DANCES. It is not customary to shake hands at
formal dances.
HOST AND HOSTESS. The host and the hostess
should shake hands with each guest as they
arrive.
If guest takes leave of host and hostess,
they should shake hands. If they are
surrounded by guests, a pleasant nod of farewell
is admissible.
MEN. At a wedding, the opera, or a dance, and
all very formal occasions, gloves should not
be removed when shaking hands.
If the hostess wears gloves at any formal
affair, a man wears his when he shakes hands
with her. He should give a slight pressure
only.
A man with hands gloved should never
shake hands with a woman without an apology
for so doing, unless she likewise wears
gloves. A sudden meeting, etc., may make
a handshaking in gloves unavoidable. Unless
the other party is gloved, a man should
apologize.
When men are introduced to men, they
always shake hands. It is bad form to crush
the hand when shaking it.
When introduced to a woman, men should
bow, but not offer to shake hands.
CALLS. If the woman is seated when a man enters
the room, she rises to greet him, and, if
she wishes, shakes hands. She has the
option to shake hands or not, and should
make the first advances. It is bad form for
him to do so.
WOMEN. Upon introduction, a woman may
shake hands with either men or women, but
a slight inclination of the body, a pleasant
smile, and an appropriate remark are more
correct.
A young girl, upon being introduced to an
older woman, should await the action of the
elder, who will shake hands if kindly disposed.
If one person extends the hand, it should
be accepted without the slightest hesitation,
to avoid embarrassment.
SIGNING LETTERS. See ADDRESSING AND SIGNING LETTERS.
SILK WEDDINGS. This is the name of the forty-fifth
wedding anniversary, and is now seldom observed.
If it is, any article of silk would be
appropriate as a gift, and congratulations
may be extended in accepting or declining
the invitations. The invitations may have
the words: No presents received. An entertainment
usually follows.
SILVER WEDDINGS. After twenty-five years of married
life, the silver wedding may be celebrated.
On the invitations sent out may be
engraved the words: No presents received.
Congratulations may be extended in accepting
or declining the invitation. Any article
of silver is appropriate as a gift. An entertainment
follows.
At a silver wedding the invitations may be
appropriately engraved in a silver-gray color,
and the decorations are usually of the same
color.
SLIPPERS-THROWING AT WEDDINGS. The throwing of
slippers after the bridal couple on their leaving
the house for their wedding trip is in
poor taste.
SMOKING. At a dinner when the women rise, the
men also rise and remain standing until the
former leave the room, when cigars and coffee
are served. Sometimes the men accompany
the women to the drawing-room, bow, and
then return to the dining-room for the coffee
and cigars, where they remain about half an
hour.
Smoking in restaurants is a general custom,
but the rules of the house govern it.
Theatres provide rooms for it, hence it should
be limited to them.
There should be no smoking at afternoon
entertainments, unless the men are requested
to do so by the host and hostess.
At balls a room for smoking is generally
provided. Smoking is not in good taste if a
man is going to dance, as the odor of tobacco
clings to the clothing. There should be no
smoking in the dressing-rooms.
Smoking a pipe in the street is becoming
more common. It is poor taste, however, on
a fashionable street. At best, any smoking
in the street is bad form.
Expectorating on the pavement is a most
reprehensible habit. If it must be done, a
man should step to the curb and expectorate
in the street.
DANCES. Smoking should not be allowed in the
dressing-room, but a special room should be
provided. Men who dance should not smoke
until leaving the house.
IN PRESENCE OF WOMEN. Smoking in the
street while walking with a woman should
never be indulged in, although she seemingly
is agreeable to it. If a man is smoking, and
he stops to speak to a woman, he should
throw away his cigar or cigarette.
A man should not smoke in the presence
of women unless bidden by them to do so.
Few women care to say that it is disagreeable
when asked, hence the better course is to
await permission.
WOMEN. If a woman has true regard for herself,
she should not indulge in smoking; if she
does, it should be in absolute privacy.