THE HOME, FARM AXD BUSINESS CYCLOPEDIA. 



on a future occasion. If he commits this error, she may remember that 

 is not bound to see, or return, his salutation. 



LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION, 



Do not lightly give or promise letters of introduction. Always remem- 

 ber that when you give a letter of introduction you lay yourself under an 

 obligation to the friend to whom it is addressed. If she lives in a great 

 city, such as Chicago or Boston, you in a measure compel her to undergo 

 the penalty of escorting the stranger to some of those places of public en- 

 tertainment in which the capital abounds. If your friend be a married 

 lady, and the mistress of a house, you put her to the expense of inviting 

 the stranger to her table. We cannot be too cautious how we tax the 

 time and purse of a friend, or weigh too seriously the question of mutual 

 advantage in the introduction. Always ask yourself whether the person 

 introduced will be an acceptable acquaintance to the one to whom you 

 present her ; and whether the pleasure of knowing her will compensate 

 for the time or money which it costs to entertain her. If the stranger is 

 in any way unsuitable in habits or temperament, you inflict an annoy- 

 ance on your friend instead of a pleasure. In questions of introduction 

 never oblige one friend to the discomfort of another. 



Those to whom letters of introduction have been given should send 

 them to the person to whom they are addressed, and enclose a card. Avoid 

 delivering a letter of introduction in person. It places you in the most 

 undignified position imaginable, and compels you to wait while it is being 

 read, like a servant who has been told to wait for an answer. If the re- 

 ceiver of the letter be a really well-bred person, she will call upon you or 

 leave her card the next day, and you should return her attention within 

 the week. 



If, on the other hand, a stranger sends you a letter of introduction and 

 her card, you are bound by the laws of politeness and hospitality, not 

 only to call upon her the next day, but to follow up that attention with 

 others. If you are in a position to do so, the most correct proceeding is 

 to invite her to dine with you. Should this not be within your power, 

 you can probably escort her to some of the exhibitions, bazaars, or con- 

 certs of the season ; any of which would be interesting to a provincial 

 visitor. In short, etiquette demands that you shall exert yourself to show 

 kindness to the stranger, if only out of compliment to the friend who in- 

 troduced her to you. 



If you invite her to take dinner with you, it is a better compliment to 

 ask some others to meet her, than to dine with her tdte-d-tete. You are 



