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Deportment
| "Awkwardness of attitude betrays a want of good
home training and physical culture. A man should not lounge
in a chair, nurse his leg, caress his foot crossed over
his knee or bite his nails. A gentleman is allowed more
freedom than a lady. He may sit cross-legged if he wish,
but should not sit with his knees far apart, nor with
his foot on his knee. In indicating an object, move the
whole hand, or the head, but never point the finger. All
should be quiet and graceful, either in their sitting
or standing position." |
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Rules of Etiquette and
Home Culture, 1886
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| "A good manner is the best letter of recommendation among
strangers. Civility, refinement and gentleness are passports
to hearts and homes, while awkwardness, coarseness and gruffness
are met with locked doors and closed hearts". |
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Our Deportment. 1881
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"Never scratch your head, pick your teeth, clean your
nails, or worse of all, pick your nose in company; all these
things are disgusting. Spit as little as possible and never
upon the floor.
If you are going into the presence of ladies, beware of onions,
spirits and tobacco."
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The Art of Good Behavior.
1845
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| "It is a great thing to be able to walk like a gentleman--that
is, to get rid of that awkward, lounging, swinging gate of a
clown and stop before you reach the affected and flippant step
of the dandy. In short, nothing but being a gentleman can give
you the air and step of one" |
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Martine's Handbook. 1866
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| "A gentleman never sits in the house with his hat on
in the presence of ladies for a single moment. Indeed, so strong
is the force of habit that a gentleman will quite unconsciously
remove his hat on entering a parlor, or drawing room, even if
there is no one present but himself. People who sit in the house
with their hats on are to be suspected of having spent most
of their time in bar rooms and similar places" |
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Martine's Handbook 1866
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| "...one must advance or thrust forward the chest or sternum,
by drawing back the tops of the shoulders, taking care to keep
them down; and at the same time holding the arms a little forward,
so that the hands may be in a line with the foreside of the
thighs. The head is to be held back in a becoming manner, but
without stiffness; and the chin kept down, but not so as to
give the figure an air of constraint" |
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Treatise on Dancing, 1820
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