4-37 Conversation Rules for Gentlemen from 1875

“It is ill-bred to put on an air of weariness during a long speech from another person, and quite as rude to look at a watch, read a letter, flirt the leaves of a book, or in any other action show that you are tired of the speaker or his subject.”

Hmmm. He did not say anything about looking at your smartphone. That must be ok.

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