Americans have always been a bit uneasy about manners. It has been presumed that in contrast to Old World artificiality, the citizens of the New World were, and should remain, sincere and straightforward. At the same time, in a highly mobile society newly successful Americans must often learn quickly how to do a great many things their parents were in no position to teach them. One result is that manners frequently change very rapidly, and books of etiquette have sold remarkably well in the U.S.
That has been especially so in the past two...
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