IMC RI&&CR& Kf 1813 Y /C R0LB3 8 PLMCHCI UVNAM MBB YORK Copyright, 1903, 1904, by Fox, Duffield and Company The Trow Press, N, Y. TO rejoice in life because it gives you the chance to fuss, and to laugh, and to study the moon; to be satisfied with your natural gifts in this direction, but not content till you have made the most of them; to despise nothing but rudeness and cautiousness, and to fear nothing but bungling; to be governed by policy rather than by instinctive admiration; to covet nothing that is your neigh- bor's except that which you want and he has; to think seldom of your failures, often of your successes, and to spend as much time as you deem wise in a feminine atmosphere these are little pointers in the golden book of fussing. Rule I HYPOCRISY, thou art a jewel ! Pick out what you and the girl know to be her worst points and ask her if she minds your mentioning your admiration of them. Rule II EVEN if you were voted the handsomest man in your class, don't presume that a lady is " pinning roses on herself" simply because you are monopolizing all her calling hours. "Make good" with at least an oc- casional car fare or proffer of escort. Otherwise, at some psychological moment, you may find yourself tak- ing a far hack seat in favor of a homelier but wiser man. Rule III L2ARN a girl's little vanities and flatter her long and openly con- cerning them. This can be safely done for an indefinite length of time and is very taking. Unless you know her vulnerable points, however, implied compliments are safer. Rule IV ASGLE for a lady's hobby, and when you've hooked it play her. If the lady in turn angles for yours don't jump at the bait. Rule V DON'T drop her like a hot coal the minute the music stops. Seem loath to let her go, and waltz a few extra steps if necessary. This is tremendously telling, and so easy ! Rule VI WORDS are cheap. When introduced to a girl at a ball, even if you decide that she won't do, at least remark : " May I have one later on?" It makes for good feeling. xo Rule VII O occasional penance : it is good for the soul. Make the saddest girl in the room feel that she is the most attractive while you are talking to her; or dance during an evening with at least one " ice- wagon." ii <x D Rule VIII LT your feminine charm enhance the attractions of your athletic prowess. After a strenuous yesterday let him find you cool and dainty to-day in a muslin gown, and very feminine in manner. Heavy boots or tennis shoes alone will never take you far along the Fusser's Path. Rule IX HOLD off at times the little attentions which you feel are expected of you, but don't hold off too long. This rule has both a mas- culine and a feminine application. 12 Rule X HUMOR the Athletic Girl. Make her feel that she is the one good fellow of her sex, but never imply that this masculine touch detracts from her feminine charm. Rule XI RESPECT her serious side (if she has one) and don't meet her fads with an amused, indulgent smile. She won't love you for that attitude of male superiority. It makes her feel that the real thing in you is lacking, and in spite of herself she loves the real thing. Rule XII CULTIVATE a tact that conceals itself. If you feel that a man is caught with you at a dance don't aggravate the wound by laughing to him at the situation and yet show no inclination to find a way out of it. Rule XIII ET the method of fussing fit the girl. For remember all girls aren't cut from the same pattern. Rule XIV EMEMBER that all that chills you is not cold. In all proba- bility she has been advised to refuse an invitation once in a while, or to be out occasionally when you call. Above all she may fear to give the impression that she is sitting at the telephone waiting for you to ring her up. Learn to distinguish between a slight frost for diplomatic reasons and the cold spell that ushers in a whole winter of discontent. Rule XV WATCH how the wind blows! On a boat place the straight- haired damsel with her face to the breeze. This keeps her stray locks in place. She knows they are unbe- coming to her, and she can enjoy you more when not worrying about her looks. The girl with curls, however, rises superior to any wind that blows ; and is aware of the fact. M AKE her care before you try to make her jealous. 