Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-03-31
SsbCI ETY,
THE ETIQUETTE OF iSrRopuorIoys.


We take the following from Harper,
Bazar:
The English have always been grea
sticklers for formal introducions; and the
story is told of one who, cycling with his
glass drowing tellow-mortal, refused to ex-
tend to him a saving hand because he had
never been introduced.
The Americans have followed to some,
though perhaps not to this absurd extent,
the example of their translantic relatives
We are not quite so reserved as they. De-
mocratic friction has necessarily broken UP
and rubbed off good deal OF the original
crustpess OF our nature. Casual intercourse
| than in England The American is as wanting
as the Englishman is Astounding in reserve.
The proper medium is between familiarity
and resistance. In travelling English CON
straint is often fatal to the general ease and
| cheerfulness, while American freedom is not
seldom subversive of the common comfort
| In the close proximity of a railway carriage
| two strangers can make themselves mulll
ally agreeable without any sacrifice of per-
sonal dignity, and it is certainly their duty
to dAso. The concessions on such an occa-
sion are. of course, to be regarded as temno
rary. They are drafts at sight on each
others courtesy, to be paid at date aud
received as a final settlement which bars all
ulterior claims.
The Americans are generally too indis
criminate in their introductions. They sell
dom allow two strangers to be together a
moment without introducing them to each
other. No presentation should be made
without a regard to the fitness and probable
mutual acceptability of the acquaintance
ship about to be formed. No two should he
introduced, however closely accident NAV
have thrown them together, il they would
be obviously incongruous as intimate asso.
ciates. AT dinner or other party all the
guests are temporarily to regard themselves
as acauaintances, and they require no fur
sher introductions than the invitations tbev
have received as the guests OF the same host
or hostess. Special presentations are cutie
unnecessary, and when made will Indicate
the desirableness of a permanent friendship.
In introductions the introduced is pre-
sented to those who are entitled to prece.
dence from sex. age, or rank A gentle
man, whoever he may be, is thus always
taken to the lady, the citizen to the Mayor.
| the Mayor to the Governor, and the Gov.
ernor to the President. In all cases lint
purely official or formal presentations il is
prudent as well AS polite to secure the will
| ingncss of those whom you are about TO
commend to each others intimacy.
Letters of introduction may be useful in
a strange country, as guarantees of social
credit at home, in the case of an emergency.
when, for example, by some mishap or
other, the more valid bankers one has
failed. They have, however, lost much of
their former power as means of getting into
| There is mnnh fra 1
consequent abundance Of these missiyes
that they have greatly diminished in specific
value. If stranger now gets, in exchange
for one these, polite bow of the head and
a vague offer Of indefinite service, lie must
needs be satisfied.
The ordinary letter of introduction is cx-
pressed in few conventional phrases; as.
for example: 81 have the pleasure of pre-
senting to your acquaintance MIR. -,
l commend to your kind attentions, Ii
should be enclosed in I'm open envelope, on
which, besides the address, it is customary
to write, in the left and and lower corner.
the word, Introducing" followed by the
name and title in full, clearly inscribed nf
the bearer. When the letter Is TO he de-.
livered, it should be sent To the person for
whom it is intended, with card, on which
are the name and address of The person
introduced. The response should be in the
form of call and an invitation To dinner /,
this latter part of the civilty is not to be too
much calculated upon.
A good many people think that they are
Obliged to give letter of introduction TO
every .presentable person who may demand
it, and this has led to the depreciation OF
this kind of social currency. 1t is entirely
conformable with the laws of courtesy to
refuse such favor, merely on the ground OF
unwillingness to take the liberty of present.
ing any one to the person to whom the in.
PRODUCTION is asked.
All presentations to foreign courts are
made through the national Representatives,
and the information in regard to the various