worth having in the
world.

=CHILDREN AT AFTERNOON TEA=

A custom in many fashionable houses is to allow children as soon as they
are old enough, to come into the drawing-room or library at tea-time, as
nothing gives them a better opportunity to learn how to behave in
company. Little boys are always taught to bow to visitors; little girls to
curtsy. Small boys are taught to place the individual tables, hand plates
and tea, and pass sandwiches and cakes. If there are no boys, girls
perform this office; very often they both do. When everybody has been
helped, the children are perhaps allowed a piece of cake, which they put
on a tea-plate, and sit down, and eat nicely. But as the tea-hour is very
near their supper time, they are often allowed nothing, and after making
themselves useful, go out of the room again. If many people are present
and the children are not spoken to, they leave the room unobtrusively and
quietly. If only one or two are present, especially those whom the
children know well, they shake hands, and say "Good-by," and walk (not
run) out of the room.

This is one of the ways in which well-bred people become used from
childhood to instinctive good manners. Unless they are spoken to, they
would not think of speaking or making themselves noticed in any way. Very
little children who have not reached the age of "discretion," which may be
placed at about five, possibly not until six, usually go in the
drawing-room at tea-time only when near relatives or intimate friends of
the family are there. Needless to say that they are always washed and
dressed. Some children wear special afternoon clothes, but usually the
clean clothes put on at tea-time go on again the next morning, except the
thin socks and house slippers which are reserved for the "evening hour" of
their day.

=CHILDREN'S PARTIES=

A small girl (or boy) giving a party should receive with her mother at the
door and greet all her friends as they come in. If it is her birthday and
other children bring her gifts, she must say "Thank you" politely. On no
account must she be allowed to tell a child "I hate dolls," if a friend
has brought her one. She must learn at an early age that as hostess she
must think of her guests rather than herself, and not want the best toys
in the grab-bag or scream because another child gets the prize that is
offered in a contest. If beaten in a game, a little girl, no less than her
brothers, must never cry, or complai