Pane Sixteen
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Saturday, February 11, 1939
TNr a
Etiquette Ruled '90's With An Iron Mitt
Boys And Girls
Lived Right
In Those Days
They Didn't Converse Without
An Introduction, And Where
Grandpa Went, So Did Grandma
Etiquette is a word which is still in use
in some parts of the inhabitated world,
but which has tumbled most markedly
from the vogue it enjoyed in the Mauve
Decade. If there was one thing the
girls and boys had to have in the rosy
old days it was etiquette. The only
thing comparable to it in the decadent
thirties for getting places is a free pass.
The following rules of what was known
in those days as good taste will illustrate
the general idea. They are taken from
etiquette books of the last century.
No Excuses
1. Having accepted an initiation to a
party, never fail to keep your promise,
and especially do not allow bad weather,
of any ordinary character, to prevent
your attendance. A married man should
never accept an invitation from a lady
in which his wife is not included. (Un-
less she's no lady, perhaps).
2. When you enter a drawing room
where there is a party, you salute the
ladys of the house before speaking to
anyone else. (If the hostess has al-
What To Do
For Weekend?
Try These
(Continued from Page 13)
library, Hutchins Hall will more than
speak for themselves.
By now it should be supper time.
You can take in a pretty fair meal, and
get hit by a pretty fair bill at any of the
downtown hasheries. Flautz's, the Ger-
man-American (there's about six of
them around) or any of our gorgeous
hotels will serve a good dinner, and beer
is available with it.
A clean shirt and tie, a suit instead of
slacks and sport jacket, dark shoes in-
stead of saddle shoes, and you're ready
to go at it again.
For the evening's entertainment you
have a fairly wide choice, although not
too wide. For a really novel start, if we
have a white week-end, you can rent.
two-passenger cutters from Mullison's
Riding Academy at $2 for two hours.
You can travel out Washtenaw way,
point out the prettier houses - and
homes, and get back by 9 o'clock and
take in a movie.
Sunday morning we must leave you
ready passed out, just go on to some
other party).
3. We should, if we wish to speak to
anyone, avoid leaning upon the person
who happens to be between. (Unless
we have difficulty standing up, of
course).
4. If you desire to withdraw before the
party breaks up, take "French Leave"-
that is, go quietly out without disturb-
ing anyone, and without even saluting
the mistress of the house. (This tactic
seems especially suitable to restaurant
gatherings, immediately following des-
sert).
'Don't Take Liberties'
5. While playing games, do not forget
your politeness in your hilarity, or al-
low yourself to "take liberties," or lose
your sense of delicacy and propriety.
(Possibly football and hockey might be
excepted from this generalization).
Etiquette for dancing was pretty
strict too. The following will give some
idea of what was and wasn't done:
1. If a gentleman offers to dance with
a lady, she should not refuse, unless for
some particular and valid reason, in
which case she can accept the next
offer. (i.e., next offer to dance).
2. Ladies who dance much should be
very careful not to boast before those
who dance but little or not at all, of
the great number of dances for which
they are engaged in advance. They
should also, without being perceived,
recommend these less fortunate ladies
to gentlemen of their acquaintances. (It
seems to be a case of somebody being
less fortunate, either the ladies or the
gentlemen who get them).
3. If you accompany your wife to a
dance, be careful nat ta dance with her,
except perhaps the first set. (This ap-
pears to belong in the category of little-
needed advice).
4. Unless a man has a very graceful
figure, and can use it with great ele-
gance, it is better for him to walk
through the quadrilles, or invent some
gliding movement for the occasion. (Or
maybe just crawl under a table).
to your own devices. If the young lady's
train isn't leaving until late afternoon
or evening, however, you can think up
something to do. Skis, bobsleds, and
toboggans are available at reasonable
rates at nearby sporting goods stores,
-again if we have a white Hop week-
end. If there is no snow you can go ice-
skating at the Coliseum for only 35
cents a head. If the young lady doesn't
skate there is always more walking to
be done.
Then back in time for the train, a
hasty good-bye, write soon, regards to
all the folks back home, and hurry or
you'll miss the train. You can heave
a well-placed sigh as the train chugs
out of the depot. Whew! That's over for
another year. Now begins three weeks
of coffee and doughnuts until the next
check from home, and five months of
grind. What a life, what a world!
Sic transit gloria Friday,-or some-
thing.
Mauve Decade
Love Letters.
Really Had It
(Continued from Page 15)
lady, in these matters, was not supposed
to take a very frank tone with the poor
sap. A Michigan co-ed of the present
decade would probably reply somewhat
as follows to Mr. Richardson's billet:
"Dear Mr. Richardson:
"The only chance you have of getting
in the same church with me is at my
funeral. I wouldn't marry you to save
you from the draft. If you ever come
near the house again I'll sic the St. Ber-
nard on you.
"Sincerely,
"Mary Blaine, III."
What is entitled "A Less Formal Off-
er," reads as follows:
"Dear Rosy:
"On returning from skating yesterday
afternoon, and reflecting alone on the
pleasant morning we had passed, I was
more than ever impressed with my
wretched, solitary existence. Will you
break for me this monotonous routine
of life by saying, "It need not be,
Charlie?"
"I have loved you fondly and long;
your parents and mine are intimate
friends; they know my private charac-
ter. Will you accept me as your hus-
band, dearest Rosy?
"Believe me ever,
"Your attached, Charlie."
The reply in this case is the ne plus
ultra of Mauve Decade coyness:
"It need not be, Charlie.'
"I shall be at home this evening.
"Rasy."
Inasmuch as no other form reply is
given, it is to be assumed that when
such a note as that of Charlie arrived
in the morning mail, a girl had no al-
ternative. To the jaundiced eye of the
modern reader Charlie's "less formal
offer" comes pretty near the gagging
point.
Won'zt stOU JJfl Vtd~nht~e2
Fh ',
ii
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