At a time like the present when Indian and European gentlemen and ladies are beginning to mix more freely in each other's society, it has seemed to the writer that there is a want of some kind of manual of English manners and usages, to which Indian gentlemen might refer in case of uncertainty. It is with the object of aiding and furthering in this way such friendly intercourse that the present work has been under-taken.
It will be observed that the author has endeavoured to include everything on the subject of etiquette that may be useful to all classes of Indian gentlemen that are or may be brought into con-tact with Europeans; and that, consequently, various details have been introduced, which would have been unnecessary in a book intended only for the higher and more educated classes.
The writer's best thanks are due to the Bengal Secretariat, to the Assistant Private Secretary to the Viceroy, and to the Private Secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal for valuable help and information, as well as to several friends who have kindly looked through the proofs of this work and made sundry useful suggestions.
ETIQUETTE may be defined as a body of rules to guide our behaviour in polite society.
Society (by which is meant the whole community of gentlefolk in any country) has, by a general consensus of opinion, laid down these rules for its own well-being and preservation, and they are, therefore, important to all those who wish to belong to it.
To the Indian gentleman, particularly, who desires to inix in English society, a knowledge of the rules of English etiquette is important, because in its details the etiquette of one community often differs widely from that of another; and it is quite possible that tastes and habits that are approved in Indian, may be discountenanced in European, society.
To a large extent, however, these rules of conduct are the same among ladies and gentlemen everywhere, since the essence of politeness is a delicate regard for the feelings of others, and the first element of good manners is unselfishness. Thus manners are really based upon morals; and courtesy, when we come to analyse it, is found to be the outcome of the virtues of reverence, forbearance, and self-control.
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