. If the teachers are there, they are busy, and have no time to look after you. Never get to school before half-past eight; really thoughtful pupils will stay away until a quarter before nine.

When school is over, go directly home. Do not linger in the school-yard to play.

The schoolroom is no place for rough or noisy manners of any kind. The bell rings for recess or the close of school, and out you go. You may go quickly, but this does not mean that you should rush out boisterously, push- ing those about you, and shouting. You could not imagine your fathers and mothers leaving church that way. They are gentlemen and gentlewomen such as you wish to become. —From “The Young Folks' Book of Etiquette,” 1905

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

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