Some 1930’s Etiquette Advice

 

Dating service from 1936:  Girls, find out the aversions of your escort. Your chance of winning more than an escort may be increased.

For Women Only

Probably men are just as much annoyed at the actions of the women whom they are entertaining as are the women at the men. They, too, fear to find much fault.

• A man does not like the use of the lipstick in public- especially at the restaurant table.
• He does not like the girl to offer him food from her plate.
• He does not like her to take her own fork and help him to something from her plate. Maybe the morsel, to him, is the sweeter because of where it came from, but he does not like such demonstration in public.
• He resents her use of the comb at table.
• Perhaps he does not admire too much rouge.

 Girls, find out the aversions of your escort. Your chance of winning more than an escort may be increased.

Odoriferous Foods

I once heard a young man say, “I should care whether my girl friend likes onions or not. If I want to eat onions, I eat them. If she doesn't like it, she knows what she can do.”

Such a person is the personification of selfishness. The poor girl may be helpless. She has no other boyfriend a the present time, and is forced to go out with Jack, who chooses to eat onions that evening. No one wants to be accused of having halitosis. Eating onions is courting a form of halitosis which is really more objectionable than the unavoidable kind, because the implied discourtesy irritates.

It is discourteous to order at a restaurant any food which through its odor may disturb others at table. Such foods are strong cheese, onions, chives, garlic. - From “Manners for Millions,” by Sophie C. Hadida, 1936

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia  

For the Socially Scared Stiff

Helpful etiquette book suggestions for California college co-eds of 1936 -
Barker, Mary P.: “The Technique of Good Manners.” A guide to the “how and when” of efficient living. Gives common failings and suggestions for self improvement. Written especially for men. Barker, Mary P.: “Good Manners for Young Women.”  A similar guide for women, Post, Emily: “Etiquette.” The blue book of social usage.

For Scared Stiff Aggies… Etiquette Books Reviewed & Recommended in 1936

One goes to school not only to learn the three R's, but to prepare for contacts with one's fellowmen. In order that one may be an efficient social unit it is necessary to know the rules of etiquette, or good manners. Are you ever in doubt how to answer that certain invitation; how to sign your name to a letter? Are you one of those shy, self-conscious persons who are “scared stiff” every time you are introduced? Social life is a game with definite rules. Why not start now to learn the “do's”and the “don'ts”? 

The following books will help you:

Pierce, Beatrice: “It's More Fun When You Know the Rules.” Etiquette problems for girls. Very cleverly written. Simple explanations of correct etiquette for ordinary occasions of a girl's life. Partial contents: People judge you by your table manners; entertaining with the all-important problem of refreshments; looking your best; how well do you talk? when you go traveling; here comes the bridesmaid.

Eldridge, Elizabeth: “Co-ediquette.” Poise and popularity for every girl. Advice on clothes, rushing, dates, dances, football games, campus politics, conduct in dormitories, and many other phases of college life. Written in a lively, informal style. 

Hadida, Sophie C.: “Manners for Millions.” Correct code of pleasing habits for everyday men and women. See yourself in caricature.

Stevens, Wm. Oliver: “The Correct Thing.” A guidebook of etiquette for young men. Much good advice packed into a little book of 150 pages. Contains chapters on sports, making speeches, college fraternities and applying for work, in addition to the usual ones on table manners, letter writing, etc. 

Barker, Mary P.: “The Technique of Good Manners.” A guide to the “how and when” of efficient living. Gives common failings and suggestions for self improvement. Written especially for men. Barker, Mary P.: “Good Manners for Young Women.” 

A similar guide for women, Post, Emily: “Etiquette.” The blue book of social usage. -California Aggie, 1936 

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia  

Petiquette in the 1930’s Etiquette Era

 

“Diet, Mrs. Jones looks after. During this mild weather she gives the dog one meal a day. Meat and milk are the main courses. Vegetables, starchy foods she gives in small doses.”
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 Mrs. Jones was maybe behind the times a bit… According to one source, “The 1930’s seemed to be the golden age of processed dog food. Ken-L-Ration brought the first canned horse meat option. They sponsored a popular radio show, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. 50,000 horses a year were slaughtered for the production of dog food. By 1941, 90% of dog food was canned.” – LuckyDogCuisine

This pup will never be Public Enemy No. 1. Each member of the Jones family shares in his care and training.

Junior takes pride in teaching him manners. To train him to lie down, Junior says "down," pulls out his pet's forepaws. As soon as Mr. Dog learns this trick, Junior teaches others: "Speak" retrieve and carry, shake hands.

Another chore for Junior is the daily combing of the dog's coat. Baths should be given seldom; twice a year is enough.

Diet, Mrs. Jones looks after. During this mild weather she gives the dog one meal a day. Meat and milk are the main courses. Vegetables, starchy foods she gives in small doses.

Mr. Jones? He's the trouble shooter. If distemper, eczema symptoms appear, he knows just what to do for a sick dog.

Many more points on dog care are given in our 32-page booklet. Practical information every dog owner needs diet, grooming, training, ailments.

***Send 10c for your copy of How to Choose and Care for Your Dog to The Journal, Home Service, 117 East Fifth street, Santa AnaBe sure to write plainly your name, address and the name of booklet. – Santa Ana Journal, 1937

***Etiquipedia has included the initial added blurb from 1937, offering a booklet for 10 cents, simply for historical accuracy. This offer (and newspaper) is no longer available.

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

Meet Emergencies with Poise

Your glove drops on the car floor. Bill can't drive with one hand while he stands on his head looking for it.
Maybe you can retrieve it gracefully yourself. Otherwise, wait until you get to your destination before you suggest a search.

Tips on Manners:

Recipe for popularity is to meet every little emergency with poise

You’re off to a dance and the wind stands your best hair-do on end. Must you wait for your escort to come to your rescue? 

Not at all. Say, “Do you mind if I roll up this window?” Or be nonchalant and tie a scarf or handkerchief over your curls.

Your glove drops on the car floor. Bill can’t drive with one hand while he stands on his head looking for it.

Maybe you can retrieve it gracefully yourself. Otherwise, wait until you get to your destination before you suggest a search.

At the dance, your old friend Don appears, tries to take you in tow. Bill swings into a brand new step you just can’t follow. 

It's no trick at all to handle situations like these– if you remain poised. – Santa Ana Journal, 1937

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

Flatware for Informal Place Settings

 

“A few of the people you'll meet at every party. It will pay you to get along with them.” — It will also pay to know their names and primary uses so that you can easily “read” your place settings at luncheons and dinner parties.

Informal Place Setting Diagram —Only a luncheon or a very informal dinner setting will feature a cup, saucer and teaspoon. At formal dinner parties, coffee or tea are served away from the dining table. The service for coffee, tea or after dinner liqueurs, is brought out after the meal and usually served away from the table.

Eating is the one social activity common to everyone around the globe, but eating and dining are two different things. Practice dining when you are not in public and it will help you to avoid merely eating when among others.

“Table manners grew out of the fact that unless he is eating in a room empty of all but himself, a man eats in company and food is less appetizing if the other fellow's table manners are sloppy and disgusting. It matters little what sort of food is being served, whether the table is loaded with priceless silver and china or tin and graniteware; the simplest meal is made more attractive by the use of good table etiquette.”— From “Manners for Moderns,” 1938

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