| Victorian Etiquette |
| Gentlemen "A gentlemen never swaggers along the street, shouting or laughing with his companions, his hat on one side, a cigar between his fingers, or switching a cane to the danger of discomfort of passers-by." If he's smoking and a lady passes by, he removes the cigar from his mouth. When escorting a woman in the daytime, he does not offer her his arem unless she is old or ill unless for the purpose of protecting her in a large crowd. He should not monopolize the umbrella when with two ladies in the rain. He should take the outside holding it over both of them. If attending a lady in the evening he should offer his arm. If he has the care of two ladies, he should give his arm to one and the ladies should walk on the same side of him. When entering a room with ladies, he reemoves his hat. When he meets a lady friend, he should raise his hat gracefully. A gentleman holds the door open for a lady. He preceded the lady in ascending the stairs and allows her to precede in descending them. "When a gentleman meets a lady friend with whom he wishes to converse, he does not make her stand on the street, but walks with her a short distance until he has said what he desired to, and then leaves her with a courteous bow." |
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| A lady should always walk in an easy, unassuming manner, neither looking left nor right. If anything in a store window attracts her attention, she may stop and examine it, and then continue her walk. A lady does not giggle or whisper in public. Talking loudly is "inexcusable" at all times and gives a vulgar tone to all that is said. She does not call her friends across the street or ask of their health in a boisterous manner. Never "cut" a person in public. If there are reasons you wish to discontinue the aquaintance turn your head before meeting. Do not expose anyone to the humiliation of a cold and rude stare or refuse to return the greeting of one made in the presence of others. When bowing on the street, the lady should merely incline her head gracefully, never her body. She should also smile pleasantly. She must never leet a male talk to her in a slangy manner, touch her on the shoulder or call her by her first name in front of strangers. |
| When on the street the gentleman should always carry the packages.....and the husband should always carry the baby. He should never smoke where ladies are present under any circumstances. DO not shake a ladies hand in a manner that would annoy her or hurt her fingers. |
| Parlor Games |
| Blindman's Bluff Among the group of people playing one person would be cosen to be "it" and would be blind-folded. Everyone, in excitement would scatter around the room. The blind-folded person would chase someone until he could catch them. And then by touch alone, he would idenify that person and they would be "it". Change seats A circle of chairs is formed. One person is chosen to start the game out in the middle of the circle. He will say, "Change seats" as often as he likes. But everyone is to stay seated until he says' "The King's come." Then everyone must get up and change seats but not with the person to their immediate right or left. Of course, the person left standing is the next one to stand in the middle and yell out "Change seats!" Squeak! Piggy, Squeak! This was a popular games with the Victorians. Amongst a group of people one person was chosen, blindfolded and then they were handed a pillow. The other's set in a circle as the blindfolded fellow stood in the circle and was spun around. After he had lost all sense of direction he placed the pillow on someone's lap and said, "Squeak! Piggy, Squeak!" The player would squeak and then the blindfolded person would have to guess whose lap he had placed the pillow on. He or she became the next to be blindfolded. Throwing the Smile In this game the object is to win is by NOT smiling. Everyone will form a circle. The chosen person will walk around in the middle with a smile on his face, trying desperaetly to make someone laugh or giggle. Then he will all of a sudden wipe the smile off his face, put on a straight face, look toward someone and try to get them to smile. This will continue until he gets someone to smile or laugh. That person will have to sit out the rest of the game. Hunt the Slipper This was a simple game where everyone joined in a circle as one person remained in the middle of the circle with her eyes shut. A slipper or maybe even a shoe or boot was passed around behind the backs of everyone while the chosen person in te middle kept her eyes shut. But when she opened her eyes the slipper stops passing between everyone. The center player must then guess who has the slipper. If the correct answer is given then that person will take the center of the circle. Charades With the Victorians this is the most popular game. Groups of participating players were divided up into teams. The first was given a word or word pharse to act out in silence. They continued to do so until one of the others figured out what they were trying to communicate. Forfeits This game was played amongst a group of people one person being selected to be the "caller." Each paticipating player would take a small personal item and place it in the center of the room. The "caller" would then enter the room and pick up an item and attempt to describe it. Whomever that item belonged to had to recite poetry, tongue twisters, sing a lyric, do things silly and embarassing things to get the item returned to them. |
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