anywhere for refreshments; indeed, she should not accept such an invitation unless another couple or another girl are included in the party.  This is not prudery; it is protection; and any young man’s acquaintance is not desirable if he objects to such arrangements.  He would not permit his sister to do what he asks some other man’s sister to do.  A young man loses in respect for a girl if she holds herself cheap.

If a girl receives invitations of the character just mentioned, it is far better to say frankly “My father (or mother) does not allow me to accept,” than to make excuses or plead previous engagements time after time.

[720 Mothers’ remedies]

The Girl and the Young Man.—­Do not ask a young man to call on the occasion of your first meeting.  Young people often meet and make each other’s acquaintance when the girl’s mother, whose place it is to give the invitation to call, is not present.  After several meetings the girl, having ascertained the young man’s antecedents, may say, if he seems desirous of the invitation, “’My mother will be glad to know you,” or “Mother and I will be pleased to have you call some evening.”  The young man should acknowledge the compliment by calling at an early date, and should meet the girl’s mother, The girl does not suggest when he shall call, though she may mention that she receives calls on a certain evening.  She must not give him her card; if he is not sufficiently interested to remember her address he probably does not intend to call.

It is not correct for girls to suggest a walk, ride, hint a wish to dance or row, or tacitly invite a tete-a-tete.  Let those who wish such favors ask for them.  The girl who shows herself most anxious for young men’s attentions generally receives fewest.  Despite “the woman’s movement,” man still insists on his privilege of taking the initiative.

About Gifts.—­It is not correct form for a girl to receive presents from young men, aside from flowers, candy and an occasional book or piece of music.  In some circles, to offer a girl a piece of jewelry would be considered insulting.  Not until he is engaged to her may a man offer expensive presents.  This rule, it is lamentably true, is often violated by a certain order of young persons, who rather boast of the gifts of their gallants, and are thus the object of rather unkind criticism.

As a rule, a girl makes a mistake when she sends a gift to a young man.  It is generally something that is as superfluous to him as a fifth wheel to a wagon, and it entails an irksome sense of obligation.  It is presumed, if he has been very courteous and shown her many attentions, that it has been his pleasure to do so, and her gracious acceptance and pleasure in them is sufficient reward.  A girl may give Christmas and birthday gifts to her fiance, but he should not give her any article of wearing apparel except gloves.