First in Good Manners

RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECENT BEHAVIOR--George Washington--Putnam ($1.25).

George Washington was the product of an age which believed that form was as important to the art of living as to the art of music or writing. In the Library of Congress lies the mouse-gnawed, tattered copybook in which the Father of His Country (then in his teens) scrawled no rules of etiquette. Putnam has republished Washington's book of etiquette this week under its original title.

From these brief maxims young Washington was clearly a fussy eater. "Spit [not] forth the Stones of any fruit Pye," he warned. "Cleanse not your Teeth with the Table Cloth." Washington also barred spitting during meals ("except there's a Necessity for it") and getting rid of edibles by throwing them under the table.

In the streets and in company a gentleman should be "Grave, Settled and attentive," should refrain from swatting "Fleas, lice, ticks &c in the Sight of Others." A gentleman should not run, dawdle, or walk with his mouth open, shaking his arms and kicking his feet "in a Dancing fashion." Clothes should not be "foul, unript [torn] or Dusty," hands should not be put "to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered."

Young Washington also discouraged going "out your Chamber half drest," warned gentlemen not to let their tongues "Loll out," not to "Puff up the Cheeks," "gnaw your nails," "read other people's letters," and he advised that "Discourse with Men of Business" should be "Short and Comprehensive." "Men of Quality" should not be looked at "full in the Face"; facial expressions should be "pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave."

Reading these somewhat solemn maxims out of context suggests one reason why later and lesser minds have sometimes been misled into supposing that a good deal of Washington's genius consisted of a somewhat Olympian manner.

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