Questionable Advice

~ The Mentor: A Little Book for the Guidance of Such Men and Boys as would Appear to Advantage in…

starfishpaws — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:10:43 -0400

~ The Mentor: A Little Book for the Guidance of Such Men and Boys as would Appear to Advantage in the Society of Persons of the Better Sort, by Alfred Ayres, 1884

I need questionable advice

starfishpaws — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:34:37 -0400

The world is full of advice and most of it is very questionable. Perhaps you are wondering what to do next time you are out with friends and someone drops something?

~ Etiquette, Jr., by Mary Elizabeth Clark and Margery Closey Quigley, 1965

~ A Manual of Etiquette with Hints on Politeness and Good Breeding, by Daisy Eyebright, 1852

starfishpaws — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:50:45 -0400

~ A Manual of Etiquette with Hints on Politeness and Good Breeding, by Daisy Eyebright, 1852

~ The Health Guide, Edwin D. Babbitt, 1874

starfishpaws — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:47:52 -0400

~ The Health Guide, Edwin D. Babbitt, 1874

Don’t bathe when drunk

~ Marietta Register, Marietta, Pennsylvania; Saturday, October 10, 1885

starfishpaws — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:19 -0400

~ Marietta Register, Marietta, Pennsylvania; Saturday, October 10, 1885

Don’t you people have homes to go to?

~ Every Day Home Advice and The Practical Business of Life, Containing The Best and Most Practical…

starfishpaws — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:13:03 -0400

~ Every Day Home Advice and The Practical Business of Life, Containing The Best and Most Practical Advice in Household Management, 1882

~ Advice to Freshmen, University of Michigan,by Lionel G. Crocker, 1921

starfishpaws — Sun, 31 May 2026 11:12:38 -0400

~ Advice to Freshmen, University of Michigan,by Lionel G. Crocker, 1921

~ Modern Dancing, by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle, 1914

starfishpaws — Sat, 30 May 2026 11:52:51 -0400

~ Modern Dancing, by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle, 1914

Video of Vernon and Irene Castle demonstrating a proper dip (without grotesque attitudes!) starting at 1:09 in the 1915 film The Whirl of Life

~ Pearline, 1904

starfishpaws — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:25:25 -0400

~ Pearline, 1904

I love this woman: she looks like someone who can manage a household, grow beautiful geraniums and make delicious tea cakes, all while advising you to stop being silly about the new grocer’s delivery boy because “pretty is as pretty does.”

Also, if you look at this slightly better picture you can tell she’s wearing fancy earrings:

~ STOP! A Handy Monitor, Pocket Conscience and Portable Guardian against the World, the Flesh and…

starfishpaws — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:49:54 -0400

~ STOP! A Handy Monitor, Pocket Conscience and Portable Guardian against the World, the Flesh and the Devil, Nathan D. Urner, 1884

~ Our Deportment or the Manners and Customs of Polite Society, Maud C. Cooke, 1902

starfishpaws — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:23:40 -0400

~ Our Deportment or the Manners and Customs of Polite Society, Maud C. Cooke, 1902

Don’t make eye contact with the help, ladies

I’m strangely fascinated by this! Probably because it’s every woman’s choice. Anyway, here is one c….

starfishpaws — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:44:42 -0400

the1920sinpictures:

1921 Ad for a phonograph and lamp (!) combination from Burns Pollock Electric Manufacturing Company. From Pinterest.

I’m strangely fascinated by this! Probably because it’s every woman’s choice. Anyway, here is one c. 1915:

And here is another, slightly less ornate, c. 1921:

~ Social Customs, Florence Howe Hall, 1887

starfishpaws — Tue, 26 May 2026 09:46:22 -0400

~ Social Customs, Florence Howe Hall, 1887

~ The Sunday Morning Star, April 23, 1939

starfishpaws — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:21:31 -0400

~ The Sunday Morning Star, April 23, 1939

“Strangely enough, there are places in this civilized world where mobs are permitted and encouraged to attack people … whose creed and race are not approved by the party in power.” “Heaven forbid that the people of this country will ever have such an intolerant attitude toward any of its citizens”

~ Female Beauty: or, The Art of Human Decoration by Ernest Feydeau, 1874

starfishpaws — Sun, 24 May 2026 11:29:32 -0400

~ Female Beauty: or, The Art of Human Decoration by Ernest Feydeau, 1874

~ W. J. Sprunger, 1916

starfishpaws — Sat, 23 May 2026 10:41:27 -0400

~ W. J. Sprunger, 1916

“Some people have not much music in their head but have a lot in their feet.”

Wise words from W.J. Sprunger

GOING TO THE BEACH?

starfishpaws — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:40:35 -0400

GOING TO THE BEACH?

In the US the last weekend in May is a traditional weekend to go to the beach. But before you go running into the water all willy-nilly and happy, please read the following warnings:

And, of course, please be sure you are properly attired for beach activity. No one wants to see your ankles, people.

Picture of appropriate clothing and sources below the cut:

Vivilore: The Pathway To Mental and Physical Perfection, Mary Ries Melendy, 1904
Lord & Taylor advertisement, June 14, 1879

~ The American Gentleman’s Guide to Politeness and Fashion, Henry Lunettes, 1863

starfishpaws — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:14:44 -0400

~ The American Gentleman’s Guide to Politeness and Fashion, Henry Lunettes, 1863

*Sigh* Servants are such a bother

~ The Correct Thing in Good Society, by the Author of “Social Customs”, 1888

starfishpaws — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:44:11 -0400

~ The Correct Thing in Good Society, by the Author of “Social Customs”, 1888

~ The Sunday Morning Star (Wilmington, DE), April 23, 1939

starfishpaws — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:40:31 -0400

~ The Sunday Morning Star (Wilmington, DE), April 23, 1939