Kenady - Mr. Boddingtons etiquette: charm and civility for every occasion

Copyright 2018 by Mr. Boddingtons Studio

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN: 978-1-4521-5821-1 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-4521-5832-7 (epub, mobi)

Design by Anne Kenady

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Dear Friend,

When I was a little tot, known then as Master Boddington, I spent the summers poking about my aunties rose garden. And during those summers, I observed her every move. I sat with her at her writing desk as she penned handsome correspondence to friends, sending out invitations and well-wishes. We had luncheon together most days, and she gently guided my table manners. And several times each summer I would creep downstairs after dark to watch the swirl and theater of her renowned parties, honoring this ones marriage or that ones birthday. She taught me that etiquette is not a stuffy box of rules that one puts on the shelf and glares at from the corners of ones eyes. On the contrary, it is from her guidance that I realized manners are the simplest way to show love and respect to those we hold dear. Inside these pages are my tips for presenting yourself well, showing gratitude to friends and family, treating them kindly in return, and avoiding accidentally making a fool of yourself by using the wrong fork or asking the wrong question.

We can sort it out together, and have quite a fun time while we do it. I do hope youll join me.

My warmest regards,

Mr. Boddington

But, Uncle, how do you expect me to use my fountain pen in these tempestuous high seas? My nephew and I were bobbing about the Indian Ocean when I noticed him feverishly tap-tap-tapping away on his phone. I speculated aloud that if the yacht were to sink, my dear nephew would swiftly rescue his lovely phone and let the rest of us plunge to the bottom like pitiful little stones. Not at all amused, he shared that he was in fact e-mailing a thank-you note to Princess Juniper for hosting her recent punk-and-plaid party. I nearly fell off the stern in bafflement. Dear nephew, you should know that even if your penmanship looks like scribbles and is splattered with salt water, there is no substitute for a handwritten note of gratitude. He winked and said, Just pulling your leg, old friend.

Once you have gone to the spectacular effort of writing a note, consider taking a moment to properly address the envelope. Below is a reference to keep at hand to help you sort out the details.

If a note or letter is handwritten, the address on the envelope should also be handwritten. If the correspondence is typed, preferably on your pond-blue Royal typewriter, you may either type or handwrite the address.

SINGLE FEMALE

Ms. Rosalind Barberini

SINGLE MALE

Mr. Barrett Bolsom Balasubramanian

DOCTOR AND SPOUSE

Dr. Cosmo Fairclough and Mrs. Isobel Fry

Dr. Flora Humphrey and Mr. Bert Humphrey

(The doctors name is always listed first, regardless of gender.)

MARRIED DOCTORS

Drs. Harriet and Bartholomew Moretti

or

The Doctors Moretti

MARRIED DOCTORS WITH DIFFERENT LAST NAMES

Dr. Wallace Padmore and Dr. Oppie Honeycutt

OTHER PROFESSIONAL TITLES AND SPOUSES

Captain Callie Clover and Mr. Oscar Clover

The Reverend Mr. and Mrs. Alger Leighton

Colonel and Mrs. Teddy English

(The person with the professional title is always listed first, regardless of gender.)

HETEROSEXUAL MARRIED COUPLE

Same last name:

Mr. and Mrs. Wolf le Clerc

Same last name and the lady prefers Ms.:

Ms. Eugenia Love and Mr. Luca Love

Different last names:

Ms. Dotty Wise and Mr. Salvatore Meyers

MARRIED WOMAN TAKING HER HUSBANDS NAME

Mrs. Stella Luciano

or

Mrs. Marcus Luciano

or

Ms. Stella Luciano

MARRIED WOMAN KEEPING HER MAIDEN NAME

Ms. Coco Thibauld

HETEROSEXUAL UNMARRIED COUPLE

Ms. Adelaide Bassot and Mr. Ernest Bittencourt

SAME-SEX COUPLE (MARRIED OR UNMARRIED)

Mr. Leo Boulanger and Mr. Angus Perrottet

Ms. and Ms. Agatha and Maud Browning

(List the names in alphabetical order by last name.)

OTHER INDIVIDUALS AT THE SAME ADDRESS (FOR EXAMPLE, HOUSEMATES OR SIBLINGS)

Ms. Lacy Beauchamp

Ms. Rosa Millywise

(Place the names on two lines, in alphabetical order by last name.)

DIVORCED WOMAN

A divorced woman no longer uses her husbands first name:

Ms. Isabella Greene

Many divorced women choose to revert to their maiden names:

Ms. Isabella Ickleheart

WIDOW

Traditionally, a widow keeps her late husbands name if she has not remarried:

Mrs. Arthur Bixby

Or she may choose to use her own first name:

Mrs. Poppy Bixby

If you dont know a widows preference, it is standard to use her late husbands name.

Girls are addressed as Miss until they reach sixteen to eighteen years of age. After that point, they become Ms. until they are married, when they may adopt Mrs.

Ms. is the correct form of address for an unmarried woman, though married women may choose to remain Ms. It is never used with a husbands first name (Ms. Boris Aldrich would be incorrect, for example). Use Ms. as a default if you are unsure of a persons age or marital status.