Twentieth century culture and deportment, or, The lady and gentleman at home and abroad : containing rules of etiquette for all occasions ... . s one of the features, try and suit its character to thecompany. Do not play classical music where it cannot possibly beappreciated, and, above all, attempt nothing that cannot be executedperfectly. In singing, let gentlemen remember that if it is an amusingsong they are to render, it must be perfectly unexceptional in char-acter. Ladies should bear in mind in singing that it is much bettertaste in large assemblies to avoid the purely sentimental order
Twentieth century culture and deportment, or, The lady and gentleman at home and abroad : containing rules of etiquette for all occasions ... . s one of the features, try and suit its character to thecompany. Do not play classical music where it cannot possibly beappreciated, and, above all, attempt nothing that cannot be executedperfectly. In singing, let gentlemen remember that if it is an amusingsong they are to render, it must be perfectly unexceptional in char-acter. Ladies should bear in mind in singing that it is much bettertaste in large assemblies to avoid the purely sentimental order ofsongs, which, with the large number of beautiful compositions at ourdisposal, is easily done. Observe scrupulous silence while others are playing and you possess any musical accomplishments, and are asked to con-tribute your share toward the entertainment of others, do so withoutwaiting to be urged; or, if you decline, decline absolutely. Urging EVENING PARTIES, RECEPTIONS AND SUPPERS. 231 should not be resorted to by the hostess, which custom would sooncure a certain class of performers from the disagreeable habit of hold-. ENTERTAINING THE GUESTS WITH A SONG. ing back for repeated solicitations. If you consent to play or sing, donot weary your audience. Two or three stanzas of a song, or four 232 EVENING PARTIES, RECEPTIONS AND SUPPERS. or five pages from a long instrumental piece are sufficient. If moreis greatly desired it will always be called for. Remember, it is only the lady of the house who has the right toask you to play or sing, and to all other requests give a smilingrefusal. Beware of too Much Reserve. Remember also, that, for the time being, owing to your mutualacquaintance with the host and hostess, you stand on a perfect equalitywith all the guests present and should, therefore, without furtherpreliminaries, converse freely with any. Never commit the blunder of stealing away to a side table, andthere affecting to be absorbed in some volume of engra
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidtwen, booksubjectetiquette
