Kovács Ferenc et al.: Fardagály és kámvás rokolya. Divat és illem a 19. században (Budapest, 2010)
Egy kis 19. századi illemtan
Egy kis 19. századi illemtan mellett bal kéz felől kell elmenni. „Ha ismered, meghajlással kell üdvözölni, amennyiben beszélget hátra kell lépni, hogy ne halljuk amit a másiknak mond.” Látogatáskor illik előbb bejelentve lenni. .Amikor az úr leül, állva kell maradni, míg nem szól, hogy helyet foglalhatunk. Egészsége voltát nem szabad megtudakolni. Ne tüsszentsünk, ne köpjünk az úr jelenlétében. Meg kell várni, míg elkezdi a beszédet, noszogatni nem szabad. Nagyobb rangút kötelező kikísémi az ajtóig a kisebb rangúakkal szemben ugyanezen kötelességgel már nem kell számolni.” The signature came at the end of the letter and to the right, about one or two fingers below the main text. According to the rules there could be no postscript (p.s.) and it was not polite to leave stains or corrections on the paper: if they happened to make a mistake, they began the whole letter again from the beginning. The finished letter was folded first in half and then lengthwise, before being placed in the envelope - an exception were strictly official documents, which were either only folded lengthwise, or first folded lengthwise and then in half The envelope was closed using a red wax seal, pressing the seal straight down into the wax. It was absolutely forbidden to use someone else’s seal. The name of the sender was written on the top left corner of the envelope, while the full name, rank and postal address of the recipient was written in the bottom right-hand quarter in capital letters. How to behave with Peers and Nobility According to the books on etiquette of the period “when in attendance one should pay attention to correct posture, our movements should be harmonious”, but the way to become likeable “cannot be learned from a book”. Peers should be passed at their left. “If you know him, you should greet him with a bow, ifhe is engaged in conversation, one should step back so as not to hear what he is saying to the other party.” When visiting it is polite to first be announced in. “When the lord sits, one should remain standing until he gestures or tells one to be seated. It is forbidden to enquire about the state of his health. Do not sneeze or spit in the presence of his lordship. One should Sétapálca, MNM Walking stick, HNM Sétapálca részlete, MNM Detail from a walking stick, HNM
