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Date Posted: Friday, January 28, 11:51am
Author: Chuck Toney
Subject: "Don't:" the title for proper (Victorian)conduct /speech

"Dont:" was a small book costing 1 shilling in 1880 when the book was first printed in London. The book was first written by an American prior to that date and generally listed the expectations of polite people prior to its writing. The right to publish it was bought by Field and Tuer, Ye Leadenhalle Press. It was widely sold in England as a guide to proper behavior and manners of speech. Interestingly, it was based on the actual customs of Victorian England when it was written for Americans. It should be accurate for the period of the Civil War.

I will share the chapters with you over the coming weeks as I transcribe them to text from the small book form.

We'll begin with the Preface as written by the American author. The British publisher had their own preface which I shall not provide as it informs the British reader about the American expressions and translates them to the mother tongue.

"Preface (American)

It so happens that most of the rules for society are prohibitory in character. This fact suggested the negative form adopted in this little book, and permitted the various injunctions to be expressed in a sententious and emphatic manner.

Many of the rules here given are necessarily drawn from established authorities, but a considerable number of them are the result of the complier's personal observation and experience.
There are some persons, no doubt, who will condemn many things here said as unnecessary, because generally known. It was necessary to include familiar rules in order to give completeness to the list; but any one who carefully observes will find that nearly every rule given is frequently violated by persons of at least good social standing.

Other critics may condemn some of the injunctions as over-nice. All that can be said to these persons is, that every one has the lawful right to determine for himself at what point below the highest point he is content to let his social culture stop.

The plan of the book does not include questions of etiquette, except incidentally. There are various volumes that set forth all the details of receiving visitors and making visits, of parties, of dinners, of card sending and receiving, etc., to which those interested are referred.

CENSOR
New York"

The table of contents are as follows (so you can look forward to the topics covered):

"Contents

I. At Table
II. In Dress and Personal Habits
III. In the Drawing-Room
IV. In Public
V. In Speech
VI. In General
VII. Affectionally addressed to Womankind"

I will post the first chapter within a couple of days.

Chuck

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