ENTEOD1 



Always introduce the gentleman to the lady never the lady to the 

 gentleman. The chivalry of etiquette assumes tlmt the lady is invariably 

 the superior in right of her sex, and that the gentleman is honoured in the 

 introduction. 



Never present a gentleman to a lady without tir>t asking her permis- 

 sion to do so. 



When you are introduced to a gentleman, never offer your hand. V 

 introduced, persons limit their recognition of each other to a bow. 



Persons who have met at the house of a mutual friend without 

 introduced should not bow if they afterwards meet elsewhere. A bow 

 implies acquaintance ; and persons who have not been introduced are not 

 minted. 



If you are walking with one friend, and presently meet with, or are 

 joined by, a second, do not commit the too frequent error of introducing 

 them to each other. You have even less right to do so than if they en- 

 countered each other at your house during a morning call. 



There are some exceptions to the etiquette of introduction. At a ball, 

 or evening party where there is dancing, the mistress of the house may 

 introduce any gentleman to any lady without first asking the lady's j.-r- 

 mission. But she should first ascertain whether the lady is willin 

 dance ; and this out of consideration for the gentleman, who may other- 

 e be refused. No man likes to be refused the hand of a lady, though 

 it be only for a quadrille. 



may present her brother, or a mother her son. without any 

 kind of preliminary. 



I-Yiends may introduce friends at the house of a mutual acquaintance ; 

 but, as a rule, it is better to be introduced by the mi>tresx ,.*' the h 

 Sueh an introduction carries more authority with it. 



Introductions at evening parties are now almost wholly dispniN.-d with. 

 who meet at a friend's house are ostensibly upon an equality, and 

 pay a bad compliment to the host by appearing suspicious and formal, 

 hion.-d country hosts still persevere in introducing each new 

 o all the as<rml>i< It is a custom that cannot he too - 



abolished, and one that j -i fortunate visitor in a ^in^ularly 



awkward position. All that she em do i> to make a semicircular < 



, like a coin r before an audience, and bear the general gaze 



with as mue as possible. 



An introduction given at a ball for the m.-re purpose of conducting a 



lady through a dance does not give the gentleman any right to bow to her 



