are not otherwise likely to meet; it
generally follows that the one who most desires the acquaintanceship is
the one to leave his card first, always supposing that the strength of
the acquaintance would warrant his so doing. The one of highest rank
should be the one to intimate that he desires the acquaintance of the
other; if the rank be equal, it is a matter of inclination which calls
first.

The rules of etiquette, though stringent as regards acquaintances, have
little or no application as regards intimate friends; friendship
overrules etiquette.

When a bachelor has a number of intimate friends, very little
card-leaving is required from him as far as they are concerned.

* * * * *

=Leaving Cards after Entertainments.=--In the event of a gentleman
receiving an invitation to an entertainment from an acquaintance, or
from a new acquaintance, or through some mutual friend, he should leave
his cards at the house within a week or ten days after the
entertainment, one for the mistress and one for the master of the house,
whether he has accepted the invitation or not. Between friends this rule
is greatly relaxed.

It is usual for a gentleman to leave his cards on the host or on the
hostess, after every entertainment to which he has been invited by them,
whether it be a dinner-party, or ball, or "at home," etc. Whether he has
been present or not, the fact of his having been invited by them obliges
him to pay them this civility, although great latitude as regards time
is now accorded in general society with regard to this particular rule.

If invited by a new acquaintance, the cards should be left a few days
after the entertainment, but if by a less recent acquaintance they
should be left within ten days or a fortnight, but the earlier the cards
are left the greater the politeness shown.

If a bachelor acquaintance gives an entertainment, the same rule applies
as to the necessity of cards being left on him by those gentlemen but
slightly acquainted with him who have been invited to the entertainment.

When a gentleman has been invited to an entertainment given at the house
of a new acquaintance, whether the acquaintance be a lady or a
gentleman, it would be etiquette for him to leave his card upon them on
their arrival in town or elsewhere, even though they may not have
invited him to any subsequent entertainment given by them within the
year. If during the following year they do not