Gilded Age Printing Office Etiquette

This detail of a mural in the foyer of the Poughkeepsie Journal, shows Ottmar Mergenthaler at his linotype machine surrounded by Morse, Bell, Edison, Greeley and others who played important roles in publishing history. – Image source, Pinterest

On the Lighter Side of Manners

A lady asked us whether etiquette requires us to knock at the door of an editor's sanctum before entering. We hasten to reply. If you are coming to pay your subscription or bring in a nice juicy item of news, don't stop to knock, but just walk right in as if you owned the place. 

If on the other hand, you are on a collecting tour, you should make the fact known through the window, and then knock at the door until the editor opens it. You may sink from exhaustion before he does so, but you will, be adhering to the printing office etiquette that is bound to please the average editor. To all of which we reverently say, “Amen.” –Winnemucca Silver State News, 1896

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

More Gilded Age Etiquette Humor

During the Gilded Age, much humor was made in newspapers and magazines regarding the niceties of fine dining and wealth. Especially, those in the royal palaces and grand manor houses of the aristocracy and monarchies in Great Britain and Europe, all while a sham aristocracy was growing among the titans of industry in America.
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“The custom of drinking out of the finger bowl, though not entirely obsolete, has been limited to the extent that good breeding does not permit the guest to quaff the water from his finger bowl unless he does so prior to using it as a finger bowl. Thus, it will be seen that social customs are slowly but surely cutting down and circumscribing the rights and privileges of the masses.”

Valuable Suggestions as to the Use of the Napkin and Finger Bowl

It has been stated, and very truly, too, that the law of the napkin is but vaguely understood. It may be said, however, on the start, that customs and good breeding have uttered the decree that it is in poor taste to put the napkin in the pocket and carry it away. The rule of etiquette is becoming more and more thoroughly established, that the napkin should be left at the house of the host or hostess after dinner. There has been a good deal of discussion, also, upon the matter of folding the napkin after dinner, and whether it should be so disposed of, or negligently tossed into the gravy boat. 

If, however, it can be folded easily, and without attracting too much attention and prolonging the session for several hours, it should be so arranged, and placed beside the plate, where it may be easily found by the hostess, and returned to her neighbor from whom she borrowed it for the occasion. If, however, the lady of the house is not doing her own work, the napkin may he carefully jammed into a globular wad and fired under the table, to convey the idea of utter recklessness and pampered abandon. The use of the finger bowl is also a subject of much importance to the bon ton guest who gorges himself at the expense of his friends.

The custom of drinking out of the finger bowl, though not entirely obsolete, has been limited to the extent that good breeding does not permit the guest to quaff the water from his finger bowl unless he does so prior to using it as a finger bowl. Thus, it will be seen that social customs are slowly but surely cutting down and circumscribing the rights and privileges of the masses. At the Court of Eugenie, the customs of the table were very rigid, and the most prominent guest of H. R. H. was liable to get the G.B. if he spread his napkin on his lap and cut his egg in two with a carving knife. The custom was that the napkin should he hung on one knee and the egg busted at the big end and scooped out with a spoon. 

A prominent American at her table one day, in an unguarded moment, shattered the shell of a soft boiled egg with his knife, and while prying it apart, both thumbs were erroneously jammed into the true inwardness of the fruit with so much momentum, that the juice took him in the eye, thus blinding him and maddening him to such a degree that he got up and threw the remnants into the bosom of the hired man plenipotentiary, who stood near the table, scratching his ear with a tray. As may readily be supposed, there was a painful interim, during which it was hard to tell for five or six minutes whether the prominent American or the hired man would come out on top, but at last the American with the egg in his eye got the ear of the high priced hired man in among his back teeth, and the honor of our beloved flag was vindicated. —Bill Nye’s Boomerang, 1882

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

Of Gilded Age Gourmands

“Crystallized rose petals served at the fashionable luncheons are declared to be injurious by some one who cannot afford them, or ate too many.” — Crystalized rose petals and crystalized mint leaves were easy to make and popular to serve, making a Gilded Age dinner, luncheon or tea, that much more special. — Crystallized rose petals, Pinterest 

Gastronomical Tid Bits of  March 1888

Roast chicken stuffed with boiled rice is traced to a caterer working for fame. 

Those are unwelcome rumors in the air of a possible advance in the price of beef. 

What is the object of the literature that tells what and how men of the day usually eat?

In nine cases out of ten, the professed fondness for “gamey game” is unreal and an affectation. 

Fashionable lovers of German opera turn up their noses at the idea of German gastronomy. 

Many European delicacies heretofore unknown in this country are now extensively imported. 

The pleasure of eating forced “delicacies of the season” is largely regulated by the cost of the delicacies. 

A current joke says the Fourth of July is like an oyster stew, because neither is good without crackers. 

People from the rural districts at restaurants are known by the cup of tea they drink with their dinner. 

It is sad to contemplate the fact that six weeks hence, buckwheat cakes will be out of gastronomic fashion. 

“Do you like noodles?” he was asked. “Really,” he said, “I don’t know. I never met him, you know.” 

It was a prudent housekeeper, who, hearing fish and eggs were to be high in Lent, bought a keg of salt mackerel and a hen. 

Crystallized rose petals served at the fashionable luncheons are declared to be injurious by some one who cannot afford them, or ate too many. 

Home people contend that first impressions are the best, but the first cakes from the griddle are, nine times out of ten, the worst. Why and wherefore, oh, ye scientist! 

Improperly baked, heavy waffles will always enable the lightest sleeper to dream of the crowned heads of Europe, and have them presented, one by one, on the heaving chest. 

They tell of a congressman’s wife at a Washington dinner party who undertook to eat the paper dish in which the patti was served. These are the kind of women who always rub spoons and forks with the napkin. — Humboldt Times, 1888

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

Gilded Age Etiquette Satire

In faultless attire you will happily find 

Society’s eyes to your real faults blind. 

For etiquette, e'en from antiquity, teaches 

That wits cannot shine in their last seasons breeches

THE SOCIETY MAN 

How can you become a ‘society man.’ 

If poor, you cannot, but if wealthy you can, 

That is, if you care to; for gold is, they say,

The talisman bright which insures an entree 

Into high upper-ten-dom, and if to its charm 

You’ll just add a pedigree long as your arm, 

And strictly abide by the following plan, 

You're bound to become a society man. 

At th’ very first round of the ladder commence, 

Consult the best tailors and, (blank the expense) 

In faultless attire you will happily find 

Society’s eyes to your real faults blind. 

For etiquette, e'en from antiquity, teaches 

That wits cannot shine in their last seasons breeches, 

And th' greatest of humorist’s puns are quite that 

When uttered above an unstylish cravat. 

Let study of self be your solo occupation.

Your faults to correct in attire, conversation, 

Appearance et cetera; dignified ease 

Should temper your movements; your object, to please. 

Not only yourself but the nicest observer. 

From truth you should also become a good swerver, 

Quite ready to flatter with lies when you can 

If you would become a society man. 

If modest, that misery quickly subdue; 

Faint heart never won a fair lady, and you, 

If in the least timid, cannot with propriety, 

Expect the embraces of high-toned society. 

Make love to the maidens, and matrons as well, 

For this is an art in which you should excel; 

But marriage taboo as no part of the plan 

Of a genuine up-up society man. 

Thus, properly scented, and properly curled, 

Assume all the airs of a man of the world. 

And if you are one, bravely deem yourself then 

The equal of other society,

Wherever society’s worshipers throng, 

Let mighty self-confidence help you along; 

However ’twas gained, they may guess it who can, 

Without it you're not a society man. 

                                                –M. A. Stewart, 1893

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