Books: 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...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!