troduced, that the rule on
this head is a very elastic one.

For instance, a host and hostess should shake hands with every stranger
introduced to them at their house.

A lady should shake hands on being introduced to the relations of her
intended husband.

A lady should shake hands on being introduced to the friend of an
intimate friend.

When a lady has entered into conversation to any extent with some one to
whom she has been introduced, and finds she has much in common with her,
she should shake hands on taking leave; but if she has only exchanged a
few commonplace sentences, a bow would be all that is necessary.

A lady usually takes the initiative with regard to shaking hands as with
bowing; but in reality it is a spontaneous movement, made by both lady
and gentleman at the same moment, as the hand ought not to be extended
or the bow given unless expected and instantaneously reciprocated.

A young lady should not offer to shake hands with one not expectant of
the honour.

* * * * *

=Shaking hands on taking leave= is, with some few people, a graceful and
pleasant fashion of saying good-bye; intimate friends hold the hand
while the last words are being said. Women hold each other's hands thus
on parting, and some few men take each other's hands; but with them it
is rather a foreign fashion, and is principally followed by those who
have lived much on the Continent; for, as a rule, an Englishman prefers
the hearty English shake of the hand.

A lady having once shaken hands with another, should continue to do so
at subsequent meetings, unless a coolness of manner warns her that a bow
would be more acceptable.

With regard to shaking hands at a dinner-party with acquaintances: if
the dinner-party is a small one, and there is time to shake hands, it is
correct to do so; but when there is little time before dinner, and no
good opportunity for shaking hands, bows to acquaintances at distant
parts of the room, or when seated at the dinner-table, are sufficient
recognition for the time being.

At an evening-party it depends upon opportunity whether acquaintances
shake hands or not.

* * * * *

=The fashion of raising the arm= when shaking hands is followed by very
few in the exaggerated style in which it was first introduced, but a
modification of it has distinctly become the fashion in general society.

The hand, instead of being extended strai