e and
characteristic of youth.

* * * * *

=Men take very much the Same View= as regards introductions as do
women--that is to say, if an introduction is made by a relative of the
man introduced, the men would shake hands and not merely bow. This holds
equally good where intimate friends are concerned: they almost rank on
the footing of relations, and a cordial reception is given to an
introduction thus made. When casual introductions are made of necessity
rather than of intention men do not shake hands. When "I think you have
met A." or "I think you know Mr. A." is said--the one by a host and the
other by a hostess--nothing further is required from either than a bow
and a smile of acquiescence accepting the introduction and a disclaimer
is not expected if "Mr. A." is not actually known. The uncertainty is an
excuse for making the introduction.

* * * * *

=Ladies do not rise from their Seats on being introduced either at an
"At Home"= or before dinner is announced, or after dinner, or when
calling when people are introduced to them, or when they themselves are
introduced. Half an exception occurs, it is true, at crowded "at homes,"
when to rise and talk to the lady introduced is almost a necessity:
there is no vacant seat for her to take, and, therefore, if both do not
stand, conversation is at a deadlock, as the few first conventional
remarks made by either are lost in the general buzz going on around;
also, it is awkward and ungraceful for a lady to bend over one seated
for the purpose of saying a few platitudes. "Introductory remarks," or
remarks following upon introductions, have too often a melancholy ring
of commonplaceness about them and are distinctly trite. How can they be
otherwise? To venture out of the commonplace into originality would be
suspicious of eccentricity, and no one wishes to be considered a little
odd.

* * * * *

=Before and after Dinner, when Introductions are made= between ladies it
is to those seated near to each other, and, therefore, there would be no
occasion to rise, as there might be at an "at home." There is no
question of a lady rising from her seat when a man is introduced to her,
unless that man is her host, when she should rise and shake hands with
him, or a clerical dignity--a bishop for instance, if opportunity allows
of it, and on a semi-official occasion. This question does not