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Twentieth Century Etiquette
430 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1900
9 people want to read
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November 29, 2025
I had just finished reading William Hanson's Just Good Manners and decided to read this 1903 book to see if manners had really changed. Certainly they have as regards calling on your friends, for example, and sending hand-written correspondence. But the overall goals of manners, to make others feel at ease and to be considerate of their feelings, had not changed. One particular example that made me smile. Both Hanson and White ask friends not to walk "four abreast" down the sidewalk. They recommend that friends pair up and walk behind each other, so as to leave room for other pedestrians. What a thought!
Still, I found the chapter on palm reading a little annoying. And the one about Zodiac signs and personalities was just so much mumbo jumbo.
One thing to keep in mind. The book is generously illustrated, both with line drawings in the text itself, as well as tipped-in lithographs (in color and in black and white), but they do not always follow the chapter they pertain to. For example the plate showing ideas for a costume party is tucked into the chapter called "The Shaping of Character" across from the section "The Child Is What You Make It." And the illustration capturing the then current mourning fashions is in the chapter called "Women Beautiful" across from a section bearing the name "Danger of Cosmetics."
Other than those little niggles, it is quite worth reading.
Still, I found the chapter on palm reading a little annoying. And the one about Zodiac signs and personalities was just so much mumbo jumbo.
One thing to keep in mind. The book is generously illustrated, both with line drawings in the text itself, as well as tipped-in lithographs (in color and in black and white), but they do not always follow the chapter they pertain to. For example the plate showing ideas for a costume party is tucked into the chapter called "The Shaping of Character" across from the section "The Child Is What You Make It." And the illustration capturing the then current mourning fashions is in the chapter called "Women Beautiful" across from a section bearing the name "Danger of Cosmetics."
Other than those little niggles, it is quite worth reading.
Displaying 1 of 1 review