scientific, at studios, museums and public institutions, etc., work
undertaken for their own amusement, profit, or advancement, or for the
benefit of others. To these ladies an "at home" day is a convenience.
One day in the week is all they can allow themselves apart from their
important engagements, and to them quiet privacy and leisure are
indispensable. Fashionable ladies consider an "at home" day to be a
great tax upon their time and inclinations. Their engagements are too
numerous to admit of giving up one whole afternoon in every week on the
chance of people calling. Not only longstanding but impromptu
engagements preclude this sacrifice. It would be a breach of politeness
not to be at home to callers on an "at home" day, and many things might
occur to necessitate absence from home on that particular afternoon. If,
however, absence is unavoidable, a relative might take the place of the
hostess on the "at home" day in question.

The people who thoroughly enjoy "at home" days are those who have more
time on their hands than they know what to do with. The few calls they
have to make are soon made, the few friends they have to see are soon
seen, occupation they have none, and they are grateful for the
opportunity "at home" days offer of meeting their friends and finding a
hostess at home.

CHAPTER XXI

COLONIAL ETIQUETTE

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 observances. One marked difference occurs in
the hours of calling, it is true, they being regulated by climate. In
hot climates, the early morning hours, before noon, and late evening
hours, after sunset, are, according to the fashion of the place, the
chosen hours for calling; but in more temperate climes--resembling our
own--the afternoon hours are, as with us, the hours for calling. Again,
the rule that residents should call upon new-comers, whether they be
visitors of other residents or intending residents, holds equally good
both in civilian and military circles alike.

In all colonies and dependencies "Government House" is the centre to
which all society gravitates--that is to say, that all new-comers,
whether they are to become permanent or temporary residents, providing
their social position warrants the action, hasten to make known their
arrival by writing their names and addresses in the visitors' book kept
a