Is the Mask This Century’s Handkerchief?

MISS MANNERS, AKA JUDITH MARTIN, HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AS THE VOICE OF authority on all things etiquette. While what seems normal in today’s society may be very different than it was just a few short months ago before COVID-19 swept the planet, the social graces are still essential—if only as a way to keep some sense of order and sanity when all else seems out of kilter. In this excerpt from her new book, Miss Manners’ Guide to Contagious Etiquette, columnist and author Martin, along with her adult children Nicholas and Jacobina, take on the challenges of maintaining polite interactions among people who really want to stick their (ideally well-covered) noses into others’ business in the age of the coronavirus pandemic.

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