The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-15

A society woman of New York, whose
parlq9s are a sort of salon frequented by
nosdbies of the day, says that with large
social acquaintance ones visiting list
Z should be renewed every two years, the
changes. through travel, death and othey
causes being greater In New York than in
any other city. Clubs have given i'm
petus to the practice of womens lunching
in public places. Less than 20 years ago
there was not restaurant or hotel where
a woman could take her friends or go un-
attended by a man. Now luncheons for
women at the Waldorf-Astoria, belmont
co.'s and Sherry's are so frequent during
the season that they cause no comment,
and many women pay off their social OBJ
legations in that way.
AFTERNOONS.
DAYS NJ home are almost universal
among those OF any social pretensions'
When card is sent out bearing the words
"wednesday afternoons In March "
means that the hostess is at home from
8 TO @. A pretty table Is set with TEA
a Mate of sandwiches and some small
cakes That is all that is served at an
afternoon" Personal friends OF the
hostess look after the serving, one being
at the tea urn and one at the punch bowl
and a few young women hand the cakes
etc. Only one woman OF man servant is
needed to renew the tea or punch. sery-
ants do not serve the guests unless the
hostess prefers 1t. The women who are
asked to assist generally are invited to
dine but this is not necessary.
call lasts from 10 to so minutes, never
over 80. This is practically the old-fash-
Toned fremal call, where one was offered
slpciy glass of wine, and was not asked
70 remove her wraps. Many persons
Imagine that these afternoons are like
the English afternoon teas, but 1t Is not
SO. The English teas are usually held
every afternoon, at which the family and
a few personal friends are present. No
cards are sent out and one Is offered only
o cup Of tea, then bread and butter and
few small cakes. Many persons have
boy OF about IA to open the door on the
day of their afternoon cat homes" A
maid stands In the hall to receive the
cards, and 1t is great help to the hostess
TO have each card brought to her as the
guest arrives. One hostess who thought
she could remember all names and faces
greeted a gentleman the other day with,
"0h, Doctor, am so glad to see you, and
/ am so sorry not to have called ~ Your
wife. Her day at home is the Atsne as
mine, so you see / could not go. The
guest said In an embarrassed way: Il am
afraid you are laborlng under a mistake;
/ am not a doctor, nor am l married."
Another hostess could not recall her
guests name and while walking with her
toward the back room where a number Of
people were to whom she wished to intro
duce her cudgeled her brain. What is her
name7 Oh, what Is her name?' Her pride
forbade her asking It, SO she excused her.
self and went to her maid who was recev-
ing the cards. Fortunately on top was
the visitors card, and to her relief and
somewhat to her amusement she read
miss Smith" and hurried back with Il
graceful apology for leaving her and in
PRODUCED Miss Smith" to the ladies' max
Ing a mental resolution to have cards
brought to her IN future. Have the vesti-
bule door fastened open opposite the door
bell, so that the bell can be rung II neces-
sary should the servant not happen to be
there at the moment, although the sery-
ant is expected to open the door without
waiting for the bell. Some hostesses
have a carpet on the front steps to pro
tect the dresses Of the ladies', but do not
have an awning for an afternoon"
RECEPTIONS.