Yet, however innocent and sweet she may be, no girl comes into the world who is capable of guiding alone her own footsteps. Wisdom is not born with the child. It is developed in the evolution of life. "Wisdom lingers," says the poet. Sometimes it is so laggard as never to come to the surface in this brief life. Witness the woman ready to flirt, marry and divorce as readily as to laugh and dance.

Chaperonage is merely that oversight and protection that every woman, worthy the sacred name of mother, ought to give her daughter.

Were society ideally perfect, the maiden would still need to be instructed regarding conduct. As it is far from perfection, care and solicitude are necessary, lest the girl makes mistakes of behavior or she becomes the prey of the designing or contracts unworthy intimacies. Without a matronly protector how is she to distinguish between brass and gold? How learn those laws of good form that, however conventional, are almost as inexorable as those of the Medes and Persians?

To a healthy-minded young woman a sense of propriety is natural. But unless she learns the rules which society has forged about it, she will outrage Mrs. Grundy and be mistaken for something very different from her own true, fearless self. A few mistakes and misunderstandings of these rules, and her reputation,-not her character,-may be ruined. While noble and pure and good, she may be injured in the estimation of the discreet. Beside, should not a gem be polished that its luster be made apparent? Some one has said that a faithful chaperon is a real martyr. She must never allow a young daughter or ward to go out alone with a young man, especially in the evening. At the theater, concert, party and ball, she must make a third and perhaps sit out a stupid evening as a faded wall flower. Until her marriage or she reaches the thirties, our maiden must be under the wing of mother or friend. That is universally the case in towns and cities. In country places it would often be ridiculous to apply rules as strict as these.

Often and again young people who from childhood have been neighbors and friends, ride, walk and attend social functions in pairs without a thought of impropriety. Thank Heaven, there is a chivalrous sense of correct behavior toward women, such respect as a man would have other men show to his mother and sister, in the youth who is well-born and reared. But the parties must know one another well, and the judicious mother or guardian must know every detail of the anticipated excursion or visit. And late hours must be stoutly forbidden. Youth and maiden must feel, not that they are regarded with suspicion, but that experience and solicitude follow every step.

This will not interfere with enjoyment. On the contrary that would be increased by the sanction of an affection that sympathizes with every young emotion. One of the saddest things that can happen in any family is the lack of a frank understanding beween mother and daughter. Where that under

standing exists, the work of the chaperon will be easy. Over the younger is thrown the ægis of the elder, while the latter renews her girlish days in sympathizing with her second self.

As she knows the usages of society, the chaperon prevents mistakes on the part of her charge. While the latter is not to be reared to be timid, awkward and self-conscious, she should, on the other hand, be trained to respect the laws and limitations of wellbred society. Without the example of a chaperon, the American girl, from her petted freedom at home, is apt to have little respect for her elders and superiors. Too often she takes the lead in conversation, or is boisterous and aggressive.

In receiving calls from young men, the young woman should never be shut away from the family. Doors are to stand open, and if the chaperon does not constantly remain in the room, it is expected that she will, at sometime, greet all her daughters' guests. Nor should she at night, retire until they take their leave. The young man who is likewise a gentleman will treat her with due consideration. He will remember that she makes sacrifices for the good of others.

In making a conventional call, a gentleman enters the parlor with his hat held in the left hand, and his top coat, if it be cold weather, thrown over his left arm. His stick or umbrella is left in the hall rack. The right glove is removed, as the ungloved hand should always be extended. Twenty minutes should be the time limit of his stay.

Upon leaving, the hostess does not accompany him into the hall, but says good-by at the parlor door. If she has been hospitably inclined, she has taken his hat upon her entrance, or has invited him to lay it aside. Of course he has not failed to include the mother or the chaperon when calling upon young

women.

Where a long or an intimate acquaintance exists, these rules are of course not observed. The caller sure of welcome, en famille, hangs his coat and hat upon the rack and seats himself at leisure. Even so, he fails to bang upon the piano, tease the pug dog or the pet kitten, or frolic and joke with the small boy. More becoming than freedom among neighbors and friends is that fine reserve and respect that refuses to transcend the unwritten laws of delicate feeling.

If an acquaintance makes himself agreeable, it is the duty of a parent or chaperon to ask them to call again. After a young woman is twenty-five it will not be wrong for her to take the initiative. It must not be done eagerly. "We shall all be glad to see you" is sufficient. A proud-spirited person disdains to sue for attention. She merely intimates that he is at liberty to call with other acquaintances.

In the world where fashion rules, even after she is engaged, a young woman does not attend a theater or go to a ball with her fiancé unattended by a chaperon.

