Emily’s Etiquette Book Backlash

“Saucers for vegetables are contrary to all etiquette.” – Advice from Emily Post’s 1922 “Etiquette––the Blue Book of Social Usage”

Emily Post was a New York socialite who turned to writing after her 1906 divorce. First trying her hand at novels, in 1922 and at the age of 50, Post’s reworked version of Emily Holt’s 1901 “Encyclopaedia of Etiquette,” titled “Etiquette––the Blue Book of Social Usage” was published. Countless etiquette books had already been written for centuries before, but within a year of Post’s book being published, the British press was poking fun at Americans. They delighted in mocking those they viewed as pushy and upwardly mobile, nouveau riche Americans, who bought Post’s book, striving to be part of what she called, “Best Society.”

Many English Papers Mock U. S. Customs

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Press Is Poking Fun at Supposed ‘Cultural Revolution’

LONDON— Certain English newspapers seem to delight in poking fun at American customs and manners, and some of the London publications make more or less a practice of parading the idiosyncrasies and habits of American tourists. This is especially true where American customs differ from the orthodox traits of the Englishman. 

A London newspaper with a circulation of 1,000,000 has featured the following paragraph regarding a “cultural revolution” which was taking place in the United States: “Cuspidors are being removed from countless American drawing rooms. Chewing gum is being scraped off parlor chairs. Several million Americans spend hours daily in practising the correct pronunciation of the words ‘aunt,’ ‘clerk,’ ‘derby’ and ‘advertisement’.” Then came the ironical information that “bootlegging is no longer the principal occupation of the cultured minds of America.” and that much more time is being spent “In reading the social culture advertisements and learning how easy it is to misbehave “unless one buys the book of good manners.” 

The British public is told that a great wave of etiquette is sweeping America. “Half America’s 110,000,000 people are now spending a large part of their time in watching the other half and seeing that they conform to the rules of social culture,” says this satirical Journal. Patrons of restaurants are pictured as spending so much time watching one another that they eat only about a half what they consumed before the wave of etiquette struck America. The paper quotes a Broadway manager as saying that “when a diner uses his knife on a salad or takes two bites at a strawberry, such a hush falls upon the assembly that one can even hear the orchestra.” — Associated Press Correspondence, 1923

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

Staircase Etiquette

“The woman should go UP the stairs first, but the gentleman should lead the way down the stairs.” 

Dear Ann Landers: My boyfriend and I have been arguing about something for a long time. We've consulted etiquette books and have found nothing to settle the question. Who should go up the stairs first – the man or the woman? And who should go down first? He says the woman should go first, always. Is he right? –Staircase Sadie 

Dear Staircase: He's only half right. The woman should go UP the stairs first, but the gentleman should lead the way down the stairs. A staircase presents the hazard of a fall. Women have a way of falling up the stairs as well as down. If the man is behind her on the way up he ran catch her. If he is ahead of her on the way down, he ran break her fall. – San Bernardino Sun, 1965

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

Etiquette And Class Divisions

In early 20th century America, clothes made the man and revealed his social class – “Collarless gentlemen must ride second class.”

Street Car Etiquette 

There are first and second class street cars. Collarless gentlemen must ride second class. Even when wearing a collar, if carrying a burden, one must ride second class. – San Bernardino Sun, 1923

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

Pies, Forks and Etiquette

An American pie fork, along with a pastry, or cake, fork. – For years, pie was eaten properly with a knife and a fork, until savvy manufacturers designed special 3-timed forks with one wide tine (mimicking the knife) to assist in eating pie, thus eliminating the need for a knife. Four-tined cake forks soon followed.

