The weekly magazine has published its '39 steps' reflecting what it deems to be the ground rules for male manners in today's bewildering world of social media, high-tech³ gadgets⁴ and constantly shifting trends.

 

It comprises a range of topics, including male grooming⁵, technology use and competency in the great outdoors.

 

The inclusion of pursuits like sailing and horse-riding are listed and chime with historic gentlemanly conventions, while other suggestions firmly reflect 21st century trends.

 

One rule drawn⁶ up by Rupert Uloth, the magazine's deputy editor, is that a gentleman should 'know when to use an emoji', the smiley faces that can be copied into text messages and emails.

 

The magazine also says a gentleman 'never blow dries his hair', never wears sandals, 'can tie his own bow tie' and polishes his shoes. Lilac socks, it says, are poor taste.

 

As for the opposite sex, the magazine insists that a gentleman always 'breaks a relationship face to face' but while he is in that relationship he should be able to 'undo⁷ a bra with one hand'.

 

The modern gentleman should also have read Pride and Prejudice and 'cooks an omelette to die for.'

 

And another point that perhaps comes from a woman's point of view: he 'demonstrates that making love is neither a race nor a competition.'

 

Perhaps surprisingly the magazine takes a relaxed view on tattoos⁹, though it urges men to remember 'facial hair is temporary, but a tattoo⁸ is permanent'.

 

Oscar Wilde said a gentleman was one 'who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally', while George Bernard Shaw said a gentleman always 'puts more into the world than he takes out'.

 

Paula Lester, features editor of Country Life, said the most important points on the the magazine's list were the ones that revolved¹⁰ around being kind and caring.

 

These include rules such as that a gentleman 'carries house guests' luggage to their rooms', 'wears his learning lightly', 'never lets a door slam in someone's face' and 'turns his mobile phone to silent at dinner'.

 

'It's almost the ones that you don't have to think about that are the most important: being kind and in control, having courtesy and charm, and being able to put people at their ease in any kind of social situation.'

点击收听单词发音