STREET ETIQUETTE FOR GENTLE MEN.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 134, 14 March 1872, Page 3

STREET ETIQUETTE FOR GENTLE MEN.

1. The indepensable requisite of a gentleman’s street toilet is a cigar. Never, therefore, appear in public without one in your mouth. Fix it between your teeth, and on no occasion withdraw it until it burns your lips. It is foppish to remove it in the society of ladies, or to throw away any but an infinitesimal stump. 2. acting up to the foregoing rule, always manipulate your smoke so as to have a large mouthful to blow in the face of a friend, especially if a lady. If you enter a fashionable store, never fail to puff with vigor, in order to leave evidence behind you that j'on arc a gentleman. 3. If by chance you should engage in conversation against a door-pillar or a lamp post, make yourself conspicuous and attractive by fixing your cigar firmly between your side teeth, projecting your elbows, and crossing one foot over the other. Speak, under the circumstances, as loudly as you can, and expectorate across the footwalk without regard to passers-by. You thereby attract attention, and confirm the eloquent doctrine that “ a gentlemen is bound to shine.” 4. Gaze with enquiring earnestness into the face of every pretty lady you meet, and make audible remarks to your companion (if yon have one, but otherwise say nothing) upon her style and appearance. By doing this you prove you have an eye for beauty, and a keen appreciation for delicate breeding. 5. If walking with a relative, discuss, in a loud t./tie of voice the merits of your step-mother, inother-iii-law, and grand-aunt. Minutely detail the scandals of your family, and the particulars of your own circumstances. Your boisterous frankness will denote your good sense and goto show that you have “ a soul above buttons.” G. Should people be waiting at any corner to cross the street, elbow your way between them, and trample on the dresses of the ladies with impunity. This is a task that requires strength and boldness, and much gentlemanly tact is necessary to perform it without giving offence. 7. In case a company of ladies should he innocently inspecting a store window, elongate your body and neck so that your head may reach over their shoulders, and thus see for yourself what they are gazing at. Puff’ vigorously at your cigar the while, and give other evidence that there is a gentleman present. 8. On meeting a lady acquaintance insist upon shaking her hand with your left one, and keep her standingin everybody’s way whilst speaking toiler Assure her (hat her appearance is more bcauiii'nl than ever, and that you admire the fashionable cut of her dress. Then leave her with a promise that you will pay her a v’sit when you happen to be in her neighbourhood. A lady’s feeling should he always Haltered. 9. Should you meet a gentleman friend escorting a lady unknown to you, thump him familiarly on the hack and inform the lady, without an int 10 luclion, that you are jealous of your fiiend and should feel the most fortunate of nnuials in his position. She will not fail to appreciate your modest worth. 10. On no account recognise a poorly dressed relative. On the first approach of one assume a supercilious air of haughty impQrlance, and pass without seeing him,