The Rules of Card-Leaving.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue II, 12 January 1901, Page 90

The Rules of Card-Leaving.

There seems To exist in some minds a doubt as to the leaving of cards. Let

me help you. When a lady calls and finds her hostess at home she does not leave one of her own cards but. on going away. places two of her husband's on (hr hall table. An exception may l»r made to this rule in the case of a first call, when she might leave her card, saying to her hostess, **! will lra\e one of my cards just to remind you of address.” Should she call and find her hostess “not at home,” she leaves one of her own and two of her husband's. If her hostess has grown-up daughters, she may turn down the right-hand corner of her card to signify that her call is on the other members of the household as well. Now. as to card-leaving when no call is made. When a lady first comes to town or goes to her country house it is customary for her to leave cards on her friends just to notify that she has returned. In leaving cards in this way the lady would not inquire if her hostess were nt home, but leave the cards, saying ''For Mrs or. if she were driving. she would give them to her manservant to leave. 1 his seems, perhaps, somewhat reversing the order of things, that the new-comer should leave cards on the old; but, when one comes to think of it. it is in reason, for how are the residents to know that the lady has returned unless she signifies it in this way? Again, leaving cards after entertainments. Alter a ball or a dinner party cards should be left within two days. It is not necessary to make a call, but it is sufficient to leave cards. The etiquette for leaving cards is very strict. For instance, cardleaving should not be returned by a call, but by cards. Supposing a lady

of high rank leaves cards on another who is socially her inferior, that lady would be making a faux pas in returning the cards by a call. Again, supposing a lady whose rank is lower in the social scale should make a call on a superior, and this call is returned by cards, the action is significant that the acquaintance is wished to be one of the slightest.