"At first glance, one is at a loss to know for what class of readers a book on "Sensible Etiquette" can be intended, or whose wants it supplies. Those who need to be told, as the readers of Mrs. Ward's work are told, not to blot their letters, not to gorge ' at supper, not to take too much wine, not 'to tilt a soup-plate for the last spoonful,' not to play with their food, not to finger the glass or silver on the table, not to forget (even if you are a gentleman wearing white ducks') to take leave of the hostess, not to dye the hair, not to wear diamonds in the morning, not to indulge (if married) in hysterics, to brush the teeth, to take care of the nails, to keep clean ('with Windsor soap'), to speak grammatically -- those who need instruction on these matters are not yet ready to study nice questions of etiquette. In their eyes, social forms are likely to assume too great rather than too little importance. Those, on the other

7

OF THE

BEST SOCIETY,

CUSTOMS, MANNERS, MORALS, AND

HOME CULTURE.

COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES

BY MRS. H. O. WARD.

"A knowledge of etiquette is a knowledge of the customs of society at its best. There
is no one who may not be instructed in some points that it is for his advantage to
know."-Modern Etiquette.

"The first years of a man's life are precious, since they lay the foundation of the
merit of the rest. Whatever care is used in the education of children it is still too little
to answer the end."-Marchioness de Lambert.