New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-24

ways except that guest on friendly terms WIN
one or more of TIE four ladies was admitted 10
the privilege If shaking hands with them me
others meantime performing Their reverence
runctually. Il was all done in a way SO chafm-
ing and well bred that no crticisl~ OF the doing
of IL was possible: The sole question you asked
Yourself was Why ii should be done at all. That
Il was strictly correct | know; the ladies' VINO
Gischargod this duty Were of ;he highest Iosl-
ton: It is the very correctness of it all which
provokes curiosity The inquiring stranger-and
! sorrowfully admit | am a stranger in New
York-is driven to ask why it should be thought
correct ard why mark Of respect which IN
Frropc s reserved for royalty should in New
York be bestowed Unfortunately IN every
guest at ball? If it be because in America we
are all soveregns. there is no more t. be said
You may say this is 10 great matter. and per-
haps it is not. But it is in d degree. typical
New-Yors is in many if not in most social mat
ters more punctilious than London. There is an
anxious attempt at conformity to etiquette in
minute particulars which does not prevail here.
a hundred years ago they used to talk in Pha-
delphia and Washington If a Republican Court.
Is there a Republican Court in New-Yorh to-day?
| asked myself the question when / in an
autograph book that good many ladies'. in
stead of writing their real names. lad signed
themselves Mrs. John Smith and Miss Jelnimd
jones' just as they would in the visiting book OF
a royalty in Europe where titles and other inter-
esting particulars are added in order to avoid
errors and confusion. ! heard of no New-lork
royalty. TO be sure. who keeps book in when
callers inscribe themselves but ! heard some
thing and indeed much Of the obligation 10 leave
cards. and of the offence that would be taken II
YOU did not These bits of pasteboard must II
appears, be deposited with the servant at the
front door Of every house at which you have
dined. or, / believe al which YOU have enjoyed
any kind of hospitality or friendly attention II
you omit it. YOU are never asked again 1T -
like Marlborough House. said one Enghsh
friend whom met in NewYork; IF YOU don't
write your name you not asked to the Garden
Party. In NewYork. no cards. no dinner the
obligation is peremptory. There Is, however. a
mitigation. Not so long ago you had to call III
person. ask for yodr hostess. go in If she We're at
home. and make visit not Jess than ten MIN
utes' long. The stringency of this rule is now.
an told. relaxed and you need not resort to the
stratagem of the well-known lady VINO told her
footman to ask If Mrs. A. was at home and not
hear his answer.
In London no such duty devollos on the guest.
Nobody leaves cards after dinner. Hardly any
cards are left except through the medium OF the
stationer who contracts to deliver them at so
much a hundred according to list furnished
him: and sometimes does. One If the best-known
men in London. an interchangeable diner out. tod
me he never left card in any circumstances
and never even had one till change OF tie
made il convenient for him 10 notify his friends
of his promotion. But this Is an extreme case
Nor In London cards left on young ladies
The young lady In London. even after she Is out
makes few exactons Of this kind. And between
the social codes Of London and New-lork there
are many other differences, all in the same
direction the conscientious exactness Of New
York always in sharp contrast with the careless
ness of London about mere social mint and
cummin The note of London is TO take things
FOR granted. u w .