The broad ax., 1905-07-22


copyright. 1906. by Joseph b. Bowles'
am often asked by young people
who are anxious to do just rlghI
whether a lady should invite man
TO call upon her, or whether he should
ask her permission to call In orul-
nary intercourse the matter Is not
momentous. II two persons meet cas-
ually. find each other agreeable, and
wish further acquaintance, they usual
" find a way of bringing about What
they desire. According to strictly
conventional rules, the gentleman
should seek the acquaintance OF the
lady, and he may properly pay her
the homage of asking II he may ca
on her, or he may suggest TO a Irlenu
who knows her that he would like 10
he taken to call. There are no insur-
mountable barriers in a country ike
ours. to prevent the pleasant social
mingling of those who are mutually
attracted. Nor is there the slightest
reason why, in most cases, young
woman should hesitate to say, frank
Iy: Il will be pleased to see you at
my home If you have an evening free,
or Mother will be glad to meet you
at any time" or Mother and l are
always happy to see our friends or
any other formula that is sincere and
cordial.
Girls are learning the true value
Of mothers. In the more exclusive cir
cles of society mothers spread pro-
tecting wings over their unmarried
daughters till the latter have evil
IDENTIFY and definitely entered on the
privileges Of spinsterhood. A youns
woman who has reached her thirtieth
year no longer needs the lowering
pinion of maternal supervision at
every step. Girls, however, are saved
many embarrassments and rescued
from many predicaments by treating
their mothers with consideration, and
putting them as a shield between
themselves and any confusing situa-
ton. The days are over, trust for
ever, when on the announcement OF
a masculine caller, a callow youth
or boy about as old as her own son,
a mother scuttles out OF the parlor
like a frightened hen and leaves the
entertainment and the field to her
daughters. She may not wish to give
up her entire evening to the boy or
the man, but IL she be well-bred, she
greets him and stays awhile, and re-
tires in no disorder. Nor, while she
remains. is her presence a handicap
on the group. Her girls wish mother
to know their friends.
How late may a man inger when
he calls is another query solicitously
propounded. OF course the length Of
a call depends somewhat on the IA
miliarity of the caller in the family.
An intimate friend will not trespass
against any accepted code IL he re-
main until almost the ordinary bed
time OF the family. This time, as
everyone knows, differs widely In diff
ferent households. Ten o'clock is late
for some. Others do not break the |
evening camp until IL. But, broad |
ly speaking. few callers should stay /
beyond half-past ten. and ten is the !
better hour for leave-taking in most |
instances. A first call should not be !
more than a half hour long. From |
eight to nine o'clock in town calls |
are in order. In country homes call
ing may begin and end an hour earlier
than is feasible in town. Never pro-
tract a call after 1t grows wearisome. ]
When conversation drags like a sleigh |
on bare ground for PHYS sake arise |
and depart. Don't monopolize the |
you who receive, or you |
who call. Good talk is not a mono
logue. II must needs show fair play.
Shall relieve a young man Of his |
hat, his stick. his umbrella" inquiries |
q young woman, whose earnest desire |
is to be courteous. Fashion says,
let a man look after his parapherna-
liza himself. The duty of a hostess
does not oblige her to take any trou- /
BILE in the matter. But here inter-
venes common sense. Should you |
happen to have a bashful visitor, or
q near-sighted one, why not tell him /
that there is a table, a hat-rack, or I
some other convenient place where
he may lay his outdoor things? The