Society is whimsical, but it possesses common sense. Where a young person starts out to support

herself, or to make an independent career as an artist, or teacher or student, if she be self-respecting society respects her. It is supposed that where she has sufficient character and intelligence to carve her own pathway, she knows how to behave and to require good manners from her associates. In this regard there is no country like our own. All honor to those thousands of splendid young creatures dotting the states from Maine to Mexico, who bravely, cheerfully and honestly make their own careers the best they can. Everywhere beneath "Old Glory" such as they are valued aright. In what other land would they be understood by the blasé and perverted?

It must be reluctantly admitted that, in exceptional cases, the unfortunate chaperon is treated neglect fully. The young woman and the escort simply ignore her presence. To them she is no more than a lay figure. For such conduct there is no excuse. In every regard should she be deferred to. The first of everything should be offered to her. The best seat should be hers, and she should be included in the conversation.

A little parallelogram of pasteboard plays a most important part in social life. By means of it are announced arrivals and departures, births and deaths, engagements and marriages, congratulation and condolence. It is a most indispensable medium of exchange, the small coin of civilization.

Visiting cards should be never large or thick. Curiously enough the gentleman's card is smaller than the lady's. In comparative size they vary from season to season. The name is handsomely engraved exactly in the center, with the address in the lower right-hand corner. On the left-hand corner is inscribed the reception day, if she have one, as in a city she should.

In ceremonious calling, a married lady should leave one card of her own and two of her husband's, one for the lady of the house and one for the lady's husband. For each daughter in society should also be left a separate card. Where there are visitors known to the caller, each requires a card. Where the visitor alone is known to the person who calls, the latter, out of courtesy to the hostess, leaves a card for the latter. When a young woman first enters society her name is engraved on her mother's card, thus:

MRS. JAMES F. SLIDELL.

MISS SLIDELL.

If two daughters have "come out" in society, the lower line reads:

THE MISSES SLIDELL.

After a couple of seasons the elder daughter is entitled to a card of her own, as Miss Slidell. Thus she remains until her marriage, when the next older is promoted from Miss Jane or Miss Julia to Miss Slidell.

It should be said in relation to ceremonious calls, that cards for each member of the family should be left only at the beginning of the visiting season.

After a dinner or luncheon there should be a for

mal call and a card left in the receiver. At a recep tion a card is left at that time, so that none is needed thereafter. After a dinner party the husband's card should be left, by his wife, with her own.

A motherless young lady living with her father should, for general use, have her name engraved below that of her parent. At or about the age of thirty she has a separate card. Before that time, when calling upon a married lady, she leaves for her a card bearing both names. For the lady's husband is left the card of her father alone.

In polite society, cards of congratulation or condolence are left or sent, according as circumstances require. The former, where there is intimacy, should be left in person, and the caller should make a brief visit before leaving the card. Not so on occasions requiring condolence. Unless the relationship be unusually intimate there should be no intrusion. For the entire family a single card suffices.

Just before a young woman's wedding invitations. are sent out she is expected to leave her card, together with that of her mother, with all her friends.

Upon leaving home for a long stay or change of residence, cards are sent to acquaintances bearing in the left-hand corner the letters, P. P. C. (Pour Prende Congé, to take leave). It is an obsolete fashion to turn down card corners.

Cards of condolence require no answer, while it would be rude to send no recognition of cards of congratulation.

The proud parents of a tiny mite of humanity often. send cards announcing its advent. The child's name is engraved upon a small card bearing a bow of corresponding size, in baby ribbon, upon the left upper corner. It is sent in double envelopes, together with the cards of the parents. Congratulations are in order.

Whenever announcements are made of returns from journeys, or of engagements or marriages, cards should at once be returned. To express regrets or declination of an invitation, cards do not suffice. Formal notes are necessary. In making a gift, however small, the card of the donor should accompany it. In calling, married ladies should leave a card for the mother of a young woman whom she visits, even if she is not acquainted with her.

Mourning cards are used as long and no longer than the person enshrouds herself in a garb of woe. By courtesy, not by right, a widow retains the first name of her husband, instead of her own, upon her card. From four or three and a half to six o'clock is the correct calling hour.

A physician uses the prefix Dr. before her name, or M. D. after it, just as a professional man would do.. At present writing visiting cards are engraved in Roman letters oftener than in script. The pasteboard is thin, fine, and has a dull finish. In calling, if the lady of the house is in the parlor, the visitor merely leaves her card upon the table or in a receiver. Where two ladies receive together, their names must be inscribed upon the same card. When a