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Social Observances (To be very polite walks)

to be very polite, walks with him to the door of the room. She sees a lady visitor to the street door, if the parlour is on the same floor. If not, going to the head of the stairs is sufficient courtesy except to elderly guests. A gentleman must escort a lady who makes him a business call to the outer door, and to her carriage, if she has one. A caller should take leave as soon as possible on the arrival of another visitor, unless asked to stay Where a lady has a large acquaintance, it is most convenient for her to set apart a day for receiving their calls, of which she admonishes them by her visiting card on which the day of the week is pencilled.

Unless specially invited otherwise, her friends will confine their visits to that day of the week.

To these afternoons the hostess appears in usual Afternoon dress; her rooms are attractive with flowers and pictures, but no refreshments are served. Her guests find her, not sitting at the receipt of customs, but busy with some elegant trifle of lace or wool-work, writing letters, or touching a sketch, to be laid aside on the entrance of visitors.

The set afternoon reception is announced by this form of card, the hostess usually preferring to have some young lady with her to add to the attractions of her house.

— Mrs. L. Persifer,

— Miss Arnold,

At Home, Saturday, January thirteenth, from three until six. (Name and No. of street.) If there be a card receiver in the hall, the visitor's card is left in it, that the hostess may have the pleasure afterward of recalling all the friends who favour her with their presence.

Coffee, chocolate, cake and ices, are to be found in a side room at such receptions.

The form of card for afternoon tea, which means ladies in visiting or carriage dress, a harlequin tea service, each cup different, or a set of choice East India China, rooms cosy with warm curtains, and signs of womanly occupation, everything in short to have the daintiest home-look possible, are issued in this fashion:

— Mrs. Bradley Cowles,

Friday, January 18th, Tea at 4 o'clock. (Name and No. of street.) Guests arrive in the five minutes before the hour, or the five minutes after. The tea is brought in punctually and placed on the hostess' table in the corner, where are the urns of black, green and Russian tea for those who like each, a basket of wafers, delicate sandwiches of chicken or thin sliced meats, and a basket of fancy cake. If the English style is followed, the cups of tea are carried to the guests on a tray, and a tiny table to rest the cups on placed in the reach of each group.

Cards are issued for dinner parties and afternoon receptions in distinction from evening parties and weddings, invitations to which are engraved on note paper. Written invitations are more complimentary than printed ones, but the idea of cards and engraved requests is to save the labour of writing notes for a large party, or