The Ladies Guide To True Politeness And Perfect Manners Or Miss Leslie S Behaviour Book

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

"A guide and manual for ladies, as regards their conversation, manners; dress; introductions; entre to society; shopping; conduct in the street; at places of amusement; in traveling; at the table; either at home, in company, or at hotels; deportment in gentlemen's society; lips; complexion; teeth; hands; the hair; etc. etc. "With full instructions and advice in letter writing; receiving presents; incorrect words; borrowing; obligations to gentlemen; offences; children; decorum in church; at evening parties; and suggestions in bad practices and habits easily contracted, which no lady should be guilty of, etc. etc." "If you have shopping to do, and are acquainted with the town, you can be under no necessity of imposing on any lady of the family the task of accompanying you. To shop for others, or with others, is a most irksome fatigue. Even when a stranger in the place, you can easily, by enquiring of the family, learn where the best stores are to be found, and go to them by yourself." "No colours are more ungenteel, or in worse taste, than reddish lilacs, reddish purples, and reddish browns." "Above all, do not travel in white kid gloves. Respectable women never do."* "Ladies no longer eat salt-fish at a public-table." Originally published in 1864, this item reads today as a wretched but informed instruction manual for Miss Leslie's readership - upper class Victorian American ladies. Both sociologically fascinating and hilarious, The Ladies' Guide To True Politeness, is, to quote American Literary Gazette and Publishers' Circular, Volumes 3-4, "written for American society, and its admonitions are such as are of practical and constant importance in ordinary intercourse."

This comprehensive guide to "true etiquette" by one of America's first domestic experts provides both a window into 19th-century daily life and nuggets of witty, common-sense advice adaptable to contemporary situations.