of the house is seated at the other extremity of the front parlour.  It is therefore necessary to traverse the length of two rooms in order to reach her.  A voyage of this kind is by no means an easy undertaking, when there are Circes and Calypsos assailing one on every side; and when one has reached the conclusion, one cannot perhaps distinguish the object of one’s search at a coup d’oeil. It would be in every point of view more appropriate if the lady were to stand directly opposite to the door of the back parlour.  Such is the custom in the best companies abroad.  Upon a single gentleman entering at a late hour, it is not so obligatory to speak first to the mistress of the ceremonies.  He may be allowed to converge his way up to her.  When you leave a room before the others, go without speaking to any one, and, if possible, unseen.

Never permit the sanctity of the drawing-room to be violated by a boot.

Fashionable society is divided into sets, in all of which there is some peculiarity of manner, or some dominant tone of feeling.  It is necessary to study these peculiarities before entering the circle.

In each of these sets there is generally some gentleman, who rules, and gives it its character, or, rather, who is not ruler, but the first and most favoured subject, and the prime minister of the ladies’ will.  Him you must endeavour to imitate, taking care not to imitate him so well as to excel him.  To differ in manner or opinion from him is to render yourself unfit for that circle.  To speak disrespectfully of him is to insult personally every lady who composes it.

In company, though none are “free,” yet all are “equal.”  All therefore whom you meet, should be treated with equal respect, although interest may dictate toward each different degrees of attention.  It is disrespectful to the inviter to shun any of her guests.  Those whom she has honoured by asking to her house, you should sanction by admitting to your acquaintance.

If you meet any one whom you have never heard of before at the table of a gentleman, or in the drawing-room of a lady, you may converse with him with entire propriety.  The form of “introduction” is nothing more than a statement by a mutual friend that two gentlemen are by rank and manners fit acquaintances for one another.  All this may be presumed from the fact, that both meet at a respectable house.  This is the theory of the matter.  Custom, however, requires that you should take the earliest opportunity afterwards to be regularly presented to such an one.

Men of all sorts of occupations meet in society.  As they go there to unbend their minds and escape from the fetters of business, you should never, in an evening, speak to a man about his professions.  Do not talk of politics with a journalist, of fevers to a physician, of stocks to a broker,- -nor, unless you wish to enrage him to the utmost, of education to a collegian.  The error which is here condemned