VINTAGE: The Household Guides

If you all remember one of the things we were really looking forward to about the weekend was getting back out to some of the local estate sales [the trip to the Eastern Market got rained off] which we went out to in earnest. A few big things caught our eye, from a chaise lounge which needed totally reupholstering and possibly had damp from sitting in an unfinished basement to a rather old, mirrored cabinet for my compacts [if you clicky the links it'll take you the estate agents photographs of said items]. Sadly they were asking a lot for both for us to really consider when we need to save pennies so we let them go.

Nevertheless we didn't leave empty handed. Often if you go on Saturdays [often the second sale day] they start dropping prices. So books had dropped form $1 each to 50cents. How could you resist?! There as a set of books that really caught my eye all under the subtitle of Household Guides published in the 1950s. I just had to grab the sewing guide and the how to about etiquette.  Sewing guides never date and it's always good to have a variety of books explaining how to do things, I think I might start a mini collection of sewing book, their drawings alone are gorgeous and I've included some above for you to look at.

I could never do justice trying to describe to you about the New Book of Etiquette, the best thing would be to share some of the quotes with you;

Men should take the curb side of the pavement whether he is walking with one woman, or with several ... if they [men] come to a puddle of water, he crosses first, and from the other side offers her his hand to help her across. 

No gentleman will insists upon paying a fare when the women has indicated her intention of paying it herself.

Any public display of attention is ill breed. Love is sacred and beautiful and it should not be thrown open to the rude comments of strangers.

It is always wise to consult the young lady is determining the choice of the [engagement] ring, and it is her privilege to choose whatever kind she wants regardless of tradition or convention. 

It is by far the best plan for the young people to be married as soon as they have come to know each other well enough - which should be three or four months after their engagement.

No later then fifteen days and not earlier than four weeks before the date set for the marriage, wedding invitations are sent.

If you talk constantly about yourself and about things that interest you, it will not be long before you are regarded as a bore.

Don't talk about the weather, unless it has been so phenomenally bad or good that people are eager to discuss it [that will teach us the English to constantly talk about the weather right?!]

Originally I had intended to sell this guide to etiquette but after reading it, it's too hard to give away. While it's old fashioned and I'm glad times have moved on, it's a must to keep.

Have you found any interesting goodies lately?