Year: 1871

u
in New York are thus noted in the even
ing Mail, by writer who claims tc
write by the card:


| MARRIED AND UNMARRIED IN SHAwLs,
| There is vast distinction made in
France between the dress appropriate for
married and unmarried ladies, and this
sense of fitness goes into all the merest
details of the toilette. A young girl in
Paris would never think, for instance. OF
wearing point lace or camel's hair
shawl, neither would she ever wear a
point lace collar. A plaid shawl, such
as IS often used for carriage wrap,
must be worn differently by matrons and
young ladies. A demoiselles shawl is
always folded square, and married la
dy's as with us. we'll remember Young
American gentleman who with the gal
lantry natural to our mpatriots-wish-
ed to assist young French girl in put
ting on her shawl, but, unconscious that
there was more than one way of wear
ing it, he carefully folded it as he would
have done for his sister-o' J. o5lsque-
which drew from the young lady the sur
prised remark, Excuse me, monsieur.
but l am not yet married !"


RECEPTION DAYS.


One comfort of social life that / miss
very much in New York, is the !" receo-
tlon day" so universal on the Continent.
Every lady in Paris, no matter how linz
tied her circle Of acquaintance, has her
reception day, and on that day as early
as two a'lock she is dressed and seated
in her parlor waiting to see her friends
No lady holds herself obliged to receive
calls upon any other day in the week, if
she chances to be occupied or disinclined
for visits. | have often heard them re-
mark, l give up one entire day to soci-
ETY. and | can afford no more time" Oc-
casionally efforts are made in New York
to establish reception days and evenings,
but they rarely serve the same purpose
as those on the Continent. Ladies COM
plain that their friends will call on any
day sxcept that one appointed for visit
ors--" want to see You alone" being
the rather selfish excuse. A reception
evening is sometimes more successful
than day reception, for the reason that
it is generally made soiree, with music
or dancing. On the Continent it is by
no means party, for ladies rarely take
Oft their hats, and gentlemen always car
rythelr chapeaux into the drawing room.
A call of thirty minutes or SO is the eti-
quette, for the salons in Paris are often
small, and it is, therefore, more convent
ent to have the guests coming and going.
A tea-urn stands on a small table in a
corner, and as visitors drop in the host
ess poGrs cup of tea and presents it
with some petits fours Qittle fancy cakes)
1t is not the style either at these little re-
unions nor at large parties and balls in
France, to say goodnight to your host
ess upon departing. When you are
ready to go you escape by side door
thus taking French leave"


CARDS,


l have seen lately in several journals
request for an explanation of the
French custom of turning up the corner
of visiting card. The etiquette of
cards is easily defined. Calls in France
are frequently made between formal ac-
quaintances merely by means of cards
delivered by servants, and at New Years
they are sent through the post conse-
quently, when call is made in person.
a corner of the card is turned up to de-
note the fact. If your friend is at home
before giving your card to the servant
you turn down the right hand corner -
but if she is out, or not at home," YOU
turn down the entire right hand side. II
IS customary in Paris among those at all
punctilious in etiquette to leave separate
cards for the different members of the
Family you are visiting-quite an expen-
i've habit, for nice cards are costly in
France as we'll as in New York.


RETURNING CALLS.


Much variety of opinion seems to
prevail in this city about the length of
ime to elapse before returning CALL :
some ladies tell me month, and the
hortest period that l have heard is ff- ,
cen days. In Paris you must return !
he first call ofa new acquaintance with !
n three days, or be guilty of great rude /
less. Royalty is even more exacting, as /
! visit from one sovereign to another ,
must be returned within few hours.