George Washington S Rules Of Civility Traced To Their Sources A
Chapter 23
honorables, le chappeau en la main, comme aux Ecclesiastiques, ou aux Magistrats, ou à quelques autres personnes qualifiées; en tenant vers vous le dedans du chappeau que vous aurez osté: Faites leur aussi la reverence par quelque inclination de corps, autant que la dignité de chacun d'eux, & la belle coûtume des enfants bien nourris, le semble exiger. Et comme c'est vne chose fort inciuile de ne se pas découurir devant ceux à qui l'on doit ce respect, pour les saluër, ou d'attendre que vostre égal vous rend le premier ce deuoir; aussi de le faire, quand il n'est pas à propos, ressent sa ciuilité affectée: mais c'est vne honteuse impertinence de prendre garde si l'on vous rend vostre salutation. Au reste pour saluër quelqu'vn de parole, ce compliment semble le plus propre, qui est vsité par personnes le plus polies.
Show your respect for illustrious and honourable men,--such as Ecclesiastics, Magistrates, or other persons of quality,--hat in hand, holding the inside of the removed hat towards you; make your reverence to them by inclining your body as much as the dignity of each and the custom of well-bred youth seems to demand. And, as it is very rude not to uncover the head before those to whom one owes such respect, in order to salute them, or to wait till your equal should perform this duty towards you first, so also, to do it when it is not fitting savours of affected politeness: but it is shameful impertinence to be anxious for the return of one's salute. Finally, it seems most fitting to salute any one in words, a compliment which the politest persons are in the habit of using.
27th. Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well as not to do it to whom it's due. Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the Second time of being ask'd; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in behaviour in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome.