THE POLITE AMERICANS

Mr. Carson did his wry Social History of Bourbon in 1963 and a crisp survey of The Cornflake Crusade in 1957- Once again, he is an excellent raconteur of American social folly and provides a synoptical view of national snobberies since the Pilgrims squabbled over the assignment of their pews. It all goes to prove that we've always fallen for the idea that ""Some men are more equal than others..."" We have our Kentucky Colonels, our Nebraska Admirals and our doctorate Doctors. Further, Mr. Carson follows the lurching course of the social status of women, changing restaurant manners and the Washington, D.C. pecking order at play. He makes it an easy going, even a gently polite, overview of pomposities and politesse from the era of chawin' tobacco right up to chewin' gum.