For your 19th century ballroom edification today, we have a list of etiquette points from The Royal Ball-Room Guide and Etiquette of the Drawing Room, 1877 (available through The Library of Congress). This is a great digest of lots of etiquette points on a variety of topics.
I believe many modern ladies and gentlemen could take note of many of these points when attending recreations of 19th century balls. My top choices for attendees and personal favorites are numbers 4, 11, 18, and 22.
Do you have a favorite (or two)? Did any surprise you? Have you been to a recreated 19th century ball and longed for any of these points to be adopted by modern ball guests?
The Quintessential Clothes Pen 
Fascinating!! I had heard quite a few of things (or something similar), but I had not known that a man was always supposed to ask the hostess to dance. The only one I don’t quite understand is the last one – “Gentlemen must at all times show the best interest to married ladies.” I wonder what that means? Did they mean that they couldn’t avoid dancing with a lady just because she was married and not “available”? Thanks so much for sharing this dancing history lesson. 🙂
Yes, that last one is a bit ambiguous to me, also. I think it might refer to making sure that married ladies are addressed first (before unmarried ladies) or put first in other similar circumstances. Glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂
I don’t know–your favorites are all very practical, but I rather like 19 and 27 (especially that 27 includes snarking as a not entertaining enough topic of conversation!) 🙂
Lol, I hadn’t thought of it like that!
What a wonderful find.
I don’t know why, but points 9 and 15 gave me very amusing mental images there for a moment. 🙂 And I would really like to see some point or another revived in our modern times.
I certainly think that point 15 is one that everyone should take note of! Wearing gloves and danceable shoes makes for an elegant evening.
I agree. In my head, it provoked the very comical image of a stockinged gentleman leading the quadrille. We certainly don’t want to see that. 🙂