Lessons for my future sons (Part Six)

Moving on as if I didn’t take an extra long break . . .
51. Wear not your clothes foul, ripped or dusty but see they be brush’d once everyday at least and take heed that you approach not to any uncleaness.
See what I keep telling you? Dirt is not gentlemanly at all. You need to make sure you’re always clean before you leave the house. Your socks should be clean and don’t forget to wear clean underwear either.
52. In your apparel be modest and endeavor to accommodate nature, rather than to procure admiration keep to the fashion of your equals such as are civil and orderly with respect to times and places.
Basically don’t wear surfing shorts and no shirt to go to church. Appropriate and modest dress is one thing that I know I’ve taught you so this should not even be an issue. Each time and place has appropriate attire so stick to it.
53. Run not in the streets, neither go too slowly nor with mouth open go not shaking your arms kick not the earth with your feet, go not upon the toes, nor in a dancing fashion.
Stride when you walk, like someone of importance so people don’t think you don’t deserve to be in a certain place. Running in the streets is dangerous because you might get hit by a car, and equally going too slowly with mouth agape because you might run into a pole. When you enter a room, let the room feel your presence by your stride and posture.
54. Play not the peacock, looking every where about you, to see if you be well deck’t, if your shoes fit well, if your stockings sit neatly, and clothes handsomely.
Bordering on Narcissism is unattractive at all and not in the least bit gentlemanly. A man who cares too much about his appearance seems to not have many things of importance that he ponders on. It’s ok to be neat and clean but not showy and taking hours to get ready.
55. Eat not in the streets, nor in the house, out of season.
I don’t know about eating in the house of out season, but eating in the streets will infect your food. Mommy doesn’t want dust to go on your food so make sure you don’t walk around the streets with all the things hanging in the air and dust so you can catch something.
56. Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad company.
You’ve heard the saying that goes, ‘show me your friends and I’ll tell you what kind of person you are’. Do not isolate people completely but make sure that the ones closest to you are “of good quality”. A reputation takes a lifetime to build but only a second to ruin it so be careful who you associate with.
57. In walking up and down in a house, only with one in company if he be greater than yourself, at the first give him the right hand and stop not till he does and be not the first that turns, and when you do turn let it be with your face towards him; if he be a man of great quality, walk not with him cheek by jowl but somewhat behind him; but yet in such a manner that he may easily speak to you.
You’ll have to memorise this one for when you are meeting the president or some other important person because I don’t see how I can teach you to do this with each and every one of ‘great quality’ on a daily basis.
58. Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for ’tis a sign of a tractable and commendable nature: and in all causes of passion admit reason to govern.
Think before you act my child and don’t revile others or curse them for having more than you do. A person who is quick on their feet and with their fists is unsavoury to say the least.
59. Never express anything unbecoming, nor act against the rules moral before your inferiors.
Be an example to the younger ones and those that you are in charge of because they are always watching to see that you do the right thing before they can do the wrong thing.
60. Be not immodest in urging your friends to discover a secret.
That borders on gossip and malicious behaviour so do not be involved in such. Instead, either tell people direct what you would like them to know or don’t dangle a ‘secret’ in front of them if you are not revealing it to them.