Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
October 17, 1896
The Copper Country Evening News
Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan
What is this article about?
Account of 1792 British social customs: empty chair visits with footmen delivering cards, hostesses absenting themselves from their own routs, and card parties where players tipped under candlesticks for servants or hostess profit.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
How They Made Calls.
In the year 1792 visiting was managed by sending round an empty chair attended by footmen-that is to say, the chairmen carried the chair, and behind it walked two footmen, who carried the cards, and with grave faces asked at each door whether Lady A. was at home. She never was at home. Again-but only if one were a very great lady-it was common to invite one's friends to a rout, and when the street was blocked by coaches and the rooms with the company assembled the hostess would call her own coach and go off to somebody else's rout. Also for another pretty trait there were ladies, but not great ladies, who gave frequent card parties and found their hospitality profitable on account of the card money. At that time every player was supposed to slip something under a candlestick. When the company departed the servants collected the money for themselves. In the case of the prudent housewife, she lifted the candlesticks herself and kept the coin.-Exchange.
In the year 1792 visiting was managed by sending round an empty chair attended by footmen-that is to say, the chairmen carried the chair, and behind it walked two footmen, who carried the cards, and with grave faces asked at each door whether Lady A. was at home. She never was at home. Again-but only if one were a very great lady-it was common to invite one's friends to a rout, and when the street was blocked by coaches and the rooms with the company assembled the hostess would call her own coach and go off to somebody else's rout. Also for another pretty trait there were ladies, but not great ladies, who gave frequent card parties and found their hospitality profitable on account of the card money. At that time every player was supposed to slip something under a candlestick. When the company departed the servants collected the money for themselves. In the case of the prudent housewife, she lifted the candlesticks herself and kept the coin.-Exchange.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Visiting Customs
Routs
Card Parties
Social Etiquette
1792
Story Details
Event Date
In The Year 1792
Story Details
Visiting managed by sending empty chair with footmen carrying cards; great ladies hosted routs but left for others; lesser ladies profited from card parties via money under candlesticks collected by servants or hostess.