The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-30
GERMAN CEREMONIALS.

Of customs we can only speak very generally
as regards a country where every province has
its own peculiar traditions, and where conserva.
tive affection has preserved these with an almost
religious exact tude.
Very unpleasant, according to our ideas, is the
rule that strangers must make the flrst advance.
Thus, when you arrive in town where you pro,
pose to remain for any length OF time you will
provide yourself with an introduction o. two,
YOU will procure q list of the HOnordtloren, or
honorabilities, OF TIE place, and you will drive
from door to door leaving cards. These cards
will presently be returned, and shortly afterward
footman Of saquais de place will cali, ask to
the Herschdttea, and will then ia due form &C.
liver his masters message, requesting the honor
Of your company at dinner on such day, at 3,
4, or o'clock, as the case may be.
When you arrive on the festive scene, it will be
your duty to request the hostess to introduce
you to all the ladies present. This she Will 40,
presenting you to the excellencies and distin.
Gu shed personages first, the tour being made
according to the incest graduation OF etiquette 90
that. beginning with an embassadress, you VIII
end with q heutenant's wife, and then In turn
have to receive your court, namely, the husbands
Of all those ladies to whom you have been doing
reverence. The courtesying, the obeisances, the
compliments, at once embarrass, annoy and
tickle you. Your stiff backbone doesn't take
kindly to the prostrations; your knee, resent
the genufections; you scorn to grovel, yet you
fear 10 offend; You feel ridiculous in your un-
wontsd antics, and are afraid OF falling s: and
were Won more at ease, to abstain from shouts
Of laughter at the bob ing, sliding, gliding, and
erimacing in which you are playing such an un-
will ng part. You feel that these ladies who dip
and wriggle as to the manner born are criticising
YOUR want of grace, your rustic air, your wooden
iointed reverences, and yet You swear to your
self by all yon- gods that no inch lower than is
consistent with your ideas OF personal dignity
viii Won sink before these your fellow-creatures.
The blood rushes to fyour face, partly in pride,
partly in en- barrassment, and you wish Yourself
Well out of this gdlere; yet you are angry with
yourself with an unreasoning anger for your want
Of philosophy and your unpliable spine
Experience, it is true, will make these scenes
familiar and Indifferent to you; you VIII gather
courage to. preserve your natural gait; to grant
your limbs the freedom to which they have been
accustomed, to be polite and pleasant. and TO 90
your own way without attempting 10
ape manners that went out OF fashion ID your
own country century ago. 1t is Only the nrss
step that COSTS but it costs great deal; ana
it is not easy for very young woman TO pre-
serve the juste nailieu betwr en- modess oesire
to conform to the customs OF the country ana =
sense Of modification at aplng manners when
sae does not admire, and cannot cordially desire
to successfully initiate. The absurdIty OF yer
man courtesy would be ridiculous If 1t we're not
sublime.