rse with the servants of their acquaintances,
and should not enter into conversation with them.

Formerly a gentleman when calling, took his hat and stick in his hand
with him into the drawing-room, and held them until he had seen the
mistress of the house and shaken hands with her. He either placed them
on a chair or table near at hand or held them in his hand, according as
to whether he felt at ease or the reverse, until he took his leave. Many
middle-aged and elderly men still follow this fashion in a degree, and
take their hats and sticks into the drawing-room when making formal
calls.

The newer fashion amongst younger men is to leave their hats and sticks
in the hall and not to take them into the drawing-room with them when
calling. To do this is now very general, as hats are in the way if tea
is going on; besides, men were apt to forget where they placed their
hats, and frequently had to return to the drawing-room in search of
them.

At "at homes," small afternoon teas, luncheons, dinners, etc., the rule
is the same, and hats are left in the hall by invited guests.

A gentleman should not take his stick or umbrella with him into the
drawing-room, but leave it in the hall.

When gentlemen wear gloves, they can take them off or keep them on as
they please, it is immaterial which they do, but when a call is made
when tea is going on, it is more usual to take them off.

When the mistress of the house is in the drawing-room when a visitor is
announced--and she should so arrange her occupations as always to be
found there on the afternoons when she intends being "at home" should
visitors call--she should rise, come forward, and shake hands with her
visitor. She should not ask her visitor to be seated, or to "take a
seat," but she might say, "Where will you sit?" or, "Will you sit here?"
or something to this effect; and should at once sit down and expect her
visitor to do the same, as near to herself as possible.

Both hostess and visitor should guard against displaying a fussy
demeanour during a morning call, as a morning call is oftener than not a
_tete-a-tete_, and a _tete-a-tete_ between two persons but slightly
acquainted with each other requires a considerable amount of tact and
_savoir vivre_ to be sustained with ease and self-possession. A fussy
woman is without repose, without dignity, and without _savoir vivre_.

A hostess betrays that she is not much accustomed to society when she
attempts to amuse h