ests at a garden-party on the lawn;
strangers should be introduced to the hostess by those who have
undertaken to bring them to her house, and she should shake hands with
all comers. It is also usual for guests to shake hands with the hostess
on departure, if opportunity offers for so doing.

Garden-parties commence from 3.30 to 4 o'clock, and terminate at 7
o'clock.

In making preparations for a garden-party, stabling for the
carriage-horses and motor-cars of the numerous guests should be taken
into consideration, and refreshments provided for the men-servants and
chauffeurs.

Public afternoon concerts, bazaars, and flower-shows are essentially
functions frequented by ladies _en masse_, and it is the exception,
rather than the rule, for gentlemen to accompany them; again, at private
afternoon gatherings, ladies usually appear unaccompanied by gentlemen.

When a garden-party is a very large function, it is not unusual to put
the words "garden-party" on the invitation cards in place of the words
"at home"; thus: "The Countess of A---- requests the pleasure of Mr. and
Mrs. B----'s company at a garden-party on----," etc.

CHAPTER XXIV

TOWN GARDEN-PARTIES

The first garden-parties in town are usually given early in June, and
continue during this and the ensuing month. The garden-parties at
Lambeth Palace and Fulham Palace are the pioneers of the garden-party
season, and the lead is followed by general society with more or
less alacrity.

Town garden-parties resolve themselves into large receptions held
out-of-doors, and those who know what crowded drawing-rooms imply in the
sultry days of June are particularly glad of this change of _locale_,
and willingly spend an hour or more at one of these out-of-door
_reunions_, instead of thinking a quarter of an hour's stay all too long
within doors, where it is a case of heat _versus_ draught, and difficult
to determine where it is the most objectionable, in the drawing-room,
tea-room, or on a staircase. Although these functions are designated
"garden-parties," yet the real style and title is "at homes," the
address being sufficient indication to the invited guests as to the
description of entertainment to be given, as the spacious gardens and
lawns in and around London where these annual parties are held are well
known to society at large. A band playing in the grounds where the
garden-party is given would appear to be a _sine qua non_, but the
excellence of the