The Evening critic., 1881-12-31
NEW YEARS. CALLS,

The Cards Used by Those who OBJ
serve the Custom-Thc Rules TO
be Observed by the Devotecs of
Fashion IN Calling on Their
Friends. etc.
As the 1st Of January, 1882, falls on Sun.
day, the customary New Years calls will be
made on the following day. II il no longer ns
fashionable rs It used to be for ladies' to send
out cards intimating that they will be cat
home" TO the gentlemen of their acquaintance
on New Years day. 1t is understood to DO IN
annual custom at very many houses, so no par.
ticulnr intimation ia considered necessary.
The cards that have been Issued are of tho
plalnest description. In many instances the
invitations received by gentlemen consist OF
tho visiting card of the lady at whose house
intimatlon, written IN ink, that sho Will be "at
homo " from 1 10 p. M, and In the same on
velope are the visiting cards of tho halfdozen
single young ladies' who receive with her.
The usual card Ia engraved In the following
manners
Miss Victorine Browne, Miss Ida Smylhe.
Miss Adelinc Tomkynnes,
iii West Spruce street
January ., isSe. From / y. IN. to pp. m.
| Some ladies have sond out cards with the
words AT home, January 2, 1882" printed on
thom In gold letters, and underneath tho
names arc written with pom and ink
Only mon are expected TO call on New Years
day, and the act of calling intimates desire to
be retained ON the visiting list OF the hostess. 1t
| also secures absolution for remissness I'm hav-
Ing failed to pay tho regulation number OF
social calls expected ON the part of n gentleman
who partakos OF tho hospitality OF tho house.
| Tho custom IL, therefore, popular among men,
and tho streets Of tho city Will be throngod
on Monday with wcll-drcssed bipeds Of the
storner sex, whose occupation for hours Will
consist In running up and down steps and
| ringing bcll-knobs. In casos where two or moro
| intimate friends arc In tho habit OF visit
itasf
and call at each house IN company. Some men
who call In this manner ito their cards to-
gother with white ribbon, and attach these
cards TO ono engraved with the year. Gentle
mems cards for New Years day are expressly
manufactured by some OF the stationers in tho
| city. On some corner Is engraved with n
pretty device and the words "a Happy New
Year." Others arc moro elaborate; they are
| framed with scroll-work, and IN the contre are
two or three raised panels, on which the names
! are to DO written. 1t Is, however, not fashion
| able to use such cards; on the contrary, the
| Idea Is rather tabooed as n vulgarity, or at
| least regarded In the same light as an ordinary
visiting card with n crest above tho name.
| Young ladies who assist married lady I'm
receiving may incloso her personal card to-
gether with that of the lady who is hostess for
tho evening to any gentleman who Is In the
habit of calling upon her In her own home.
The gentleman accepting such an invitation
must not consider It In the light OF an intro
duction to tho house at which he calls, nor
need the young lady who receives him intro
duce him to any one else unless she thinks flt
to do 80. Ladies' receiving generally appear
In demi or full toilette. Hats or bonnets arc
never worn. 1t is customary TO ofrer slight
refreshments to callers, but not n collation..
Tho proper dress for men TO wear
on such an occasion is n frock coat,
gray or dark-mixturo trousers, black Ito
and lavender gloves with black stripes. ono
hand only should be gloved. small white
flower may be worn in the buttonholo. The
hat which should be silk one, should be
retained. Overcoats and canes should DO LETT
with tho servants. Crush hats are out OF place
with n frock coat, and evening dress at New
Years calls is n vulgarity. Men are not sup.
posed to wander through the streets the
greater portion of an afternoon and an even
Ing In an open shirt front and u white tie The
usual time for such visits is from IL to o p. M.
On entering, 1t Is customary TO shake hands
them the compliments OF the season, linger a
few moments and then pass out, unless you
happen to BIO n particularly intimate friend
and are specially desired to stay.