The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-09-29
The HOUSEHOLD.
Household Hints.
THE ETIQUETTE OF PAYING vIs1

THE ETIQUETTE OF PAYING VISITS.
Considerable ignorance prevails, even
among persons of good breeding, con-
corning the details of everyday ETH
quette as observed in the world of fash
ion. Following are some hints on pay
ing visits from an English authority
which convey correct idea also of the
etiquette prevailing in our large cities !:
When gentleman makes call, he
should take his hat and stick into the
drawing room with him. He retains
them in his hand until he has greeted
the lady of the house and shaken hands.
Then he places them on chair or on
the floor beside him, or may hold them
in his hand still if he prefers. When
he comes to the house by invitation, he
should leave his hat and stick in the
hall. Otherwise this is quite incorrect
unless he is one of the family. To do
so shows that he lie on privileged terms
and would be in very bad taste unless
he were at the house by invitation. He
may retain his gloves ell through q
morning call or remove them, as he
prefers.
When lady is in the drawing room
and guests are announced, she at once
rises to greet them and shakes hands.
II there are ladies present known to q
lady caller on her entrance they rise to
speak to her and shake hands. Gentle
men do the same and remain standing
till she is seated. If a gentleman en-
tiers and the ladies present know him,
they merely bow or shake hands with
out rising from their seats. The host
ess, of course, rises, and 30 do the la
dies OF her family who are at home.
Should the host enter, no lady whom he
greets should rise to shake hands un-
less he is a very old gentleman and she
young girl, when such an attention Is
pretty compliment.
1t is not usual to introduce two callers
to each other unless there is special
reason for it. Where both are resi-
dents in one neighborhood it is dis
tinct solecism, unless both have given
the hostess to understand that they de-
sire it. People sitting near each other
at call should converse without any
introduction. When . lady rises to 90
after she has shaken hands with her
hostess and others with whom she is
acquainted, che should bow to others
whom she does not know, whether
they have spoken together or not. On
meeting again this does not constitute
an acquaintance, and they do not bow.
When caller rises to take leave, she
first shakes hands with her hostess,
then with others present whom she
knows. These rise to say goodby-the
ladies at once resume their seats and
the gentlemen remain standing till she
has left the room. The ladies to whom
she merely bows do not rise from their
seats, though all the gentlemen present
do 80, whether they are known to her
or not. The host should accompany
her to the door, or, in his absence, any
friend of the family on sufficiently in
innate terms to take his place. In any
case he opens the drawing room door
for her. If several gentlemen are pres.
ent, this Office is performed by the one
nearest the door. A formal call should
not extend over ten minutes or a quar-
ter of an hour. When guest rises to
take leave, the hostess rings for SER
want to show her out. When she is the
only guest present or of higher consid-
Grafton than those staying behind, the
hostess should 90 to the door of the
drawing room with her.