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Observer, Volume 2, Issue 34, 7 May 1881, Page 361

Colonial Society is tolerant and enduring of many abominations, and among them at balls of all sorts it submits to the dealing out of cards, on which the youth of the period inscribes the names of his luckless partners, even up to the tAventy-third dance. To everyone Avho comes to a ball as a pleasure and not as a business, cards are a horrible nuisance, and the only creature to Avhom they are a boon is the unpopular, objectionable, pushing man, Avho comes early, makes a rush at once at every pretty or pleasant Avoman Avith Avhom he can scrape acquaintance, torments her to let him put his name down for some dance, in spite of anything she can do, and never fails to claim it if he Avaits for four mortal hours. The result is tliat if there comes later in the evening some great friend of the lady's, she must either throAV over the troublesome bore, or lose her dance Avith an old friend. Cards are in the Avay of making any new acquaintances, for again the unfortunate lady finds her card has been rushed by all the people she least Avants to dance Avith, and Avhen some man whom she would particularly like to know arrives, she has no dance to give him. Of course there are Avays of doing the bores and the snobs ; but why have a regular system Avhich must be evaded by every sensible man and Avoman ? In London cards disappeared long ago— in fact, here they neA r er had any foot ing in really good and well-regulated Society.