In 1945, Emily Post’s etiquette book offers pages of advice on words, phrases, and pronunciation. Read this selection carefully, and make sure you enunciate! 1945: How To Cultivate an Agreeable Speech The often-heard expression, “You know she is a lady as soon as she opens her mouth,” is not an exaggeration. The first requirement for […]
Tag: 1940s
Put Heart-Warmth in Your Voice
Still recovering from getting my wisdom teeth out last weekend, I’ve been doing some jaw exercises to relax the muscles and help lessen the pain. So when I came across this exercise of the voice, I found it helpful. Well, maybe not so helpful, but it sure made me laugh when I tried her suggestions, […]
May I Present Miss So-and-So?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: When you are introducing someone to someone else, which name to you say first? For instance, is it “Debbi, this is Dr. Bailey-Graff” or, “Dr. Bailey-Graff, this is Debbi”? Signed, Debbi A Dear Debbi: I believe the following excerpt answers your question quite nicely. It’s from The New Book of Etiquette, written […]
Games and Sports
I’ve never been much of a sports person. It could have something to do with my life as a band geek, or perhaps a desire to avoid confrontation and pain. In any case, I was invited to a Super Bowl party this weekend and decided to brush up on the subject in order to get […]
So So So So Sorry
Q Dear Miss Abigail: My uncle died last week and I just sent a sympathy card to his daughter. His daughter has two children (age 14 and 16) and I noted in the sympathy card that they were very lucky to have had such a great grandfather. However, I incorrectly called her children Amy and […]
How Do I Deal with Pesky Neighbors?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: You rock my web-world! Right on about the annoying marriage question ~ what a drag to be denied respect just because one’s status is single. My problem is that I live in small apartment building in close proximity to my neighbors. I don’t find any of them personally repugnant; however, I […]
Hate the Late?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: What do you do when someone is always late? Signed, Faye A Dear Faye: I think I have just the opposite problem. I always think I’m going to be late, but no matter how much I try, I am generally on time. How does that happen? Anyway, here are some interesting words […]
School Days
I spotted my first back-to-schoolers this morning. They looked so eager, with their empty backpacks and spiffy new clothes. Makes me want to stock up on my favorite Garanimals, just like the good old days. This one goes out to all the bright-eyed schoolchildren out there. It’s from M. Thelma McAndless’s handy pamphlet titled Manners Today. […]
The Blame Game
Q Dear Miss Abigail: My wife and I have been noticing lately that very few people apologize anymore for their mistakes, especially vendors who have given poor service or who have delivered a defective product. We think it is because people in general feel more beleaguered, and also because we live in such a litigious […]
Stop Cutting the Cheese, Please
Q Dear Miss Abigail: I have a little problem. I can’t contain my gas. In school I cut the cheese at least once every hour. Usually I go to the bathroom, but sometimes the teacher won’t let me go or I can’t get to the bathroom on time. Everyone laughs at me when I “fart.” […]