Young ladies who, on their way to church, laugh and talk loudly with their escort, are, to say the least, guilty of a serious indiscretion. It is too probable that their escort will occupy a large share of their thoughts during the hours of worship. Nay, there are some so irreverent and so regardless of the sanctity of the place as to indulge in frequent whispers, to those near them, or to their friends in adjoining pews.. ETIQUETTE. 21 Visiting. — A lady is said to have the entree of her friend's room when she is allowed or assumes the privilege of entering it familiarly at all times, and without any previous intimation — a privilege too often abused. In many cases the visited per- son has never really granted the privilege (and after growing wise by experience she rarely will), but the visitor, assuming that she herself must under all circumstances be welcome, carries her sociability so far as to become troublesome and in- convenient. There are few occasions on which it is proper, on entering a house, to run directly to the chamber of your friend, and to enter the room without knocking, or the very instant after knocking, before she has time to desire you to enter or to make the slightest arrangement for your reception. You may find her washing or dressing, or even engaged in repairing clothes — or the room may be in great disorder, or the chambermaid in the act of cleaning it. No one likes unseasonable interrup- tions, even from a very dear friend. A familiar visit will always begin more pleasantly if the visitor inquires of the servant at the door if the lady she wishes to see is at home, and then goes into the parlor and stays there until she has sent her name, and ascertained that she can be received upstairs. Then, and not till then, let her go to her friend's room, taking care to knock before entering. It is extremely rude, on being admitted to a private apart- ment, to look curiously about as if taking an inventory of all that is to be seen. We have known ladies whose eyes were all the time gazing round, and even slily peering under tables, sofas, &c., turning their heads to look after every person who chanced to move about the room, and giving particular atten- tion to whatever seemed to be in disorder or out of place. Make no remark upon the work in which you find youl friend engaged. If she lays it aside, desire her not to leave it because of your presence, but propound no questions concern- ing it. Do not look over her books, and ask to borrow them. In short, meddle with nothing. If you are perfectly certain that you really have the entree of your friend's room, you have no right to extend that privi- lege to any other person who may chance to be with you when n ETIQUETTE. you go to see her. It is taking an unjustifiable liberty to in- trude a stranger upon the privacy of her chamber. If another lady is with you waive the privilege of entre^ for that time, take your companion into the parlor, and send up the names of both.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Young ladies who, on their way to church, laugh and talk loudly with their escort, are, to say the least, guilty of a serious indiscretion. It is too probable that their escort will occupy a large share of their thoughts during the hours of worship. Nay, there are some so irreverent and so regardless of the sanctity of the place as to indulge in frequent whispers, to those near them, or to their friends in adjoining pews. Visiting. — A lady is said to have the entree of her friend's room when she is allowed or assumes the privilege of entering it familiarly at all times, and without any previous intimation — a privilege too often abused. In many cases the visited person has never really granted the privilege (and after growing wise by experience she rarely will), but the visitor, assuming that she herself must under all circumstances be welcome, carries her sociability so far as to become troublesome and inconvenient. There are few occasions on which it is proper, on entering a house, to run directly to the chamber of your friend, and to enter the room without knocking, or the very instant after knocking, before she has time to desire you to enter or to make the slightest arrangement for your reception. You may find her washing or dressing, or even engaged in repairing clothes — or the room may be in great disorder, or the chambermaid in the act of cleaning it. No one likes unseasonable interruptions, even from a very dear friend. A familiar visit will always begin more pleasantly if the visitor inquires of the servant at the door if the lady she wishes to see is at home, and then goes into the parlor and stays there until she has sent her name, and ascertained that she can be received upstairs. Then, and not till then, let her go to her friend's room, taking care to knock before entering. It is extremely rude, on being admitted to a private apartment, to look curiously about as if taking an inventory of all that is to be seen. We have known ladies whose eyes were all the time gazing round, and even slily peering under tables, sofas, &c., turning their heads to look after every person who chanced to move about the room, and giving particular attention to whatever seemed to be in disorder or out of place. Make no remark upon the work in which you find your friend engaged. If she lays it aside, desire her not to leave it because of your presence, but propound no questions concerning it. Do not look over her books, and ask to borrow them. In short, meddle with nothing. If you are perfectly certain that you really have the entree of your friend's room, you have no right to extend that privilege to any other person who may chance to be with you when you go to see her. It is taking an unjustifiable liberty to intrude a stranger upon the privacy of her chamber. If another lady is with you waive the privilege of entree for that time, take your companion into the parlor, and send up the names of both.

The housekeeper's companion