The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-04
SOCIAL CALL IN CHINA.

Begins By Telling Names and Ages.
 Ends With Tea Drinking.
 Shanghai Times.
 In our ordinary social life acQuaint- anceship commences through personal introduction; in oficial life almost al- ways in the latter way. With you a freshcomer arriving in your neighbor- hood to dwell Is called upon by the older residents if the newcomer be con sidered entitled, to that courtesy and you think their friendship Is worth cultivating. The master of the house and his wife-now generally the wife only-leave cards upon MT. and Mrs. Brown Jones, the newcomers. and if they approve of the visitors returns the call.
 This is not the custom with us exact ly With us the newcomer makes the first call on the old residents. The gen. tleman calls alone, and after the ac- quaintanceshtp has been formed the newly arrived lady will send her maid with the message that she proposes to call on the neighboring lady, and the latter names the day and hour at which she will receive her visitor. Leavings cards, also occupies a very prominent part in the daily routine of a gentle mans life, especially when he Is nov ing in offlcal circles.
 When the visitor is ushered into the presence of the visited the visitor bows to his host or on more formal occa- sions makes the courtesy to him. Hand shaking not being the custom, is dis pensed with. The making of a courte- sy is called Ching Ngan" in China. If any one does that to you you must return it although you can return II in a more or less formal way. This having been done the host will sign his visitor to the place of honor, which may be on the right or left. according to circumstances
 When both the visitor and his host are seated the conversation is general ly opened, if meeting for the first time by asking each others surnames. then their other names. age. district whence they come and all sorts of such mean inRless generalitfes as ycu arc accuE- toned to hear in high society. But it is always customary with us to prefix the word honorable; e. g.. instead of saving. as you do. Whom have the measure of addressing?" we say. What is vour honorable name?" Other ques- lions are asked by us fin the same com nIInentary strain. With you your cus- tom is quite different. as for you to ask the age of any of your viSltors would be considered very rude, especially If meeting for the first time: but tp China 
 Shocking any one's tender susceptibill- ties by so doing.
 Our oficial calls are principally busi- ness ones and as soon as the buEi- ness is terminated the host raises his teacup to his lips. which cup is always there whether wanted or not for In China there is no such custom as E o'clock tea. As soon as the visitor sees thIs his attendant will cry out in very loud voice: "Ngan Chioa'-that Is "Get the sedan chair in readiness" or "rso Chuan"--that Is Put the horse to the carriage'-as the case may be. When either of thees conYeyances is ready. which Is shown by the return of the servant and by his collecting his masters appurtenances. such as his smoking pipe, etc, he will rise and give his host a deep bow, at the same time folding his two hands which bow his host returns in a similar way.