What Would Miss Manners Say?

Debrett's, or as it is formally known, Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage was first published in 1769, and is the behavior guide for the British Upper Crust. It also contains genealogical information about every British Duke, Marquess, Viscount, Earl, Baron and Baronet, along with listing the all-important living male members of the line. It was doubtless the first thing Bertie Wooster ever read.  It guides debutantes and their escorts how to behave in the presence of the Queen, which fork to use, and never to grind out their cigarettes on the host's carpet.

Oh, wait, that last bit is in the new Debrett's.

Debrett's Etiquette for Girls, in an effort to stay current, at least for those likely to hang with the younger Royals, gives advice about one-night-stands like "avoid dark-alley gropery and unladylike fumbling in the back of a cab."  The language is charmingly 60's like this:  "Discuss the necessaries to avoid planting any love children or disease, and you're away."

I'm sort of disappointed.  I think there are lots of venues for the peerage to get sex advice, and I doubt that any of them will turn to Debrett's first.  That's not what it's for. 

This new Debrett's should be real good for a laugh, though.

[Story via Reuters Oddly Enough News.  In its entirety here]

Comments

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