This article about the "Etiquette of the Street" appeared in a one volume encyclopedia in 1894. Explore yet another arena in which Victorian etiquette could get extensively complex and demanding. —fadedpages.com

A lady will bow first if she meets a gentleman acquaintance on the street.

A lady will not stop on the street to converse with a gentleman. If he wishes to chat with her, he will turn and walk by her side until he has finished his conversation, then raise his hat and leave her.

It is not etiquette for a lady to take the arm of a gentleman on the street in the day-time, unless he be a lover or a husband, and even then it is seldom done in America.

In England it is permissible for a lady to accept the arm of even an ordinary acquaintance on the street. In foreign cities it is not comme il faut for ladies to appear on the street at all without a gentleman.

A gentleman escorting two ladies may offer each an arm, but a lady should never under any circumstances walk between two gentlemen, holding an arm of each.

On meeting friends or acquaintances on the street or in public places, you should be careful not to call their names so loudly as to attract the attention of those around.

Never call across the street, and never carry on a conversation in a public vehicle unless you are seated side by side.

Gentlemen should never stare at ladies on the street.

In walking with a lady a gentleman should take charge of any small parcel, book, etc., with which she may be burdened.

Never recognize a gentleman unless you are perfectly sure of his identity. Nothing is more awkward than a mistake of this kind.

A well-bred man must entertain no respect for the brim of his hat. True politeness demands that the hat be removed entirely from the head. Merely to nod or to touch the brim of your hat is a lack of courtesy. The body should not be bent at all in bowing.

A gentleman will always give a lady the inside of the walk on the street.

Ladies should avoid walking rapidly on the street, as it is ungraceful.

A gentleman walking with a lady should accommodate his step to hers. It looks exceedingly awkward to see a gentleman two or three paces ahead of a lady with whom he is supposed to be walking.

Staring at people, expectorating, looking back on the street, calling in a loud voice, laughing, etc., are very bad manners on the street.

A gentleman attending a lady will hold the door open for her to pass. He will also perform the same service for any lady passing in or out unattended.

A gentleman may assist a lady from an omnibus, or over a bad crossing, without the formality of an introduction. Having performed the service, he will bow and retire.

No gentleman will smoke when standing or walking with a lady on the street.

A quiet and unobtrusive demeanor upon the street is the sign of a true lady, who goes about her own affairs in a business-like way, and has always a pleasant nod and smile for friends and acquaintances.

Warning - This information has been transcribed from a source that is well over 100 years old. It may be incorrect or outdated in some cases. It is also possible that errors were made during the transcription process. This information is being made available for entertainment purposes only.