Manners and Rules of Good Society; Or, Solecisms to be Avoided

Dinner giving is so thoroughly understood to rest upon the principle of an equivalent, that those who do not give dinners hardly come within the category of diners out. This rul...

=Afternoon Weddings= are invariably solemnized at 2.30 o'clock. Only very quiet weddings take place in the morning hours. Formerly, it was only the few who were in a position to...

The etiquette of card-leaving is a privilege which society places in the hands of ladies to govern and determine their acquaintanceships and intimacies, to regulate and decide w...

There are ceremonious introductions and unceremonious introductions, premeditated introductions and unpremeditated introductions; but, in all cases, introductions should never b...

Ladies stand upon strict and ceremonious etiquette with each other as regards both paying and receiving calls. Ignorance or neglect of the rules which regulate paying calls, bri...

=Public Balls= are those balls for which tickets of admission can be purchased, although for many of these balls it is necessary to obtain vouchers from the committees or patron...

These Courts are held in the evenings at ten o'clock, but the hour at which the company should commence to arrive is intimated by the Lord Chamberlain in the notice issued of th...

The order of precedency due to each individual according to rank is a matter of great importance at official banquets and at ceremonious dinner-parties, when its correct observa...

=Afternoon "At Homes"= are a great feature amongst the entertainments of the day, large afternoon parties, and small afternoon parties; parties so large that the number of guest...

September is actually the commencement of the country visiting season, the few visits that are paid in August are but a prelude to the programme that is to follow during the suc...

The colloquial application of titles differs materially from the application of titles when not used colloquially, and many persons are in doubt as to whether they should or sho...

=Invitations to Luncheon= are very much the order of the day in fashionable society. Those who look back some few years remark the importance now accorded to this midday meal, a...

=The Various Periods of Mourning= for relatives have within the last few years been materially shortened, and the change generally accepted; but as some still prefer to adhere t...

Fashion has its freaks and its vagaries, and in relation to inanimate objects these freaks and vagaries are but transitory and evanescent, but when they touch upon manners and m...

=Writing Letters of Invitation=, and answering letters of invitation, often occupy far longer time in the composition than the writers would care to confess. The difficulty does...

=The Invitations= are given in friendly notes, and are not issued on "at home" cards. The notice averages from a week to ten days according to circumstances, meaning the health...

=Ladies in the Hunting-Field.=--There is no arena better fitted to display good riding on the part of women than the hunting-field, and no better opportunity for the practice of...

=The Art of receiving Guests= is a very subtle one, difficult to acquire; but when acquired and thoroughly mastered it confers upon a mistress of a house an enviable reputation-...

What is etiquette, and what does the word convey? It is a poor one in itself, and falls very far short of its wide application. It has an old-fashioned ring about it, savouring...

=Levees are held by the King= in person. Those who have been presented at levees held by His late Majesty, King Edward, do not require to be again presented to His Majesty King...

=Evening Parties= are styled receptions or "at homes" according to the number of guests invited. In official and political circles they are invariably styled "Receptions," but w...

=Juvenile Parties= form a prominent feature in the entertainments given during the winter months. There is scarcely a household the children of which are not indulged with one l...

=A Lady who desires= a presentation at the Viceregal Court must be presented by a lady who has herself been presented thereat, and it is necessary that she herself should be pre...

=The Responsibilities of a Bridegroom= from a pecuniary point of view commence from the moment of his engagement. He must at once present the bride-elect with an engagement ring...

Garden-parties are entertainments that are annually given. If the weather is fine, the more enjoyable it is for the guests; if wet, a garden-party resolves itself into a large "...

Many things contribute to draw people into the country and away from town in the month of September; therefore there is a far larger number in each and every neighbourhood incli...

The geniality of the English princes and princesses is everywhere acknowledged, and the restrictions of Court etiquette are frequently relaxed by their desire when visiting at t...

=The Usual Hours for Walking= in the Park are from 9 until 10.30 a.m. The hours for afternoon walking and sitting in the Park are from 4 to 7 p.m. during the summer months.

The etiquette with regard to shaking hands is not an open question, it is distinct enough and simple enough for all exigencies, but yet there is individual temperament to be tak...

=Ladies are frequently solicited= to allow their names to be placed on the lists of lady patronesses of charity balls. A ball committee is desirous of obtaining a list of influe...

As regards the recognition of friends or acquaintances, it is the privilege of a lady to take the initiative, by being the first to bow. A gentleman should not raise his hat to...

Generally speaking, etiquette is followed in the colonies and in India by English men and women very much as in the mother country as regards its principles, rules, and observan...

The first garden-parties in town are usually given early in June, and continue during this and the ensuing month. The garden-parties at Lambeth Palace and Fulham Palace are the...

There are, perhaps, two reasons why various surnames are so frequently mispronounced, the one being unfamiliarity with the freak of fashion which governs the pronunciation of ce...

The German custom of celebrating Silver Weddings has become thoroughly recognised in this country. It is an interesting custom to celebrate the first twenty-five years of marrie...

=An Afternoon Wedding= usually takes place between 2 and 2.30 o'clock, and the "reception" that follows is given from 2.30 to 5, on the return from the church.

The acquaintanceship of foreign residents is of considerable service to English people purposing to winter abroad, or to remain for any length of time in a continental city, as...

=An "At Home"= day signifies that a lady is at home to her friends and acquaintances on one particular day in the week. She should intimate this fact by printing upon her visiti...

=Subscription= dances are now an established fact, but whether they will ever really become a rival to the dance proper remains to be seen; yet as they supply a want felt, and a...

It greatly depends upon the views held by parents as to the freedom of action accorded to a daughter during her engagement. Some entertain the strictest ideas on this head, and...

In official circles breakfast parties are frequently given, the morning hours up to one o'clock being the only disengaged portion of the day, and thus the opportunity is taken f...

As regards presents in general it should be understood that a present demands a note of thanks in all cases when the thanks cannot be verbally expressed. The notes to slight acq...

=The Garden-Party Season= has been widened out by the introduction of "Evening Garden-Parties" into the list of country festivities, and this form of entertainment has found gre...

"Mrs. M. regrets ('much regrets,' or 'very much regrets') that a previous engagement prevents her having the pleasure of accepting Mrs. N.'s 'invitation,' or 'kind invitation.'"...

Deputy-lieutenants are far more numerous now than was formerly the case; almost every country gentleman is a deputy-lieutenant, and consequently his servants are entitled to the...

It is the custom that those who wish to be invited to Government House (Viceregal House) at Simla, or elsewhere, should, immediately on arrival, write their names in the visitor...

An unmarried lady, unless she be a maiden-lady of a recognised age and standing, cannot act as an orthodox chaperon; but, on the other hand, a young married lady could do so wit...