THE

GENTLEMEN'S BOOK OF ETIQUETTE,

AND

MANUAL OF POLITEN ESS;

BEING

A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR A GENTLEMAN'S CONDUCT IN ALL
HIS RELATIONS TOWARDS SOCIETY.

CONTAINING

RULES FOR THE ETIQUETTE TO BE OBSERVED IN THE STREET, AT
TABLE, IN THE BALL ROOM, EVENING PARTY, AND MORN-
ING CALL; WITH FULL DIRECTIONS FOR POLITE COR-
RESPONDENCE, DRESS, CONVERSATION, MANLY
EXERCISES, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

FROM THE BEST FRENCH ENGLISH. AND AMERICAN AUTHORITIES,

BY

CECIL B. HARTLEY.

BOSTON:

LOCKE & BUBIER.

1875.

1

INTRODUCTION.

MAN was not intended to live like a bear or a hermit, apart from others of his own nature, and, philosophy and reason will - each agree with me, that man was born for sociability and finds his true delight in society. Society is a word capable of many meanings, and used here in each and all of them. Society, par excellence; the world at large; the little clique to which he is bound by early ties; the companionship of friends or relatives; even society tete a tete with one dear sympathizing soul, are pleasant states for a man to be in.

Taking the word in its most extended view, it is the world; but in the light we wish to impress in our book it is the smaller world of the changing, pleasant intercourse of each city or town in which our reader may chance to abide.

This society, composed, as it is, of many varying natures and elements, where each individual must submit to merge his own identity into the universal whole, which makes the word and state, is divided and subdivided into various cliques, and has a pastime for every disposition, grave or gay; and with each division rises up a new set of forms and ceremonies to be ob