Visiting and calling cards--Their size and style--Wedding cards--Leaving cards in calling--Cards for mother and daughter--Cards not to be sent in envelopes to return formal calls--Glazed cards not in fashion--P.P.C. cards--Cards of congratulation--When sent--Leave cards in making first calls of the season and after invitations--Mourning cards--Christmas and Easter cards--Cards of condolence--Bridegroom's card. 75 CHAPTER VIII. CONVERSATION. Character revealed by conversation--Importance of conversing well--Children should be trained to talk well--Cultivation of the memory--Importance of remembering names--How Henry Clay acquired this habit--Listening--Writing down one's thoughts--Requisites for a good talker--Vulgarisms--Flippancy--Sympathizing with another--Bestowing compliments--Slang--Flattery--Scandal and gossip--Satire and ridicule--Religion and politics to be avoided--Bestowing of titles--Interrupting another while talking--Adaptability in conversation--Correct use of words--Speaking one's mind--Profanity --Display of knowledge--Double entendres--Impertinent questions --Things to be avoided in conversation--Hobbies--Fault-finding --Disputes 84 CHAPTER IX. DINNER PARTIES. Dinners are entertainments for married people--Whom to invite--Forms of invitations--Punctuality required--The success of a dinner party--Table appointments--Proper size of a dinner party--Arrangement of guests at table--Serving dinner a la Russe--Duties of servants--Serving the dishes--General rules regarding dinner--Waiting on others--Monopolizing conversation--Duties of hostess and host--Retiring from the table--Calls required after a dinner party--Returning hospitalities--Expensive dinners not the most enjoyable--Wines at dinners 106 CHAPTER X. TABLE ETIQUETTE. Importance of acquiring good habits at the table--Table appointments for breakfast, luncheon and dinner--Use of the knife and fork--Of the napkin--Avoid fast eating and all appearance of greediness--General rules on the subject 123 CHAPTER XI. RECEPTIONS, PARTIES AND BALLS. Morning receptions--The dress and refreshments for them--Invitations--Musical matinees--Parties in the country--Five o'clock teas and kettle-drums--Requisites for a successful ball--Introductions at a ball--Receiving guests--The number to invite--Duties of the guests--General rules to be observed at balls--Some suggestions for gentlemen--Duties of an escort--Preparations for a ball--The supper--An after-call required 129 CHAPTER XII. STREET ETIQUETTE.