How to be a lady
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Extracts from the 1848 book of the same name, by Rev Harvey Newcomb.
>>rudeness of behaviour is almost indefinable. I shall only be able to name a few things as specimens, such as tilting one's chair, sitting awkwardly; sitting on two chairs; putting one's feet on another's chair; rocking; drumming with the fingers or feet; scratching books, furniture, window frames or walls; and a hundred other things that might be named which indicate not only the want of good breeding, but the want of good taste and a sense of proprietary.
>>avoid tight dressing as you would the black snake. You will perhaps smile at this but if you know anything of the black snake, you will recollect that it assaults not with deadly venom, but winds itself around its victim, stops the circulation of the blood, and if it reaches high enough, makes a rope of itself to strangle him. I need not tell you that the effects of tight dressing are similar.
>>Nothing will make a woman appear more ridiculous than a contempt for useful occupation, and especially for household affairs.
>>never engage in recreation at an unsuitable time. To neglect duty for the sake of amusement is not only wrong, but it will exert a bad influence upon your character. It tends to produce an immoderate love of amusement and to break up all orderly and regular habits.
>>rise early. It is said that, to have a fair skin, rosy cheeks and a fine complexion, one must wash every morning in summer in the dew. Whether there is any virtue or not in the dew I cannot say; but I have no doubt that such would be the effect of the practice proposed.
