Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-18
NOTES OF INTEREST
The Etiquette Of calling-when the
Formal Visit Is Neeessary-Dinner
Call Is important.

~ab ~ important
Formal calls in the city during the
season are paid between 3 and $40
O'Clock in the afternoon. The day ait
home Is q purely social occasion. and
calls of congratulations. OF apprecia-
ton for some hospitality, or merely
for the pleasure of friendly inter
course are paid then If possible. Tt
is always more considerable and com
plimentary. a Vogue, to observe
a friends day at home, if she has is
sued cards appointing one. than to pay
her chance calls on other days.
Brides and strangers newly arrived
Ia a neighborhood never make but al
ways wait TO receive first calls. Wom-
en- who have been invited to visit, or
during the summer season have been
entertained in a friends house In the
country, must be among the first. dr.
rectly their hostess returns to town,
tc call upon her,
When there exists no previous in
debtedness on either side and after q
summers holiday two women arrive
in their homes on very nearly tho
same date the younger calls upon the
elder first.
Where the difference in their ages
Is very slight the woman who returns
to town first makes the initial call, or
the unmarried one calls first ON the
married woman.
Should a member of society be in
arrears for hospitality or an invitation
+, received by those who issue their at
home first, the routine OF calling he
gins without strict reference TO courte-
sizes extended or received In the fore
going winter.
It is not only a civility but a social
necessity when one has served as a
bridesmaid, maid OF honor, usher or
best man TO call upon tthe BRIDES
mother shortly after the wedding. and
upon the bride directly after she re-
turns from her honeymoon. The guests
at a home wedding, wedding reception
or breakfast must call I'm due course
ON the mother OF the bride. AMI later
on the bride.
II Is an obligation to call on one's
hostess after q dinner. a dance, a mu-
icale or a luncheon. For men as we'll
as women the dinner call is Of parav
imount importance, II ID paid within q
fortnight after the dinner. s
First calls in the season should he
returned very promptly-on the next
reception day of the person who has
made the call, II she has q reception
day: and If she has none. then at any
propitious time within a week or fort
might. After this polite exchange OF
civilities a longer period between Wis
Its may be allowed TO lapse. Calls OF
coincidence and congratulations souid
be made as soon as possible.
The majority OF calls betweea> wonn-
en- are exchanged on their appointed
days at home, and then the cards are
left by the caller on the tray In tho
hall as she passes through on her way
to the drawing room. She puts into
the tray one OF her own and two Of
her husbands, II her hostess Is mar
ried. II her hostess unmarried daugh-
tiers receive with their mother, tho
caller would leave one Of her cards
when going out.
A young lady paying a chance call
on a mother and daughters, or d host
ess and friend. and being told the
ladies are out, leaves two cards. A
cali paid to a lady visiting I'M a house,
whether the lady of the house is a
friend or stranger to the caller, re-
quires two cards-one for the guest
and one for her hostess, and this Ia
still the rule whether the caller Ia a
man OF oma
A young man when calling for the
first time On am unmarried woman
asks for her mother. or chaperon, as
well, and IL they are not at home, he
should leave two cards. SubseqUe entity
he need leave but one card.
There was a time when a man sent
up his card when calling. but this has
gone out now for informal calls. He
sends his name by the servant. ieav-
ing q card only IL she on whom he is
calling Is o at home. On reception
/. days he leaves cards On the tray.
We are in a transitional stage in
large cities as regards the European
| custom of leaving cards at the door
by the footman without asking TO see
the ladies Of the house. This is an
entirely correct proceeding In a large
' society, where the demands on ones
time are great,and in many metropolis
II IS a sign of proyincialism to take
offense at the practice. II has been
! done for years In London, and Is quite
the custom in New York and Wash
ington.