-looking girls at a ball,
unless they are more than ordinarily attractive in some way or other, in
which case they are popular and sought after, and the only difficulty
rests with the young ladies themselves as to how they shall best
apportion the dances so as to satisfy their numerous partners, or
persuade their chaperons to stay for one more dance which they have
promised to, etc.

It is a well-known fact in the ball-going world that the majority of
young men insist upon being introduced to the most popular girls in a
ball-room, and refuse being introduced to one who does not appear to
have plenty of partners.

Public balls are in reality made up of a number of small parties and
different sets, each set or party being entirely independent of the
other.

At county balls the county people take large house-parties, and each
house-party does or does not mingle with other house-parties, according
to standing or inclination.

If three large house-parties join forces at a ball they form a very
imposing majority; but there are other sets in the same ball-room,
dancing to the same band and adjourning to the same supper-room, equally
apart and equally distinct.

At balls held at watering-places, although the residents do not take
large house-parties, yet they join forces with those residents with whom
they are acquainted, reinforced by friends who come down purposely to be
present at the ball. Thus, on the face of it, a steward's introductions
cannot fail to be ill-received, in whatever set he may be coerced into
making them; and it is well understood that introductions, to prove
acceptable, should only be made through friends and acquaintances, and
even then with tact and judgment.

As the stewards of a ball are usually the most influential gentlemen in
the place, it naturally follows that they are acquainted with many, if
not with all, of the principal people present, therefore when they make
introductions it is not by virtue of their office, but simply as a
matter of friendship, and through being personally acquainted with those
introduced by them.

Introductions out of doors are rather a matter of inclination than not,
as, for instance, when a lady is walking with another lady to whom she
is on a visit she should introduce any friends to her hostess she might
happen to meet, and her hostess should do likewise if time and
opportunity offer for so doing; should any reason exist for not making
an introduction on the