Sunday, July 23, 2006

"The Perfect Secretary"

"The perfect secretary should forget that she is a human being, and be the most completely efficient aid at all times and on all subjects. Her object is to coordinate with her employer's endeavor, and not make any intrusions which would be more likely to affect him as hurdles than as helps.
She should respond to his requirements exactly as a machine responds to the touch of a lever or accelerator . . ."

Emily Post's Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage; copyright 1945

Some subtitles from Emily Post's Etiquette

The Kitchen Finds Itself in Society
To You Who Are Mrs. Three-in-One
But No Shutters That Bang!
Bacon
Fashion and Fat
Have Silver That Shines or None
Favors Too Much Taken for Granted

"The Heart of the Whole Domestic Problem!"

"Whether a house runs smoothly or roughly depends entirely upon the personal adjustments made between the lady of the house and the one or many whom she employs. This is the heart of the whole domestic problem. I think we all have certain neighbors whose houses suggest the smoothness, the tranquility, and the beauty of a sun-dappled mountain brook. And we can also name others who live in a storm center of perpetual upheaval. We know, too, that wealth is not the important factor."

Emily Post's Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage; copyright 1945

Thursday, July 20, 2006

When misogyny is sort of okay--except, you know, not.

Let us all greet the sun and rise in recognition of Ernest Hemingway's birthday. Ha!

Monday, July 10, 2006

Found Object



























found in a copy of Great Books by David Denby

Found Object

































found in a copy of Earthworks by Brian W. Aldiss