he appears awkward. Each traveler has to determine for himself from which standpoint he least objects to appearing awkward.
Q. Please settle this question for me. In placing the guests at a dinner party, at which all of the guests are “coupled off,” should the lady be placed on the gentleman’s left or right?
A. A woman is seated at the table at the right of the man who takes her to dinner.
ON THE STREET
Q. When meeting a friend on the street is it proper to stop to chat?
A. No, one should not stand in the middle of the sidewalk and talk, thus blocking the way for other pedestrians. He should walk slowly with the friend with whom he wishes to chat.
Q. Will you kindly settle a point of etiquette? In meeting, or passing in the street, should the younger woman salute the elder, or vice versa?
A. When two women pass on the street, it is proper for the younger woman to wait until the elder woman greets her before speaking. The greeting is practically simultaneous, but in actual fact it is the elder woman’s place to speak first.
Q. When leaving a street car or bus does a man precede or follow a woman?
A. A man should always go out first when leaving a street car or bus, in order to offer assistance to his companion in alighting.
Q. I have sometimes noticed a man holding a cigar in his mouth while he is talking with a woman. Isn’t this considered very rude?
A. It is an outstanding mark of rudeness for a man to smoke a cigaret or a cigar when he is standing talking with a woman.
Q. Where should a woman sit in a motor or carriage having a driver? That is, is there any rule as to which side she should sit on?
A. According to European etiquette, whether it is a private carriage, a car, or a taxi, a woman must never sit on a man’s left. This is the rule because in Europe a woman “on the left” is not a “lady.” This etiquette, however, is not observed in America and usually the woman takes the far seat upon entering a taxicab or private car. This eliminates the necessity of the man’s stepping in front of her.
Q. Is it customary nowadays for a woman to take the arm of a man when walking down the street?
A. To an old lady or to an invalid a man offers his arm. Otherwise a woman no longer takes a man’s arm in the daytime unless to cross a very crowded thoroughfare, or to be helped over a rough piece of road, or in other impeding circumstances. It is never good form for a man to take a woman’s arm.
Q. When a man and woman meet on the street which should speak first?
A. Etiquette demands that a woman speak first when meeting a man. This is in order that an undesirable acquaintanceship need not be continued. However, between very close friends this rule is ignored, since it is often the case that the woman does not see the man or perhaps does not recognize him immediately when meeting in a crowd.
Q. When a man is walking down the street with two women, does he walk between them?
A. No; when walking with two wo-
