Custom is a law
As high as heaven, as wide as seas or land.
--LANSDOWNE.
An English authority tells us that the chief things to be
considered in making calls are the occasions and the hours. Between
friends there is little need of ceremony in the matter, as a
friendly visit may be made at almost any time and on almost any
occasion.
A man that can command his time may make ceremonious calls, in
most of the large cities, at any hour between two and five in the
afternoon, and the man that has not the leisure to call during the
afternoon may make calls in the evening after half past eight. The
careless, ignorant, or over-eager sometimes call earlier, for fear
the lady may be out; but this is not considered good usage.
Calls may be divided into three classes: