Judge — October 31, 1925 — page 36: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OHN, I’m ashamed of you!” “But Mary—” “Oh, please don’t talk to me. I have never in jal my life been so humiliated. You’ve— Her lips quivered and she sank to the sofa sobbing like a child. I was bewi ildered. We had just returned from the Blake’s reception. I was jubilant—for Mary’s life- time ambition seemed realized. At last we had been invited to the home of Mrs. Parker Blake, the acknowledged social leader in our town. Everything seemed to have gone so wonderfully well—I thought we had made a glorious success of our first entrance into exclusive society. Friends of the Blakes had driven us home in their car. I had almost shouted for joy as we stepped into our home. I had waited for Mary’s expression of delight at our suc- cess, but instead—this! “For goodness’ sake, Mary, what is the matter?” “The Blakes,” she managed to choke through her tears. ‘You should have heard them. And about you—” About me? The Blakes? I was thunder- struck! Bit by bit I drew the whole story from Mary.. And my face fell as I learned that instead of making an overwhelming success as I had thought, I had succeeded only in making a monkey of myself. I Learn the Bitter Truth It seemed that just before the party ended Mary had inadvertently overheard a whis- red conversation between Mr. and Mrs. lake. ‘In all my life,” said Mrs. Blake, “T have never seen such an uncultured per- son. Such crudeness!” And she said this about me! Iwas dumbfounded! Where had I made my mistakes? What terrible blunders had I committed? And then it dawned upon me! My cheeks felt red-hot withshame. The entire evening arose like a play before me, The introduc- ey of Myself: r tion—the dinner—the dance—the conversa- tion. What a fool I was to think that cor- rect etiquette needed only common sense! What an idiot I was to try to brave cul- tured society without a knowledge of society’s correct customs. Poor Mary! Right then and there I determined to avoid any such humiliating mistakes in the future. I remembered an advertisement on the Famous Book of Etiquette that I had seen in our favorite magazine. Eagerly I thumbed through the pages until I found the ad. The very next day I mailed the coupon to the publishers of the New Book of Etiquette. A few days later I learned the real bitter truth about that terrible evening. Why, the first chapter I read proved that I knew pitifully little about dinner etiquette. I didn’t even know the proper way to remove fruit stones from my mouth, the cultured way to use a finger-bowl, the correct way to use napkins, and many other similar points of etiquette. As I read the New Book of Etiquette I understood why the Blakes thought me crude—why I received so many queer glances on different occasions at the dinner. What terrible blunders I had committed. Almost everything I did at the table was wrong. Of course, the other guests were polite to me and seemed not to:notice my lunders. That was why I felt I was mak- ing so great a success. I Thought I Knew It All I would rather lose a thousand dollars than live through that terrible evening again. And the pity of it is that I always prided myself on being cultured and well-bred. I had always believed that I knew just how to act—that I followed the conventions of society to the highest letter of its law. But oh, the serious breaches of etcueyte 1 was making almost every day! The Tell-Tale Marks of Bad Manners There are so many little tell-tale blunders that one can make—as a guest, for instance. Do you know what to say to the hostess when you arrive? Do you now how _ to acknowledge _introduc- tions — whether the form “How do you do” is correct; whether one may say “Pleased to meet you?” Do ou know the correct order of precedence into the dining-room? Do you know whether olives are taken with the fingers or a fork, whether the fork is held in the left hand or the right, whether bread ma; be bitten into or must be broken into smal pieces as eaten? And when you leave, do you know what to say to the hostess? If you know exactly what to do, say, write and wear at all times, on all occasions, you will never be embarrassed. And that is what the New Book of Etiquette does for you. It contains information that will give you a charming grace, a dignified poise and ease of manner that will enable you to mingle with the most highly cultivated people—on a footing of social equality. Add it to your library. Send no money— just the coupon. When the books arriye, give the postman only $1.98 (plus few cents cuvery charges) in full payment. Enjoy the books thoroughly for five days, and within that period if you are not delighted with them return them and your money will be instantly refunded. do clip and mail this coupon NOW. Nelson Double- day, Inc., Dept. 6310, Garden City, N.Y. Nelson Doubleday. Inc., Dept. 6310 Garden City, N. Y. I want to see the attractive, illustrated edition of THE NEW BOOK OF ETIQUETTE by Lillian Eichler. You may send it to me complete in two volumes, and i Will give the postman only $1.98 (plus few cents delivery charges) in full payment on arrival e the guaran- teed privilege of returning the books and having my money fefunded any tme within & days if tam not lelighted. Um san copa 82.44 cub with order. Leather ‘nding, outaide U, Bs $3.44. cash comicbooks.c com