A Bit More George

Did you know that when George Washington was just fourteen years old he wrote a little manifesto of good and polished manners entitled "Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour"? Well he did!

It's amazing to think that he was so concerned at that tender young age of teendom, about how to behave *this* properly in society...it's quite impressive.

I started keeping George's little book in this lavender planter a while back and now all of a sudden, red and lavender seem to be popping up everywhere...George did love color so I think he would be quite pleased with where his book is residing for the moment.

So many of these maxims seem very out of date for our society, but none the less, they do show a thoughtfulness for others in social situations and while reading (after chuckling a bit), you find yourself nodding your head and thinking that our social graces could use a tune up here and there...George style!

1st~ "Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present." (this one pretty much sums up the book)

12th~ "Shake not the head, feet, or legs; roll not the eyes; lift not one eyebrow higher than the other; wry not the mouth; and (this one is so important) bedew no man's face with your spittle by approaching to near him when you speak."

88th~ "Be not tedious in discourse, make not many digressions, nor repeat often the same manner of discourse." (yes...please!)

92~ "Take no salt, nor cut your bread, with your knife greasy."

(sounds like people used to use the tip of their knife to get salt from the little salt cellars that sat on the table...greasy salt would not be a good thing!)

110~ "Labour to keep alive in your breast that little celestial fire called conscience."

(I like this one)

I love this book for it's history factor and for the ability to have a peek into the mind and heart of our first president...when he was just a boy.