Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-13
A Lady,s cat Home" Day.

A
Mondays in January and February
IL wednesdays in December or
"Thursdays until Lent, "or any week day
for any or all of the months of the sea-
son engraved in the left lower corner of
a visiting card, with the address in the
right corner, is the form in which lady
of fashion, or any hostess who is able
to entertain, makes it known when she
will be at home to her friends.
To all the names on her visiting list
in the city or town in which she lives,
and in all the neighboring towns and
suburbs, in envelopes to fit them exactly,
a lady sends these cards by mail about
two weeks before the first day One
is addressed for instance, to MIR. and
Mrs John Tudor Fairfield another to
EHThe Misses Fairfield" and another to
''Mr. John Tudor Fairfield, Jr.,,' all sent
in separate envelopes. or enclosed to-
gether in a large outside envelope adj
dressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Tudor
Fairfield" with the direction, the names
only being on the inside envelopes.
In other ways a hostess may notify
her friends of her receiving day: in the
invitations to a large Eat home or her
bride, with her wedding invitations.
Perhaps she gives the information very
quietly, if she is in mourning or IN
able to entertain, but wishes surely
to see her friends when they call; and SO
in making visits herself leaves her cards
engraved on them. this being the. sole
means she uses TO let her friends know
when she will see them. Or possibly,
from the time she has begun to enter
tain, a hostess has reserved a certain
day in the week for receiving, which is
always engraved on her visiting cards,
and is well remembered by all on her
calling list.
Having put her cards in a bowl or
salver, the guest then enters the drawing
room. Perhaps she is announced by a
man in attendance at the door OF this
room, perhaps her card has been handed
on a small silver tray to the lady of the
house, or, if not, and she walks in unan-
nounced, the hostess must trust to a
ready memory for recollecting names and
faces at a moments notice. In an
emergency, of course, the guest will at
once mention her own name as she sees
a slight hesitation or embarrassment IN
the manner of the lady who advances to
greet her.
There may be one or two other ladies
receiving, who. with the visitors. are
seated talking in groups. The callers
which are quiet and inconspicuous, but
the details of the tailor-made or French
designed walking dresses are very COM
plete, including the hats or bonnets,
which harmonic with the gowns. the
English handmade boots, the perfectly
fitting gloves. and the pretty cardcase
that each caller carries in her hand or
muff.
Tactfully and gracefully the hostess
brings the newly-arrived visitor into the
conversation of the particular group OF
ladies among whom she takes seat,
not necessarily introducing her to them
all, but cleverly managing, if possible,
that she leaves them discussing some
topic of common interest when she rises
TO greet or say farewell to another Wis
itor.
After a few minutes conversation, as
the hostess rises, and the other ladies in
the group perhaps take their departure
or move away, the newcomer seeks the
tea table. which may be in the dining
room or in the receiving room at con-
venient distance in some corner. Here
a young girl usually presides-a daugh-
ter, sister. or friend-who gathers about
her merry company, with a scattering
of young men. who are in the correct
afternoon calling costume of black frock-
coat and waistcoat, dark gray trousers,
light tie, and carrying their tall silk hats
and walking-sticks in their hands,
Harper's Bazaar.