TO BOW OR NOT TO BOW.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12027, 28 March 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

TO BOW OR NOT TO BOW.

Indecision with regard to "when to bow" and " when not to tow " would appear to be more general than that experienced with regard to "shaking hands "or "not shaking 'hands." It may, perhaps, be considered a matter of little moment whether a bow is given or withheld, or whether a shake of the hand is given in lieu of a bow, but in reality it carries a distinct significance whether the right or the wronj thing is done on the spur of the moment. It should be understood that a bow is a ceremonious recognition between those but slightly acquainted, and who do not know each other intimately enough to speak or to shake hands with them when they meet. When, for instance, two ladies meet who have been recently introduced, if bows are -not exchanged when passing each other it would be next to impossible to do so on a subsequent occasion, and thus the acquaintance comes to an end. Again, it is equally required that bows should (be exchanged' between friends unable to speak to each other on the occasion of meeting, imore especially between men and women than between women themselves.

If a -woman does nofc "bow to a man she knows •when he loots expectant of her howing to him he considers himself cut by her, although she has no such intention, | and was really postponing her greeting until, say, she had shaken hands with her host and hostess at an outdoor gathering. The same equally holds good 'between men and women as between women. When slight acquaintances meet at "at homes " and dinner parties to bow all that is necessary, tut the how should" be made as soon as possible. If a lady is seated and another arrives, as soon as the one attracts the notice of the' other, hows should he exchanged. There are incidental occasions when bows are given. At breakfast in a country house bows are the morning salutation. At dinner parties, when guests are seated far apart, they can, if inclined to do so, bow and smile" at one another. Out driving is a frequent opportunity for howing. Sitting out in the park is another equally so; in fact, it is difficult to say when howing should give place to shaking hands. Once it has done so, however, it- can never occupy the same footing with acquaintances'who hare been met with a shake of the hand, although it purpose of keeping in touch those "'sepj&ated by the barrier of a crowd of circumstances equally powerful to keep them temporarily asunder.