The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-02-11
HINTS ON ETIQUETTE.
Valuable Information Concerning Cus-
toms in Polite Society,"

"
asking for information on matters of Ell
quette that | can do no better than to
quote the latest expressions on that
subject, my authority being of a
Kind SO reliable that there need be no
tear in following the suggestions given:
Ceremonious calls, otherwise styled morn
ing calls. should be paid between half-past
must never be paid on Sunday (save i'll
certain parts of Indiana, where Sunday
calls have been made fashionable), nor in
the evening. Should. however, the new
acquaintance be calling on a lady's es-
tablished ''at home" day, she may arrive
as late as 5 or half-past
"A lady does not, in England send in
her card before she enters, but gives her
name to the servant after learning that
the mistress is at home, and then follows
the maid to the drawing room door, which
is held open by the servant as she repeats
the name, and the visitor enters The
hostess must Immediately detach herself
from those with whom she may be con-
verslng, and step forward to greet the
newcomer. and speak to her for a few
minutes until she finds comfortable,
seat. When a visitor enters a drawing
room she should study to enter with self
possession and composure. To some
nervous women it is, undoubtedly, an
awkward moment when entering a room
AAA ~ po'>olblC rtldllSVlS. Uul TIE OIutil
should be gone through with as smiling Il
face as may be, and it is, at the worst, a
very short ordeal, for. having shaken
hands and greeted you, the hostess will
hasten to pass you on to seat some
where in the room, SO that she may be al
liberty to receive other incoming guests.
:, When entering a drawing room it is a
great A1istake to stop and speak to friends
until the hostess has been greeted. 1t is
enough to bow and smile, and perhaps
say, in passing. "I'll see you again pres
entity 1t is also not the best taste to 90
round the room and shake hands with
everyone OF your acquaintance who may
be present. 1t is better to bow to those
who may be further off, and wait for the
chance that may bring them your way.
Not, however. that it would be incorrect
once during the visit to change your seat
for one by an intimate friend with whom
you may wish to speak
we have so far been regarding the Wis
ltor as calling with a number of others.
but should lady call and be shown into
the empty drawing room, pending the
venient seat and await her. 1t would not
be we'll for the lady of the house to enter
and ind you standing, as though a COM
plete tour and inspection of the room had
been your recent occupation. When two
ladies' call together they should be careful
that the hostess does not come in and find
them just concluding some private con-
Eersatlon. 1T Is extremely awkward
when two visitors, strangers to each
other, enter at the same time and have to
await the hostess descent to the room.
and strict etiquette gives us no rule about
what to 90 IN such case; observation at
the moment is the only way to decide
whether to sit in silent state or to ex-
change a few words of common place
me hostess. entering. should greet the
lady of higher social position first.
lntrodlctlonS are never necessary be-
tween visitors who are strangers, but
there is no rule that they should not saw
a word or so to each other during the
course of general conversation with the
hostess. An ordinary call of the kind we
are now, considering should not exceed
twenty-five minutes, unless it's extension
is urged by the hostess. A first ceremoni-
GUS visit should never be longer than ff-
teen minutes; some ladies cut it down to
ten.
Nothing is mere tiresome than formal
visit. for 50 little interesting conversation
can be entered into: but there are a few
subjects that must not be touched upon
j. e.. personal ailments, domestic incon-
venlences and the discussion of mutual
friends. save in the briefest and most
kindly manner. Gossip, which at all
times should rightly be barred, must be
especially so during the course of a short
first call.
When leaving the house, the visitor
should make a point of leaving the cor
rect number Of cards upon the hall table.
and her 'at home" day. if she has one,
must be written or printed upon one of
hers, so that tho hostess may know when
to return her visit The return to n first
call should be paid in weeks time if
the acquaintanceship is to progress favor
| ably, for a longdelayed return visit seems
to indicate a distaste for the new ac-
quaintance and gives great offense If
quite voidably prevented from calling
early. a letter Of explanation should be
| sent without fail.-Philadelpha Times.