. No lady, after a
servant has informed her that the mistress of the house is "not at
home," will question as to her whereabouts, or the probable length of
her absence. If she should so far forget her dignity, the well-trained
servant will answer all inquiries with a respectful, "I do not know,
Madame," adding, if such be the case, "Mrs. Brown receives on
Thursdays."

Should a servant show evident hesitation upon receiving your card, and
say, "I will see if Mrs. Brown is in," enter the parlor, at the same
time saying, "If Mrs. Brown is otherwise engaged, or going out, beg
her not to trouble herself."

Never, except upon urgent necessity, insist upon pencilling a word or
two upon a visiting card and sending it up, where a lady is "engaged,"
as a demand upon her attention. If a servant has said the lady is
"not at home," she has a perfect right to refuse the message.

In suburban towns and small cities, where reception days are not
common, the lady of the house must be very careful how and when she
denies herself to visitors. Indeed, in all cases much discrimination
must be shown in this respect, as great inconvenience may result, and
some injustice be done, by an indiscriminate denial. But, as before
said, in towns, it is better, if possible, to receive guests. Even if
no servant is kept, the mistress can usually, by the exercise of a
little care, keep herself neat and presentable. If at any time some
slight alterations are necessary to the toilet, let the interval thus
employed be very short.

Some one has said that it would be well for a lady having a reception
day to devote a part of the morning of the same day to business calls,
and to instruct her servants to inform all comers of this custom.

Visiting List.

It is well for all ladies having a large list of acquaintances to keep
a carefully revised visiting list to assist their memories as to
addresses, names of persons to invite, reception days of
acquaintances, and, if possible, a list of their own ceremonious
visits for the season, noting those that have been returned. The time
thus expended is amply repaid by the convenience of reference and the
avoidance of the possibility of making a second visit when the first
is unreturned. Also this list serves as a basis for the visiting list
of the next season; those having failed to return calls or cards being
dropped from the new list.

Visits Between Ladies and Gentlemen.

A gentleman, as a rule, should