As we get closer to Thanksgiving, and the holiday season in general, I thought it might be time for a reminder about courtesy in the home. Many of us will be in close quarters with our extended family for hours and perhaps days on end, and more than ever it will be important to be polite while sharing house, home, and holiday dinner table. The following is from the home economics book Everyday Living from Girls: a Textbook in Personal Regimen, written in 1936 by Adelaide Laura Van Duzer and a handful of other home ec experts.
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Real politeness is being kind and considerate. It may be shown in many different ways: by the tone of your voice, the facial expression, or the behavior. We are also expected to know the vocabulary of politeness and when to use it. The terms “Thank you,” “Please,” “Pardon me,” “I am sorry,” never seem to become worn out or over-used, especially when accompanied by sincerity of manner and behavior. These terms are somewhat superfluous if they are not a genuine expression of one’s feelings. However, even though we do not always experience to the fullest extent the feelings the vocabulary is supposed to express, we had better use it anyway. Be assured that the more it represents your true feelings, the greater the pleasure you will have in the association with the members of your family and with other people.
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And you all know to NEVER talk about politics and religion, right?