16 R Rule XVII EMEMBER always to " keep your eyes in the boat " ! Rule XVIII BE graceful as well as useful. In diving under a table at the end of a dinner, for the purpose of corralling your partner's handkerchief, gloves, smelling salts and fan, don't mar your host's mahogany by a too violent impact with your skull. It may create some temporary amuse- ment, but detracts on the whole from your reputation as an accom- plished fusser. Rule XIX DON'T assume that you are her only suitor. Imply rather by your general attitude that all man- kind, of course, is ready to eat out of her hand. 18 Rule XX DISCRIMINATE between the false and the true. When she truly cares she is apt to appear indifferent, but she almost surely is indifferent when she appears to care. Rule XXI BE ready to learn from any one. There are subtle depths in the gentle art of fussing which even yet may not be revealed to you. If you study the method of your best be- loved you will discover things you never dreamed of before. Rule XXII WHEN negotiating a difficult street corner don't grasp your fair companion by the crook of her shapely elbow and steer her in one direction if she shows any real inclination to set sail in another. The course of true love is never helped by such a crossing. Rule XXIII DON'T think, because he sends you $10 bunches of violets at his own free will, he enjoys being trapped into car fare and soda water. 20 Rule XXIV USE but two fingers to help a lady into a car or cab, and mind, no pushing ! [This rule carried into effect makes you the third man in America who really knows how.] 21 Rule XXV MAKE up to the little sisters and all small girls. You may be able to lord it over them when you are twenty and they are only ten. But some day when they are twenty and you are thirty the tables will be turned and they don't forget. Rule XXVI NOTICE details in a girl's looks, tastes, and frocks, and at some far future time compliment her on them. Length of memory linked with closeness of observa- tion will doubly flatter her. 22 Rule XXVII BEWARE of too long calls. Although it's true you've been brought up to believe that some girls think a beau in the parlor worth two in the hair, this maxim may not hold good after midnight. 23 Rule XXVIII // BE politic. When talking to one girl do not expatiate on the accomplishments of other "Pippins" and " Queens": it betrays the ama- teur hand. Rule XXIX ^\ TEP carefully. Remember, when V^J you put your foot through a lady's $250 gown, that her sweet smile upon you is all composed of heroism and that you are lucky if she is not inwardly cursing you. Learn to gaze earnestly into your partner's eyes, at the same time that you skill- fully and delicately avoid the edge of the "creation" trailing just ahead of you. Rule XXX STRIVE for a happy medium in seating a lady at the table. Neither be so slow that she is in danger of missing her chair, nor in such a hurry that you knock the edge of the table against her knees. The first seems to denote a vacuous mind ; the last makes you appear too eager for food. Rule XXXI CARRY yourself with confidence but not with over -assurance, remembering at the same time that almost everything is your fault. Rule XXXII DON'T add insult to injury. It's a great mistake to try to cover up one's rudeness to a lady by an attitude of general nastiness. Almost impossible as this may be for you to grasp, she sees through your assumed attitude every time and accepts with astonishment the fact that any one can be so silly. Rule XXXIII DON'T kiss your dollar good-bye before treating your best be- loved. Spend what you can afford with kingly carelessness and make up your laundry bill in another quarter. 26 I Rule XXXIV FUSS the chaperone, even at the expense of a tete-a- tete with "the only one." The longest way round is sometimes the shortest way home. 27 Rule XXXV NO matter what degrees of inti- macy and warmth your inter- views may attain, terminate them with a return to your usual conven- tional manner. Suggest that " it's all off" even if you intend calling her up on the 'phone within the hour. This tactic adds the two ingratiating elements of elusiveness and surprise to your intercourse. Rule XXXVI T^ON'T be timid about " butting- J in" at a ball. No girl in this world was ever annoyed because a man made her look popular. 28 Rule XXXVII ULTIVATE a breathless eager- C ness to learn everything about Her, whether it be her views on Browning or the kind of scent she uses, and jolly her with gentle ques- tionings to this end. This is one of the cheapest ways for acquiring the reputation of an "interesting talker." Rule XXXVIH DISCOVER fancied resemblances to celebrated actresses or pro- fessional beauties. Use the formula, " Do you know you remind me more of _ .than any other woman I ever saw?" and flavor to taste. Rule XXXIX DON'T take the game seriously. She may be only an accom- plished fusser, and not really in love with you at all. Rule XL v E chivalrous to all but easy to none. B i ooicSTsM "'