A Question of Etiquette Settled

In a Bowery museum, there is a “congress of lady pie eaters,” and they are depicted on the “oil painting” outside as eagerly devouring great segments of pie, without the aid of either knife or fork, a fact that ought to settle the vexed question of etiquette, how a lady should eat pie.—New York Tribune, 1892

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

Courtroom Etiquette

The Los Angeles superior courts have adopted a custom by which those present in a superior courtroom will rise when the judge enters, and remain standing until the judge takes his seat and says, “Please be seated.” – 1921

A Discussion of Courtroom Manners

Should superior courts of  Orange County establish the custom of opening court with the audience standing upon the entrance of the judge? Is the cry of the bailiff calling, “Hear ye, hear ye, the superior court in and for the County of  Orange is in session” advisable? These questions have been brought up at the courthouse by reason of the fact that the Los Angeles superior courts have adopted a custom by which those present in a superior courtroom will rise when the judge enters, and remain standing until the judge takes his seat and says, “Please be seated.” 

That formality such as this, has a tendency to impress people with the dignity and seriousness of the court’s business, has been declared by the two judges of Orange County, Z.B. West and R.Y. Williams. The question as to whether or not the custom should be instituted in Orange County has not been discussed by them. “I believe it is well worth doing and well worth instituting.” said Judge West. “We have always had the formal opening of the court by the bailiff.” The formal opening is not required by law, but is a matter of custom in individual courts. There may be some superior courts in this state in which the custom is established. It is not a general practice, however. – (AP) Orange County, California, 1921

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

Golf Caddy and Spectator Etiquette

The good opinion of a caddy is a good sign that a golfer is playing the game in the right spirit of sportsmanship.

How to Conduct Yourself on a Golf Course

Etiquette for Caddies– 

• Stand about ten feet in front of the player to the right, facing him. 
• Do not take players’ clubs out of bag and swing them. 
• Replace divots and press them well down. 
• Never speak until spoken to. 
• When on the green hold the flag horizontally.  
• You should carefully kneel or squat when putting is in progress so as not to interfere with the view of the crowd around the green.
• The caddy is the fellow who can imitate a golfer almost to perfection, therefore a golfer who loses his temper also loses the respect of his caddy. The good opinion of a caddy is a good sign that a golfer is playing the game in the right spirit of sportsmanship.

Etiquette for Golf Spectators –

• Spectators slowing the players during a match or exhibition should not stampede for vantage points. If you do, others by the thousand will do the same. This is not fair sportmanship to the players, leaving such a narrow fairway to play between to the green. 
• You should be considerate also in passing traps and bunkers to go around them. Footmarks through the sand in the traps often cost a player plenty to get out. 
• Do not crowd too well on the sides and the back of the green, so that the players can't see the flag. If you do all they can see is faces. Moreover it is almost impossible to judge distance in approach shots. 
• Allow players to pass from the green to the tee. 
• In the course of a match, do not accost a player no matter how well you know him. Give him a chance to concentrate on his game. 
• It is wise policy at all times to consider the player first.

By A. D. Walker, Professional Golfer, Whittier, Calif., 1933

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

Mexican Courtesy and Hospitality

The hospitable Mexican offers his best to the guest. The best chair, the best bed, the best food and the head of the table is reserved for the guest. - Photo Source Pinterest

The courtesy and hospitality of the Mexican people have never been affected or changed by the rush of life in the United States, regardless of the economic level, or the amount of education a Mexican posseses. Courtesy is still a chief characteristic of the older Mexican residents of the local colony. Frequently, goods will be purchased from a peddler which are not desired rather than give offence by refusal, or to appear discourteous.

Regardless of how busy a host or hostess may be, the Mexican never expresses by word or action the slightest impatience at the length of your call. The hospitable Mexican offers his best to the guest. The best chair, the best bed, the best food and the head of the table is reserved for the guest. Deference to the slightest desire of a guest is always shown, regardless of the discomforts of the remainder of the family group. - LaHabra Star News- 1932

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

Etiquette and French Courtesies

It is customary for world leaders to congratulate other world and domestic leaders, regardless of differences in policy or initial support, when an election has been won. It helps to foster healthy relationships between the two countries or states. Émile François Loubet was the 45th Prime Minister of France and later President of France

WASHINGTON, March 30.—Ambassador Cambon today delivered an autographed letter signed by President Loubet of France and directed to President MeKinley, informing the latter of M. Loubet's election to the Presidency of the French Republic. This is a graceful, personal compliment, from one President to another and permitted renewed assurances of goodwill between the two governments.- Los Angeles Herald,1899

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