Avoid rude or overly boisterous action – especially around ladies. Don’t be overly clownish. Use a gentlemanly wit to drive home the effect of a story. You’re looking for a quiet refined ease of manner.
Never allow a lady to get a chair for herself. Give up your seat for a lady whenever necessary. By extending these courtesies to your mother, sisters, or other members of your family, they become habit and by default, more natural when out in public.
Never perform even a little service for another with the hint or air of it being a favor that you can call upon for return in the future. Perform the service with a courteous humble heart.
It is not necessary to speak on every topic as if you are an expert. What a gentleman says must be what he sincerely knows and believes – otherwise he violates the first rule of gentleman’s speech – TRUTH.
Cultivate TACT. Talent is something – but TACT is EVERYTHING. Talent is power/strength, but Tact is the SKILL to purposefully use and apply talent. Talent knows what to do – TACT knows HOW TO DO IT. Talent makes a man respectable – Tact makes a man RESPECTED.
