[MR] Soundings of the Conch - On Your Feet!

[J. C. Smith Ispán]

Master Donal,

I agree with you, 100%, and have always done, and will always do, as you state 
in your post.  That said, I also wonder when rising like this became "proper".  
Was there a time when it was not?  


Since the personas and times we portray aren't uniform, certainly there will 
always be variations in courtesy.  We don't prostrate ourselves, as some 
cultures would have required, before the Crown instead we bow/curtsy.  


Does anyone know what the proper protocol would have been for your persona?  
This is something I need to learn for my own.

Barcsi Janos
 
JEFFREY C. SMITH 
 
"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where 
the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act 
only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, 
the stage of rule by brute force." -- Ayn Rand (1905-1982) Author





________________________________
From: "jbrmm266 at aol.com" <jbrmm266 at aol.com>
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Tue, February 1, 2011 12:16:19 PM
Subject: [MR] Soundings of the Conch - On Your Feet!


Soundings of the Conch
On Your Feet!

Master Donal Mac Ruiseart
Conch Herald

Most of us know that it is traditional to have a round of toasts (or to use a 
more period term, healths) at some time during any feast.  The usual pattern is 
Atlantia’s Monarchs, visiting Royals, Atlantia’s Crown Prince and Princess, if 
there be such, the local Baronage, and any visiting Baronials.

Most of us also should know that all ought to rise for these healths.  There is 
a belief in some quarters that ladies need not rise, but in fact they should.  
Exempting ladies from rising is a modern, probably American, innovation.

But apparently this is not as universally known as I thought.  At a recent 
event, our Baron rose to drink the health of Their Majesties, and fully half the 
men in the hall remained seated.  So dismayed was I by this apparent lack of 
respect for our Monarchs that I called aloud, “My lords!  On your feet, in the 
King’s name!”  At this admonition, the men – and many of the ladies – did rise.

Have so many of us forgotten our manners?  Or, I wondered on reflection, are 
such things not common knowledge among the populace, so that we need to teach 
them?  From the reaction of those at the event, I suspect – indeed hope – that 
it was a simple lack of knowledge, not a deliberate lack of respect, that kept 
those gentles in their seats.

So let me begin with the case in question.  When healths are drunk at a feast or 
at any event, all should rise, unless unable to do so.  That last provision 
includes infirmity, injury, or a hall so cramped as to make rising en masse 
impractical.

For the following examples, let me say that there is always an exception given 
for infirmity or injury, and to those working at a registration table or the 
Minister of the Lists table, or in the kitchen.  Musicians are also exempted 
when actually playing.  There are of course other exceptions dictated by common 
sense.

It is respectful and courteous to rise when addressed by a person of higher rank 
than yourself; indeed, it is truly courteous to rise when addressed by an equal, 
and more courteous still to rise for one of lower rank.  But it is truly 
discourteous to remain seated (unless unable to rise) when approached or 
addressed by a person of particularly high rank, especially a Royal.[1]

You ought also to rise when a Royal enters a room, except a really large public 
room, in which case you need rise only if the Royal is announced.

You should rise when a Royal passes near you while you are seated.

A gentle lord, when approached or addressed by a lady while seated, will rise to 
greet or respond to her.

A gentle lord will rise when a lady enters a small room.

A gentle lord will rise when a lady comes to a table at which he is seated, and 
if the seat she will take is near to his, will assist her to sit by holding her 
chair.

A gentle lord will rise when a lady or a person of high rank, seated at the same 
table, rises.

I pray you remember that this Society of which we are members fosters the 
practice of courtesy and chivalry.  The acts I list above are truly basic 
courtesies.  Indeed some of us can recall when they were practised in the modern 
world.  But the lack of such observance by so many of our mundane contemporaries 
should not discourage us from practising and encouraging them.


[1] (How many of you were as aghast as I when Chancellor Palpatine remained 
seated when speaking with the standing Queen Amidala of Naboo?)

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