1920s Etiquette: Trend? Fad?

One of the better known writers on manners, with her first book of etiquette published in 1922, is Emily Post. Though she died in 1960, her extended family (most notably her late-granddaughter in-law, Elizabeth Post) has successfully continued on with her legacy of  nearly a century of etiquette books, news columns and social media contributions. – Above, “Emily Post” by Miguel Covarrubias for Vanity Fair, December 1933
– Image source, Pinterest 

Has Etiquette’s Popularity Waned?

One columnist thought etiquette’s popularity had waned by 1925, however, the 1920’s - 1930’s “Etiquette Era” was just taking a brief break, and would continue for over 10 more years.

Four years ago a clever publisher began to spend large sums of money advertising a book of etiquette. His campaign was tremendously successful and the American public “went in” for good manners so vehemently, that several books on the subject immediately leaped into the ranks of the best sellers and caused waiting lists at public libraries. It is now admitted that this four year old fad has waned. Did its departure leave us a nation of Chesterfields, distinguished for our elegant manners? Alas, no, many of the laws were useful, if not so important as the etiquette teachers lead us to think. But they are not the whole story of good manners. The latter can hardly be learned from books of etiquette. Culture is not to be found in anyone book or in anyone library of books. Culture is personal and temperamental and the form is of small value if the instinct is absent. The little usages of refined people are worthy of constant practice, but no matter how delicately correct one’s deportment may be, they fail if they do not dispel rudeness and discourtesy.– Eagle Rock Courier, 1925

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

Of Etiquette, Bolsheviks and Satire

The Bolshevik, by Boris Kustodiev

 – Bolsheviks, or Reds, came to power in Russia during the October Revolution phase of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and founded the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. The Bolsheviks, founded by Vladimir Lenin and Alexander Bogdanov, were by 1905 a major organization consisting primarily of workers under a democratic internal hierarchy governed by the principle of democratic centralism, who considered themselves the leaders of the revolutionary working class of Russia. Their beliefs and practices were often referred to as Bolshevism.

Silent screen star May Allison, star of  1919’s “Uplifters, the Free,” played Hortense Troutt. In the film, Hortense attends a "Bull-Shevik" lecture and is won over to the Bolshevik cause. The next day she quits her stenographer’s job working for a capitalist. She finds the woman who gave the lecture and offers her services. The woman promptly puts her new comrade to work as a maid. The work, without pay, of course, becomes harder by the day, and in what short amounts of spare time she has, she is expected to type speeches. Romanced by an older "Bull-Shevik," Hortense has to give him $49.00 to buy a suit in which he can marry her. But a new convert happens along. The new convert is the son of Hortense's former boss. In love with Hortense, he’s been looking for her ever since she quit her job. When Hortense finds that her old "Bull-Shevik" suitor is married already, Hortense dumps both him and the unpaid job as a maid. She becomes a convert to the cause for capitalism and her new, honest suitor. 

Here’s Etiquittesky of the Bolshevisky; Savvy, Folksky!

After participating in a Bohemian banquet in her Bolshevehicle, “Free,” May Allison decided to issue some hints on etiquette gratis to all Bolsheviks: 

• Soup should be seen and not heard. 
• Ladies will not flick cigarette ashes in the butter. 
• Gentlemen will wring their beards after the soup course. 
• If the roast is not done to your taste it is mean to throw it at the hostess. 
• Never slice bread; Bolsheviks are whole loafers. 
• It is not considered au fait to eat spaghetti with a knife when proper implements are provided. You will find them on your right hand—four fingers and a thumb. - Los Angeles Herald, 1919

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