Young ladies and cheese
“As a matter of course, young ladies do not eat cheese at dinner-parties.”
Manners and Rules of Good Society, 1916
Clementine: With vigour. Eat the cheese.
a little guide to old manners
Thirty old rules, judged
Real rules from etiquette books printed between 1857 and 1916, quoted word for word. Clementine decides which still hold, which want adjusting, and which can retire with thanks.
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US$12 · 16-page PDF · instant download
how it works
Every rule gets a verdict
The quote is real and sourced. The verdict is Clementine's, delivered with affection for the old books and none at all for their snobbery.
Still holds
Do it exactly as written. The century changed; people didn't.
Adjust
The reason is sound. The form wants updating.
Retire
It served its purpose, or never had one.
Telephone invitations, 1914
“The person invited, being suddenly held up at the point of a gun, as it were, is likely to forget some other engagement”
Florence Howe Hall, Good Form for All Occasions, 1914
Clementine: For the text message, too. Being asked on the spot makes people say yes to things they can't do. Follow up in writing.
The quarter-hour call
“the short quarter of an hour—which is the limit of a ceremonious call”
Manners and Rules of Good Society, 1916
Clementine: Nobody pays calls now, but everyone drops by. New neighbours, a new baby, a hospital bed: fifteen minutes, then go.
what's inside
Six chapters, thirty-one rules
- At the table8
- Arriving and leaving5
- Introductions5
- Letters and thanks7
- Conversation4
- Staying with friends2
The four real books
- Manners and Rules of Good Society, London, 1916
- Florence Hartley, The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, 1860
- Florence Howe Hall, Good Form for All Occasions, 1914
- Samuel Wells, How to Behave, 1857
All out of copyright. The guide tells you where to read them free.
who is Clementine?
“Most of these rules come down to one idea: make the other person comfortable, and don't make yourself the main event.”
Clementine Vale is a fictional character, made with AI: an English grandmother with a dry wit and a soft spot for good manners. She isn't a real person, and we'll never pretend she is.
The rules are real. Every one is quoted from a book printed between 1857 and 1916, with the book, year and chapter beside it, so you can check each one yourself.
before you buy
Questions
What do I get?
A 16-page PDF, sized A5, that reads well on a phone and prints nicely at home. The download link appears straight after payment.
Is Clementine a real person?
No. She is a fictional character made with AI. The quotes and sources are real, and you can check every one.
What if something is wrong with the file?
Send us a message and we'll fix it or refund you. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply as well.
Is this advice?
No. It's for interest and fun.
Eat the cheese. Write the note.
Thirty-one rules, judged, for less than a box of good biscuits.
Checkout opens soon
US$12 · 16-page PDF · instant download