ON PARTY CALLS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 10, 7 March 1891, Page 8

ON PARTY CALLS.

It is admittedly useless to quarrel with or even question social usages and customs, since they are decreed by a ruler practically omnipotent; but the philosopher who believes that eveiy effect must have a cause may ponder, in the security of his sanctum, over the observances which the rulers of society dictate, and wonder why things should be as they are, and wonder there is any logical or reasonable or historical basis for some customs which it is high treason tosociety to omit. For example, our general philosopher must be sadly puzzled to know the whys and wherefores of what is known as paying party calls. He recognises to its fullest extent the generality of the custom, and, when he cannot escape, complies with it, but the puzzling and vexing ‘ why ’ will recur to him. He remembers that in the olden time, when a party was a gigantic feast, and when the guests were usually kept beneath the same roof until the next day, it was deemed a mark of politeness for the cavalier to call on his ladylove the next afternoon and express the hope that the venison pasty or the spiced wine or the sack or the hippocras or the what not had not caused her any discomfort ; but between that custom and the modern custom of party calls he sees a gulf which not even tradition can cross.

Nowadays our philosophic friend knows that at some time within a week or so after an entertainment has been given each lady who has been a guest must attire herself in all her bravery, chain her husband or brother or lover a reluctant captive to her chariot wheels, and go and make a party call ;. but still he asks why ? It cannot be out of consideration for the welfare of the host and hostess, for too much time intervenes. It cannot be to convince the host and hostess that none of their silver spoons have strayed inadvertently into the guests’ pockets, for again the intervening time is long enough to turn all the spoons into bullion and the bullion into coin. It cannot be to allow the hostess to taker a second and more leisurely look at the adornment of her guests, for the party call is not made in full party dress. Nor can it be on account of any overpowering belief on thepart of the guests that their, host and hostess are hungering and thirsting to see them again, for while polite society contains many shams and humbugs its votaries are not overaddicted to self-deception. By this time our genial philosopher’s geniality begins to evaporate. He finds himself confronted ny that terror of all philosophic minds, an insoluble problem. In despair he takes refuge in his library, and being conscious that the evolution and development of social customs is due chiefly to the fair sex, he consoles himself for his disappointment with Amiel’s opinion tt woman : * A woman is sometimes fugitive, irrational, Indeterminable, illogical and contradictory. A great dtv <4 forbearance ought to be shown her and a good deal of pradence exercised with regard to her, for, capable of all kinds of devotion and of all kinds of treason, she is at once the delight and terror of man.’ And with this incomplete answer to his question our genial philosopher blows out his candle and goes to bed.