Announcing guests.  The hostess decides
       whether or not the guests are to be announced. 
       At public balls it is customary.

  Answering invitations.  These should be answered
       immediately, and if declined, the
       ticket should be returned.

  Arriving at.  There is no set rule when guests
       should arrive.

In the city, guests should arrive anywhere between eleven and twelve, and in the country, fifteen minutes after the hour set in the invitation.

  Asking women to dance.  A man asks for
       the privilege of a dance either with the
       daughter of the hostess, with any guest of
       the latter, or with any young woman receiving
       with her.

       On being introduced to a woman, he may
       ask her for a dance, and should be punctual
       in keeping the engagement.

It is her privilege to end the dance at any moment she wishes, after which he should conduct her to her chaperone or find a seat for her, after which he is at liberty to go elsewhere.

If for any cause a man has to break his engagements to dance, he should personally explain the matter to every woman with whom he has an engagement and make a suitable apology.

Balls, assembly.  The etiquette at an assembly
       ball is much the same as at a private ball,
       the functions and duties of the hostess being
       filled by a committee of women selected for
       that purpose.

       On entering the room, the guests bow to
       the committee and pass on.

       It is not necessary to take leave of the
       committee.

  Carriage.  A man should provide a carriage
       in which to call for the woman he escorts
       and her chaperone.

  Chaperones.  For a small ball given in a private
       house, the hostess need not invite the mothers
       of the young women, and the young women
       can properly attend, knowing that the hostess
       will act as a chaperone.

But at a large ball it is necessary to invite the mother as well as the daughters, and the chaperone as well as the debutante under her care.  The mother can send regrets for herself, and send her daughters in care of a maid.  Or she can attend, and, after remaining a suitable time, she may entrust her daughter to the care of a chaperone who intends to remain the whole evening.

BALLS FOR DEBUTANTE.

  Dress.  A debutante should dress in white or
       some extremely delicate color, and wear very
       little jewelry—­some simple brooch or single
       piece of jewelry, or a slender chain of pearls.