in women's clothes, that women of wealth and position have much smaller wardrobes than used to be thought necessary. Even the bride fits herself out in dresses, hats and wraps only for the coming season.
WHOM SHALL WE INTRODUCE?
This is a mooted question. It is undisputed that a hostess may introduce guests under her roof, and most people think she is failing in courtesy if she does not do so. To make sure that everyone is introduced to everyone else, at an evening party it is the custom for the host or hostess to take each guest by the arm as she arrives, leading her about the room and presenting her to everyone in turn. This is awkward and embarrassing to the guest and puts a spoke in every wheel of talk. It takes a company several minutes to recover and nobody remembers anybody’s name. In all European countries, being an invited guest under the same roof is an introduction, and in large cities in this country the custom is growing for people who meet in a house to converse freely with those nearest without previous introduction. A good hostess watches as guests form groups and talk, goes about among them and makes introductions incidentally. She may say: "I thought you would find Captain Clive congenial, Miss Deering, for he shares your enthusiasm for music." Thus introductions are robbed of stiffness.
At receptions, of course, where the hostess stands by the door to receive, callers are introduced to the guest of honor or the debutante as they arrive.
If anything, Americans are too generous and tolerant about giving introductions, and are apt to forget that people have a right to choose their acquaintances. If in doubt as to whether two people care to know each other, it is better to ask both, privately. A lady’s Care in Making Introductions permission must be asked in introducing a gentleman. In a way, you endorse the person you introduce, and you should be careful about whom you stand sponsor for. In England, if a young man should ask a lady to whom he is not well known to introduce him to a young girl, she may say without giving offense: "I am afraid I do not know you well enough to ask her mother’s permission." And there we have one striking contrast to what is permitted in most places in America. It is astonishing
