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Good tone. A collection of rules and advice on all occasions of the life of public and family. In five depths. St. Petersburg: Publishing Herman Goppe. 1881.

We must frankly say that this book began to turn over this dandy not without a malicious back thought. We thought to find in it some kind of spicy details, like something quasi-philosophical generalization, a moral system of “good tone”, in general there is some reason for conversation the volume of this very good tone. Such a conversation could, of course, be interesting, if you take the attention of many -based stupid things and the most serious requirements that are summarized in the “good Ton”. Good tone, this is the whole code of customs and decent, developed by the Vaki. It can serve as an object of serious, extremely important alignment or deep satire, but it can also be the subject of the smoke and claims, offering to look at the whole of God's paces of good tone. Something in this afternoon we waited for the publication of G. German Goppe. We were mistaken and should leave our malicious posterior thoughts at the same time. The “good tone”, published by G. Goppe, is simply flat to smear all of the Izvatnaya things, with light lamentations about the merits of good, modesty and respect for the senior in features. As for the collisions that can arise between the requirements of the good and good tone, the author leaves his readers very often in a strong idiom. For example, a good tone requires a refreshment: “At the family table to each device, one small plate usually becomes; The all deeps are standing near the hostess, who pours soup. The fork lies on the bottom, the knife on the right, and the spoon behind the plate; Or, even more used, a knife, a fork and a spoon are placed to the right of the plate, resting on a small stand, glass or silver. A glass of a glass behind a plate; A little more right from the middle, a glass, if they drink wine at the table ”(p. 67). You are amazed at the thoroughness of the author and rightly believe that he only does not teach such a rule by forgetfulness: a good tone does not allow to wrinkle his lime leg. But here on page 23, the author rises into the spheres of the good. He says: “Father is the lord in the house; His authority must obey his authority tolessly, and if he even stands above his father, then he should not forget that he owes his own education to the same father, who, having more experience, knows better, which belongs to a good tone of the house, which is the most significant scientific education. ” The rule is beautiful, albeit illiterately expressed. But imagine that the father, having no chance to get acquainted with the publication of G. Herman Goppe and, disgusting the rules of good tone, requires the fork to lie on the right, and a knife on the left side of the plate. How to be here? How to agree to the requirements of good tone and goodbye? The author is silent. The author is even more scared by the reader with a long prospect of troubles, misunderstanding and so on, not even explaining in what they can be. For example, “the servant will be able to do not know how to do it simply:“ yes ”,“ no ”, and always add“ yes, lady ”,“ no, lamin ”,“ listening, young lady ”, it will lead to the hut of many of the lack of mind.” And what? - Unknown. Or: “If we come to the killing that acquaintances are otherwise kept and conducted, it would be possible to follow, it is better to stop any acquaintance with such personalities, which can be subjected to immovables to be immutable.” And what are the immutations? - Unknown.

However, the all these little elaborations are pronounced vividly shines the thoroughness of the author. “The remnants of the food, for example, bones, pepper, etc. are not suitable. Put on the edge of the plate; It’s also decent to put this plate, on the tablecloth. ” See the same reader!

"Domestic notes", 1881, No.

5, May, p. 59-61