1891 Manners, Customs & Dress of the Best American Society by Richard A. Wells

Leave it to the Victorians to have a manual for social propriety 502 pages long. So we find in this extraordinary look to the past in Manners, Customs, and Dress of the Best American Society, written in 1890 by Richard A. Wells . But as the author explains, the Victorians had a very good reason for their strict codes of conduct. And maybe, we in our time could learn something from them...  

PREFACE EXCERPT "There is no one subject of today which embodies more practical interest to people in general than a knowledge of the rules, usages, and ceremonies of good society. A lack of this knowledge is felt by almost every individual, whether in the city or country, at home or abroad. True politeness is not a code of superficial rules arranged and trimmed up for particular occasions, and then set aside at our pleasure. Polite manners and true culture are EXPRESSIONS OF THE HEART, and have their foundation in THE GOLDEN RULE. If this rule is to the guide of our life, then our politeness is entirely superficial and void of naturalness."

This comprehensive look at the culture of the Victorian Era includes 42 chapters on all manners of social interaction including: Entrance into Society Introductions Salutations Social Intercourse Conversations Visits Dinner Parties & Balls Street Etiquette Riding & Driving Travelers & Traveling Etiquette of Public Places Letters & Letter Writing Laws of Business & Legal Forms Self-Culture Advantages of Wedlock Courtship & Marriage The Home Domestic Etiquette & Duties Table Etiquette Miscellaneous Rules of Etiquette Washington Etiquette Business Anniversary Weddings Funerals Dress Harmony of Color in Dress The Toilette Beauty & Its Expression Servants Home Decorations Amusements Etiquette with Children Etiquette for Baptism Etiquette of the Studio Precious Stones Flowers & Their Sentiments Window Gardening Care & Culture of Plants Furnishing the Home Books Toilet Recipes An extraordinary gift for anyone interested in history, culture, and the Victorian era.

BIXLEY NOTES

• Manners, Culture and Dress of the Best American Society

• Written by Richard A. Wells A.M.

• Black & white illustrations throughout

• 502 page hardcover, embossed & gilded

• Published by King, Richardson & Co. of Springfield, MA, 1891

• Measures 8" x 5 3/4"

VINTAGE NOTES

• In excellent condition

• Minor wear on the corners of the covers

• Pages have yellowed a bit with some light spots here and there

• No marks that we can see

• Slight musty smell

• See our photographs for more close-up details

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