A comic review of behaviour and etiquette for a gentleman. Who knew it was not on to carry a brown paper parcel or partridges, but de rigueur to wear gloves! For those of you worried about committing a faux pas, here is a more up-to-date guide.
“What a Gentleman may do, and what he may not do. – He may carry a brace of partridges, but not a leg of mutton. He may be seen in the omnibus-box at the opera, but not on an omnibus. He may be seen in a stall inside a theatre, but not at a stall outside one. He may dust another person’s jacket, but must not brush his own. He may kill a man in a dual, but he mustn’t ask twice for soup. He may pay his debts of honour, but he need not trouble himslef about his tradesmen’s bills. He may drive a stage-coach, but he mustn’t take or carry coppers. He may ride a horse as a jockey, but he mustn’t exert himself in the least to get his living. He must never forget what he owes to himself as a gentleman, but he need not mind what he owes as a gentleman to his tailor. He may do anything or anybody in fact within the range of a gentleman – go through the Insolvent Debtors’ Court, or turn billiard-market; but he must never on any account carry a brown paper parcel, or appear in the street without a pair of gloves. – Comic Almanack.”
The Stamford Mercury, 31st December, 1847.