April 06, 2013

Post(ed) Wisdom




“There is no reason why you should be bored when you can be otherwise. But if you find yourself sitting in the hedgerow with nothing but weeds, there is no reason for shutting your eyes and seeing nothing, instead of finding what beauty you may in the weeds”
~Emily Post

Emily Post was one classy number.  A proponent of appropriate social conduct and manners her book Etiquette rocked the charts in the 1920s.  I am old school, I know, but the o so trendy current lack of politeness drives me nuts! 



The little urban hipsters feel spiteful this week because I have pulled of the shelf, and will be reading, this little number...  



Here’s an uproarious look at being on your best behavior . . . and on your worst!

I would say manners are a lost art, but they should not be an art.  They should just be the way we all strive to relate to each other.  In Ms Edna’s opinion, too-common rudeness is just obnoxious. 


The Gift of Humor

The joy of joys is the person of light but un-malicious humor. If you know any one who is gay, beguiling and amusing, you will, if you are wise, do everything you can to make him prefer your house and your table to any other; for where he is, the successful party is also. What he says is of no matter, it is the twist he gives to it,the intonation, the personality he puts into his quip or retort  or observation that delights his hearers, and in his case the ordinary rules do not apply. Eugene Field could tell a group of people that it had rained to-day and would probably rain tomorrow, and make everyone burst into laughter —or tears if he chose—according to the way it was said. But the ordinary rest of us must, if we would be thought sympathetic, intelligent or agreeable,“go fishing.”
~Emily Post, Etiquette 1922


Rock on Emily.




2 comments:

Dr. Bunsen (and gaggle of fans) said...

You can't be truly rude until you understand good manners.

Alistair (from the land of Calvin, sulphur and butanol) said...

Touche!