HINTS ON ETIQUETTE:

This guide to ""good manners"", written in 1834, slyly illustrated by Brian Robb on attractive color plates, whould be a fast moving and potent little gift item. Republished in England in 1946, contains a good deal of pointed, not to may, plangent observations directed to those whose manners, in a mercantile country, do not ""keep pace with the rapidly of their advancement"". The reader may well shudder sympathetically with the poor wight who is cautioned not to pick his teeth much at table ""however satisfactory a practice to yourself""; ""not to cross a room in an anxious manner"". However, our guide dose indulge in some humor to lighten the grim strictures -- ""half a dozen (aonga) consecutively, even form St. Cecilia in person, would become a bore"" -- and one suspects a touch of the ranks arising in such statements as ""the English are the most aristocratic democrats in the world ... slamming the door in the face of any unfortunate who may be behind them"". A delightful novelty with a long term sales potential.