The “Red Book of Good Social Form”

Before Emily Post’s blue book of “Etiquette,” there was W.C. Green’s “red book of etiquette.” His “Dictionary of Etiquette,” was easy to read, well-reviewed and extremely popular. It was first published in 1904 and is still being sold today. Below is what W.C. Green had to say about bachelors’ dinners of the day.

BACHELORS' DINNERS. They follow the usual custom of formal dinners, and may be as elaborate as desired. Women may be invited. Such dinners are often given for men only.

CALLS. Women do not call upon a bachelor after attending a dinner given by him.

CHAPERONE. If women are present, a married woman as chaperone is indispensable, and her husband must also be invited. The host should call upon the chaperone and personally request the favor. The chaperone is taken into dinner by the host, unless the latter takes in the woman in whose honor the dinner may be given. In the latter case, the chaperone is seated at the host's left. She gives the signal for the women to leave the dining-room. All guests should be introduced to the chaperone, and she should be called upon after a short time by the host.

DRESS. All guests wear evening dress.

HOST. The host should call upon the chaperone within a few days after the dinner. If men only are present, he either precedes or follows the guests into the dining-room, and if he has given the dinner in honor of some man, he has the latter seated at his right. His duties are the same as the host at dinners.

INVITATIONS. These are usually given in brief notes, but may be engraved, and are similar to the regular invitations to dinners, and are treated accordingly.

MEN. The men wear evening dress, and follow the same etiquette as at other dinners.

WOMEN. The women wear evening dress, and follow the same etiquette as at all dinners, except that no calls are made by them afterward upon the host. –“A Dictionary of Etiquette,” W. C. Green's red book on social good form, 1904

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

W. C. Green's Etiquette Dictionary

Walter Cox Green’s 1904, “A Dictionary of Etiquette” is just one of many books he authored on the subject of manners and polite society, during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Ruth Ashmore codified might be a term expressive enough and comprehensive enough to characterize “A Dictionary of Etiquette,” W. C. Green's red book on social good form. All “Talks to Girls” and “Ready Helps to the Helpless” of all the ladies' magazines of these fifteen years passed are herein incorporated in ready reference for the use of those who would know the intricacies of polite society. 

“CANE”: A cane is the correct thing for a man when walking, except when engaged in business. It should be held a few inches below the knob, ferrule down, and should, like umbrellas, be carried vertically.

“REPORTERS”: If such is the wish of the family of the bride the best man attends to the reporters (at weddings) and furnishes them with the name of the groom, bride, relatives, friends, descriptions of gowns and other suitable things to know. 

These are good things to know. No household is complete without “A Dictionary on Etiquette.” (Brentano's, New York; price 1.25)

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