Etiquette

Here followeth a few extracts from Etiquette: Rules and Usages of the Best Society first published in 1886 by People's Publishing Company (Melbourne). No author is credited.

On greeting acquaintances in the street
"The custom which has become quite prevalent of women kissing each other whenever they meet in public is regarded as vulgar, and by ladies of delicacy and refinement is entirely avoided."

On Anecdotes, puns and repartees
"Anecdotes should be seldom brought into a conversation. Puns are always regarded as vulgar. Repartee should be indulged in with moderation, and never kept up, as it degenerates into the vulgarity of an altercation."

On Eyelashes
"A beautiful eyelash is an importand adjunct to the eye. The lashes may be lengthened by trimming them occasionally in childhood. Care should be taken that this trimming is done neatly and evenly, and especially that the points of the scissors do not penetrate the eye."

On Eyebrows meeting
"Some persons have the eyebrows meeting over the nose. This is usally conjsidered a disfigurement, but there is no remedy for it. It may be a consolation for such people to know that the ancients admired this style of eyebrows, and that Michael Angelo [sic] possessed it. It is useless to pluck out the uniting hairs; and if a depilatory is applied a mark like that of a scar left from a burn remains, and is more disfiguring than the hair."

This is just one of the many books i procured at the Regent Theatre's 24 hour book sale earlier this year. I have scarce had time to look at any of them until now. Next on my agenda is The Mill on the Floss (George Eliot) which I have been meaning to read for many years.