Barkerville, Williams Creek, Cariboo STREET ETIQUETTE
The street, boulevard and park have their
observances and etiquette which must be understood and practiced by all
who esteem themselves, and desire to be honored as denizens in the world
of fashion, and we shall therefore systematize and submit to our readers
a code of things to be done, and to be avoided in that vast realm of wisdom
and wealth.
The age of chivalry which was mourned as
passed away by one of the most eloquent writers of the last century, Edmund
Burke, is truly yet in its young prime, with no prospect of declension,
as the rule of the gentler sex is felt and acknowledged by all ranks and
conditions of men, wherever Western civilization holds sway, and the dominion
of that power widens with every year.
A lady in the street, boulevard or park
may not be saluted by a gentleman, unless he has received a slight bow from
the lady; he may then raise his hat with the hand farthest from the lady,
bow respectfully and pass on, not under any consideration pausing to speak,
unless the lady pauses in her promenade.
When gentlemen unaccompanied by ladies meet,
each will raise his hat very slightly, if they are on such terms as to warrant
recognition, but they need not bow unless the person saluted is entitled
to special marks of respect, by reason of advanced years, social rank, or
attainments, or having taken holy orders. Clergymen should always be so
honored. In every such case a gentleman will raise the hat with the hand
farthest from the person saluted, but the head need not be decidedly uncovered,
as when a lady has given recognition.
When a gentleman is escorting a lady, his
wife, mother, sister, friend, or relative on the street, or in any public
place, it is his duty to insist modestly on carrying any article she may
have in her hand, except the parasol when that is necessary as a sun shade;
that article must not under such circumstances be borne by the gentleman,
unless because of sickness or old age the lady requires peculiar assistance.
Gentlemen walking with a lady, or with a
gentleman venerable for years, attainments, or office, will give the inner
path to the person escorted, unless the outer portion of the walk is more
safe. The concession will be made without remark, and the lady will assume
whenever the gentleman changes his position that there is a sufficient reason
for moving from one side to the other.
When gentlemen pause to speak to each other
on the street, they will, as a matter of course, shake hands and bow, lifting
the hat with the left hand at the moment of their clasping the right.
Should a lady accost a gentleman on the street when he is smoking he will
at once extinguish his cigar, and decline politely but firmly to resume
it, even though the lady should urge him to continue.
Gentlemen will never smoke when walking with a lady, as although there is
no intentional disrespect in smoking, the act under such circumstances conveys
the idea of slight regard for the lady, to other persons.
Gentlemen walking together may use any pace
not actually violent or ungraceful; but when accompanying ladies, aged persons,
or the weak, they will accommodate themselves to their friends.
Gentlemen will not swing their arms, nor
sway their bodies in an ungainly manner when walking; ladies are never guilty
of any such ungraceful action, and need no counsel in that respect.
Ladies sometimes, though very rarely, walk
too quickly on the street; that should be avoided; a message by telephone
will generally obviate the necessity for speed at the expense of grace.
Ladies walking on the street are not expected
to recognize gentlemen or friends on the other side of the road; to do so
would necessitate habits of observation inconsistent with ladylike repose.
