just once in six months
or a year, a call serves to
keep up acquaintance
From The Home Cook Book, by Ladies of Toronto and Other Cities and Towns, Toronto, Belford Brothers, Publishers, MDCCCLXXVII.
The Title page states:
COMPILED FROM RECIPES CONTRIBUTED BY LADIES OF TORONTO AND
OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS: PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT
OF THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN.
Under SOCIAL OBSERVANCES – Cards and Calling, we read:
The simplest society duty is, that of making calls. A new comer should return each call within two weeks after it is made. After this, a call once in six months, or a year, serves to keep up acquaintance. Calls are due to a hostess two days after a dinner party, and two days after a ball, and a week after a small party, though these are amply fulfilled by leaving one’s card in the case of a gentleman, a personal call being polite from a lady who has more time.
In town, leaving a card with the corner bent signifies that it was left by its owner in person, not sent by a servant. Bending the edges of a card, means that the visit was designed for the young ladies of the house, as well as the mistress of it. If there is a visitor with the family whom you wished to see, a separate card should be left for that person, naming him or her to the servant. A card should also be left for the host, if the call was designed as a family matter, but more than three are not left at one house.
For some reason I must now immediately read each text or message on any electronic device as if it were a message from the Principal of my High School.
And if I don’t respond immediately, somehow, I am RUDE.
I want to pay calls.
Once every six months or a year.
And if you aren’t home, I want to leave my card.
Somehow, afterwards, we are both satisfied that we have done all that is necessary.
All that is required.
The telephone was seen as an intrusion in the home.
Now it sits in my hand constantly … in case someone wants to tell me something that I didn’t need to know in the first place.
Oh well.
Devil will have his details.
No Haiku For You 