Here are ten rules of a great-grandmother of a young Russian woman. Her great-grandmother was her ideal of a true wife, a true inspiration, a socialite and a well of woman’s wisdom.
1. A true lady never imposes her opinion to anyone. She always has her own judgment about anything but she is also always open to another opinion. This way, she always expands her horizons and learns things from people around her.
2. A true lady is always friendly and welcoming to everyone, weather it is a maid, a person of nobility or a person of a royal blood. She is far away from disrespectful behavior and being a snob to anyone who is lower than her.
3. A true lady is absolutely far away from being involved into nationalistic behavior. She would never use indecent words or offensive terms towards another nationality. She equally respects all religions, cultures and nationalities, while being very well educated about traditions of her own culture. Someone’s nationality means nothing to her.
4. A true lady never forgets modesty, that is her true decoration. Unfortunately, nowadays modesty is not very popular and people do not value it as much. It may be good to show off at some competitions, but for the rest of the time a lady is humble and modest. This shows in her confident and calm manners and behavior.
5. A true lady is never in a rush. Low class people usually fidget – shaking their leg, playing with a pen in hand, moving arms and rubbing palms.
6. A true lady always remembers about her posture. In her childhood, they would put a ruler into her corset and made her walk like that all days long. There was no chance for a slouch.
7. A true lady never cusses or never act rude or inappropriately, she never gets drunk or never smokes.
8. A true lady is full of internal dignity that no one can take away, not even a war or a revolution. Knowledge of the etiquette, self-discipline, nobility and kind heart are always with her no matter where she is – in the palace or in the forest hut.
9. A true lady never shuns hard work. During war, many great princesses and empresses used to work as sisters of mercy in hospitals, helping at complication surgeries and relieving the pain of those who were suffering.
10. A true lady always takes care of herself. She would never allow herself look untidy and improper. Her great-grandmother lived until she was 102 years old and would wear jewelry, make her hair and manicure with the same master (who passed 6 months after her great-grandmother’s death) until the very end.
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Photo by José Luis Photographer
Based on a story of Polina Von Arens
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