“Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody.”
Mansfield Park (1814) Jane Austen
Class schedule and itinerary will be made available in Spring 2021
Ridiculous Etiquette Rules from Victorian Times or are they?
1. THE LENGTH OF CONVERSATION MUST DEPEND ON THE PLACE WHERE YOU MEET: In the streets, conversations were required to be short—wouldn't want to hold up traffic!—but when taking a longer “promenade” through the garden, discussions were granted more time.
2. As a lady enters a drawing-room...
HER FACE SHOULD WEAR A SMILE; SHE SHOULD NOT RUSH IN HEAD-FOREMOST; A GRACEFUL BEARING, A LIGHT STEP, AN ELEGANT BEND TO COMMON ACQUAINTANCE (...) ARE ALL REQUISITE TO A LADY: As if women didn't already have enough to deal with during the 19th century. All the above is included in addition to "not shaking, of the hand extended to her," but rather, accepting it with "cordial pressure."
3. AFTER MID-DAY IT IS ILLEGAL TO CELEBRATE A MARRIAGE:
Fortunately, things loosened up near the end of the century, and weddings could be held as late as *gasp* 3 p.m.
4. WHEN A BRIDE IS YOUNG, THE BRIDESMAIDS SHOULD BE YOUNG.
The handbook also mentions that it was acceptable for a young married lady to be a bridesmaid, but it would be “absurd” if the woman in question were single and aged. We wouldn’t want to throw off the aesthetic, I suppose.
5. THE WORST PART OF A COUNTRY VISIT IS THE NECESSITY OF GIVING GRATUITIES TO THE SERVANTS:
What an imposition! Paying the help is the most loathsome burden.
6. GLOVES MUST BE WHITE, NOT YELLOW: Because lemon-colored gloves would have been the obvious choice otherwise.
7. THE DANCES [AT A BALL] SHOULD BE ARRANGED BEFOREHAND, AND, FOR LARGE BALLS, YOU SHOULD HAVE PRINTED A NUMBER OF DOUBLE CARDS, CONTAINING ON THE ONE SIDE A LIST OF THE DANCES; ON THE OTHER, BLANK SPACES TO BE FILLED UP BY THE NAMES OF PARTNERS. A SMALL PENCIL SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO EACH CARD: Apparently parties were a little more regulated back then. The handbook follows with the assortment of dances that one should expect at a ball (such as a quadrille, a waltz, a polka) as well as the number of times they are to be played.
8. A LADY SHOULD NEVER HAVE MORE THAN ONE GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE: Oh dear. If the handbook's obsessive rules are too overwhelming for you, feel
free to fall back on this overarching mandate:
11. ANYTHING THAT DETRACTS FROM THE PLEASURE OF SOCIETY IS IN BAD TASTE: At least one rule has aged quite nicely.
Summer Program
The program objectives are achieved through a summer curriculum consisting of educational workshops, activities, community service outings and rehearsals.
The culminating event of the program is the Victorian Debutante Cotillion Ball, to be held at the end of the summer in which the debutantes are formally presented in Victorian Society and their local communities.
This event also includes an award ceremony in which individuals will be presented with scholarships to the following years program.
Our Victorian Etiquette Program supports Young Women in today's society
by promoting:
Our Victorian Etiquette Program supports Young Women in today's society by promoting:
The enhancement of personal, civic and leadership development through structured educational workshops.
Develop servant leadership through volunteerism and community service.
Develop high ethical standards, character development, good citizenship and social graces during the formative years.
Develop camaraderie and positive relationships with other young women.
Develop artistic expression and health through dance and movement
Donations
Donations help offset the cost of tuition, educational tools and materials for each attendee. This program is possible by donations from individuals like yourself.
Each Donation over $50.00 will come with a 15% annual discount on all Tea In Time Afternoon Tea Fundraisers. *
* 15% discount applies to the initial purchase per event (regardless if you are buying (1) seat or (20) seats at a time). All subsequent purchases for the same event will be at the regular price.
Donations receipts automatically provided for donations over $100.00.
