er visitor by the production of albums, photographs,
books, illustrated newspapers, portfolios of drawings, the artistic
efforts of the members of the family, and the like; conversation being
all that is necessary, without having recourse to pictorial displays.

If not intimate enough to refer to family matters, the conversation
should turn on light topics of the hour.[2]

People unused to society are apt to fall back upon the above
adventitious aids. A hostess should rely solely upon her own powers of
conversation to make the short quarter of an hour--which is the limit of
a ceremonious call--pass pleasantly to her visitor. The hostess should
not offer her visitor any refreshments, wine and cake, for instance. No
refreshments whatever, save tea, should be offered to morning visitors;
they are not supposed to require them.

In the country it is customary to offer sherry to gentlemen callers, and
to order tea for the ladies, even though the call is made rather early
in the afternoon, and a little before the hour for having tea.

Ceremonious visits are usually paid before the hour of half-past four;
but if tea is brought in while the visitor is in the drawing-room, or if
the visitor calls while the hostess is having tea, she should naturally
offer her visitor tea.

When the mistress of the house only expects a few callers, "tea" is
placed on a small table--a silver tray being generally used for the
purpose. The hostess should pour out the tea herself; when a gentleman
is present, he should hand the cups to the visitors or visitor,
otherwise the hostess should herself do so, and then hand the sugar and
cream, without asking whether her visitors will have either, unless she
is preparing the cups of tea herself, in which case she should ask the
question.

When a second visitor arrives, ten or fifteen minutes after the first
visitor, the first visitor should take her leave as soon as she
conveniently can. When the second visitor is a lady, the hostess should
rise and shake hands with her, and then seat herself; the first visitor,
if a lady, should not rise; if a gentleman, he should do so.

A hostess should also rise and come forward when a gentleman is
announced; this gives her an opportunity of talking to him for a few
moments on his first entering the room. The second visitor should at
once seat him or herself near to the hostess.

She should introduce the callers to each other unless she has some
especial reason