POINTS OF ETIQUETTE WHEN TRAVELLING ABROAD, AND PRESENTATIONS AT FOREIGN
COURTS
The acquaintanceship of foreign residents is of considerable service to
English people purposing to winter abroad, or to remain for any length
of time in a continental city, as by its means they obtain an entrance
into foreign society. An introduction to the English Ambassador or
Minister at a foreign Court is of still greater service in this matter.
People of recognised position in society have the privilege of leaving
cards at the English Embassy at any foreign city in which they intend
making a temporary stay.
So thoroughly is the position of English travellers known to the English
Ministry at a foreign Court, that should a person, who is not received
in English society, leave cards at the English Embassy, they would be at
once returned as an intimation that the acquaintance is declined.
It is erroneous to suppose that by leaving cards upon foreigners of
distinction, an acquaintanceship can be commenced, for unless
introductions have been formally made, leaving cards is a useless
proceeding.
At far-away spots little frequented by the general run of travellers,
and where there are but few, if any, resident English, travellers
requiring advice or assistance from the English consul, can, without an
introduction, call upon him, nationality being the ground upon which to
do this, and if of equal social standing, they would be received with
social consideration; if otherwise, all assistance would be given to
them from an official point of view. Many people when travelling abroad
make pleasant acquaintances even without the help of introductions, the
occasion of a meeting being as it were a semi-introduction in itself.
Such casual acquaintanceships are, however, attended with certain risks,
especially to persons who have been absent from England some little
time, or who when in England have entered comparatively but little in
society, and who are thus apt to drift unawares into close friendships
with people perhaps well bred and agreeable, although tabooed at home
for some good and sufficient reason. _Contretemps_ such as these are
painful to kind-hearted people when subsequently compelled to avoid and
to relinquish the acquaintance of those with whom they have become
pleasantly intimate. An introduction to an English resident in either
town or city obviates any unpleasantness of this nature, as one so
situated is generally kept _au courant_ with all that takes place in
society at home.
* * * * *
=When persons desire to enter into society abroad= they endeavour to
obtain letters of introduction from friends and acquaintances to
residents in the cities they purpose visiting.
Unless English travellers have been duly presented at the Court of St.
James's, they cannot obtain presentations at foreign Courts through the
English Embassies.
When a lady desires a presentation at a foreign Court, she should write
to the English Ambassadress and request the honour of a presentation,
and should state the date of her presentation and the name of the lady
by whom she was presented. After her statement has been duly verified
the request is granted. In a like manner when a gentleman desires a
presentation at a foreign Court, he should write to the Ambassador and
request the honour of a presentation, and should state the date of the
Levee at which he was presented, and the name of the person by whom the
presentation was made.
Presentations at foreign Courts take place in the evening, and the
persons to be presented, and those who attend, assemble previous to the
entrance of the royal personages: the rule is for the grand _maitresse_
to present each lady in turn to her royal mistress, who makes the tour
of the apartment for this purpose, and addresses some courteous
observation to each.