Items related to Perfect Behavior: A Guide for Ladies and Gentlemen...
Synopsis
Perfect Behavior is a classic lighthearted parody of social etiquette manuals; its chapters demonstrate plenty of ways not to behave in or toward polite company.
First published in 1922, Perfect Behavior was conceived by author Donald Ogden Stewart as a response to the frequent publication of guides on etiquette and conduct. Determined to produce a comprehensive send-up of these ceaseless manuals, Ralph Stewart paired with illustrator Ralph Barton and created this book.
This edition of Perfect Behavior contains all of Ralph Barton's thirty-plus original illustrations, lending the text a further layer of humor. Various social crises we are instructed on coping with include music concerts, weddings and engagements, and the sensitive matter of inviting guests to an event. An aspect of social history is present too: 'dry agents', a colloquial term for those policing the USA's prohibition of alcohol, receive their own chapter.
The author would go on to write some of the greatest comedies in Hollywood's Golden Era, infusing sophistication and wit into his screenplays and characters. This book, published when Stewart was a young man of twenty-eight, underlined his promise in the nascent world of popular humor writing.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From the Author
Perfect Behavior is an over the top book on social manners from an age long past. However, some of the socials mores mentioned in the books, in fact the core of the message of the book, remains the unchanged. And that message is that social graves still count when in the company of "nice people". I added the photos to the copy to give the book a bit more levity. Enjoy!
From the Inside Flap
CHAPTER ONE
THE ETIQUETTE OF COURTSHIP
A FEW WORDS ABOUT LOVE
CORRECT INTRODUCTIONS; HOW TO MAKE THEM
CARDS AND FLOWERS
FLOWERS AND THEIR MESSAGE IN COURTSHIP
RECEIVING AN INVITATION TO CALL
THE ETIQUETTE OF TELEPHONING
MAKING THE FIRST CALL
CONVERSATION AND SOME OF ITS USES
A PROPER CALL
THE PROPOSAL PROPER
CHAPTER TWO
THE ETIQUETTE OF ENGAGEMENTS AND WEDDINGS
THE HISTORIC ASPECT
ANNOUNCING THE ENGAGEMENT
THE BRIDE-TO-BE
THE ENGAGEMENT LUNCHEON
SELECTING THE BRIDAL PARTY
INVITATIONS AND WEDDING PRESENTS
DUTIES OF THE BEST MAN
THE BRIDE'S TEA
THE MAID OF HONOR
THE BACHELOR DINNER AND AFTER
THE REHEARSAL
THE BRIDAL DINNER
A CHURCH WEDDING
CHAPTER THREE
THE ETIQUETTE OF TRAVEL
HINTS FOR THE CORRECT PEDESTRIAN
TRAVELLING BY RAIL
GOOD FORM ON A STREET CAR
IN THE SUBWAY
A HONEYMOON IN A SUBWAY
TRAVELLING UNDER STEAM
A CORRECT NIGHT IN A PULLMAN
CHAPTER FOUR
AT THE CONCERT AND THE OPERA
LISTENING TO A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
CORRECT BEHAVIOR AT A PIANO RECITAL
IN A BOX AT THE OPERA
CHAPTER FIVE
ETIQUETTE FOR DRY AGENTS
SOME BROADER ASPECTS OF PROHIBITION
THE COLLEGE GRADUATE AS DRY AGENT
PLANNING A DRY RAID ON A MASQUERADE BALL
A WORD ABOUT CORRECT COSTUMES
GOOD FORM FOR DRY AGENTS DURING A RAID
CHAPTER SIX
A CHAPTER FOR SCHOOLGIRLS
SELECTING A PROPER SCHOOL
CORRECT EQUIPMENT FOR THE SCHOOLGIRL
EN ROUTE
A JOURNEY AROUND NEW YORK
THE FIRST DAYS IN THE NEW SCHOOL
BECOMING ACCLIMATIZED
A VISITOR FROM PRINCETON
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE ETIQUETTE OF GAMES AND SPORTS
GOLF AS A PASTIME
AN AFTERNOON AT THE OLD FARM WITH THE DICE
CORRECT BEHAVIOR ON A PICNIC
BOXING IN AMERICAN SOCIETY
BRIDGE WHIST
FORMAL AND INFORMAL DRINKING
A JOLLY HALLOWE'EN PARTY
INVITATIONS
RECEIVING THE GUESTS
HOW TO MYSTIFY
GAMES
CHAPTER EIGHT
CORRESPONDENCE AND INVITATIONS
CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE FOR YOUNG LADIES
COLLEGE BOYS
LETTERS TO PARENTS
LETTERS FROM PARENTS
LETTERS TO PROSPECTIVE FATHERS-IN-LAW
LOVE LETTERS
CORRESPONDENCE OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
LETTERS TO NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, ETC.
LETTERS TO STRANGERS
A CORRECT LETTER TO A FRENCH VISITOR
INVITATIONS
CHAPTER NINE
THE ETIQUETTE OF DINNERS AND BALLS
FORMAL DINNERS IN AMERICA
TABLE MANNERS FOR CHILDREN
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF ETIQUETTE
ETIQUETTE IN THE SCHOOL
CONVERSATION AT DINNER
STEWART'S LIGHTNING CALCULATOR OF DINNER TABLE CONVERSATION
BALLS AND DANCES
MIXED DANCING
HINTS FOR STAGS
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
