Introduction
This paper aims at summarizing chapter 37 entitled “Traveling at Home and Abroad” in Emily Post’s book “Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home”. The main idea of this chapter is how the etiquette can implement to help anyone consider the interests and feelings of all people met while travelling. The author argues that the perfect traveler is the person with the ability to see the things philosophically and knowledge on how to take other people’s interests into account.
Main point
The chapter begins with the main etiquette principle that implicates while travelling. This principle reads as follows, “TO do nothing that can either annoy or offend the sensibilities of others, sums up the principal rules for conduct under all circumstances—whether staying at home or traveling” (Post 593). Then, the author continues with the detailed analysis of the situations that may occur whether on transport, or in hotels, or in connection with the need to use other languages. She specifically mentions every category of people that might need special guidance in certain situations, including children, young ladies, and ladies travelling without escort.
Analysis
Through the whole chapter, the readers notice that the author is focused on the idea of the perfect traveler. Post describes the perfect traveler as the person with the ability to maintain positive way of thinking, consider other people’s interests, being flexible when one’s companions have other points of view, and remain philosophic when the events develop in a way that one did not expect.
In addition, the author believes that the perfect traveler “is one who possesses the virtue of punctuality; one who has not forgotten something at the last minute, and whose bags are all packed and down at the hour for the start” (Post 616). She concludes that the dream traveler who would always be the first person on the invitation list is “he who is always keen and ready for anything, delighted with every amusing incident, willing to overlook shortcomings, and apparently oblivious of discomfort, is, needless to say, the one first included on the next trip” (Post 616).
Another remarkable thematic line in this chapter is what the perfect traveler never does. Post explains that generally, the perfect traveler has nothing to do with the negative way of thinking. For instance, if someone easily goes out of temper or tends to defend his or her interests in every situation, this person should not travel or at least should not have company during the journey. Besides, the perfect traveler is not in fuss and flurry. These two notions should not even be familiar to the decent person who decided to travel with other people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, chapter 37 in the book “Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home” by Emily Post provides valuable recommendations regarding the etiquette on transport and in hotels to the U. S. travelers. The chapter makes the detailed observation of different situations that may occur during journey both around the country and abroad. The chapter addresses different categories of people to describe the best practice for everyone under the different circumstances. The main themes this valuable guide considers are the theme of the perfect traveler and the theme of qualities and behaviors that should be by all means avoided to have the honor to become the perfect traveler.
References
Post, Emily. “Traveling at Home and Abroad.” Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1922. 593-616. Print.