Paying Calls at Hotels - The Ritual of the Call - Letters of Introduction

When calling on a friend at a hotel, the card should always be given to the boy sent from the office to look for him or her. Were the name only given without the card, there might be some misapprehension. Boys are not always very clear-headed, and names are easily forgotten; more easily forgotten than pronounced, sometimes. Far too much is expected by callers of some of these boys. I have heard them given a long and rather involved message which they are expected to keep in mind while roving all over the hotel, meeting other boys engaged on a similar errand, and possibly subject to other distractions. Giving them a card avoids the risk of a wrong name being given.

The courtesy call, when one has received an invitation to any kind of entertainment, is paid, whether the invitation has been accepted or declined. After a dinner-party, it should be made within a week. The rule used to be that the invited person should call in person, but it has become very general to leave cards only.

The importance of calls began to fade with the advent of the motor-car. The fascination of it caused its owners to be out-of-doors almost every afternoon, so that the call became a perfunctory affair, and card-leaving, instead of merely being the token that a call has been made, has now to a great extent replaced it.

The Ritual of the Call

When making a call, the card is left on the hall table before leaving the house. This is never done at an afternoon "At Home" or a wedding, nor, in fact, after any kind of entertainment to which invitations have been issued.

The ritual of the call proper is as follows. The correct hours are from three to six. If the servant says that the lady called on is not at home, cards are handed in. If the lady is at home, the caller gives her name very distinctly to the servant, and follows her to the room in which the mistress is receiving. The servant opens the door, goes a few paces into the room, announces the caller, and then stands back to allow her to pass. The maid then leaves the room and gently closes the door.

A formal call is supposed to last twenty minutes, but after the acquaintance has progressed, the time would be extended. The return call should be made within a week in the beginning of an acquaintance, but from a fortnight to six weeks may be a suitable interval when the ladies know each other better.

Letters Of Introduction

A newcomer in a country town or district is called upon by the residents. A newcomer in London may have introductions. If quite unknown in the neighbourhod in which she settles, she may be some time before making any acquaintances. When presenting introductions, the visiting-card is enclosed with them, and both are sent by post. It then becomes the duty of the person to whom the introductions are addressed to make the first call.

Sometimes the mutual friend, instead of giving a formal letter of introduction, writes a note to the lady to whom she wishes to make her friend known. In this case, the new arrival calls upon the resident.

In India, the new arrival gets a list of the resident ladies and calls on them. When an officer marries, whether at home or whether stationed abroad, the other officers' wives and the unmarried officers call upon the bride. The colonel's wife is usually the first to call, but if she should be lax about such social duties, the other officers' wives do not wait for her.

Cards are always sent in when business calls are made, also when going to see one's lawyer; even with doctor and dentist, unless an appointment may have been made.

Professional women have separate cards for business, differently printed from those intended to be used socially. The wording and lettering vary according to the kind of profession or business, and in this case there are none of the hampering rules which apply to the social visiting-card.