Etiquette and a Bicycle for Two

Augustus nearly had a fit; how such things must amaze! This dreadful breach of etiquette would haunt him all his days! And to his love that night he vowed, by all his hopes of heaven, With her again he would not ride…

BALLAD OF THE BIKE

Augustus was a nice young man, in style quite up to date; Considered an authority in fashions new and late; And in the course of time he did as all young men will do, He met and loved a charming girl, whose name was Helen Drew.

Augustus had a wheel, of course, and often went to ride; He thought he was in Paradise with Helen by his side. Until one day his sweetheart said: “As sure as I'm alive, My wheel goes just as fast as yours, and mine's a '95!”

Augustus nearly had a fit; how such things must amaze! This dreadful breach of etiquette would haunt him all his days! And to his love that night he vowed, by all his hopes of heaven, With her again he would not ride till she bought a '97.

Both lovers lost their temper, and some bitter words were said: He swore she had no feeling, and she wished that she were dead: But finally they compromised, forgot their words at random, Got married and exchanged their wheels for a '97 tandem. – New York Sun, 1897

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

Gilded Age Etiquette for New Couples

You have a little band around the third finger of your left hand in which is set a turquois, and when it was put there you remembered that the ‘Hindoo’ said: “He who hath a turquois hath a friend.” 

When Girls Are Engaged

You have a little band around the third finger of your left hand in which is set a turquois, and when it was put there you remembered that the ‘Hindoo’ said: “He who hath a turquois hath a friend.” 

Now, that’s what you have in the man you love best, and whose wife you are going to become — a friend. He is your sweetheart, your lover, it is true, but because to you his heart seems best worth having, his love the richest gift you can possess, you will not vulgarize, as many girls do, the tie that binds you. 

It is true you go with him alone to hear some wonderful music, or look at some fine pictures, but I hope it is not true that when you are at a party or in your own home you two pair-off and make yourselves the objects for silly. chatter and idiotic jesting.—Ladies’ Home Journal, 1892

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