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Hello? Anyone "At Home"?
What was the meaning of "at home" when visitors presented
a calling card? Were some people at home to visitors on designated
days? Signed, A Dear Win: You got it, babe. Here's a little description of this long-forgotten tradition (hoorah for us). It's from a book titled Correct Social Usage, which was published in 1907 by the New York Society of Self-Culture. Eighteen people contributed to this volume, including Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Margaret E. Sangster, authors of some of the other books in my collection. 1907: Receiving Calls
The lady who keeps a regular day contents herself with the modest
tea table beside her chair, and arrayed in a graceful high-necked,
long-sleeved and slightly-trained house dress, she is prepared
by three o'clock to greet her earliest callers. A hostess rises
and steps forward to greet every caller, she offers her hand with
cordial words of welcome and sees that the newcomer is comfortably
seated near her and offered a cup of tea. Source:
Correct Social Usage Home • About • The Book • Advice • Abiblog • Bookshelf • Contact
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Ladies
who receive their callers on one afternoon of each week or fortnight,
keep what is now commonly known as a 'Day at Home.' The hostess
should then be prepared to receive the first callers at three
o'clock in the afternoon, or after four, or exactly according
to the hour specified, if one is specified, on the cards she issues
at the beginning of the season. Such cards are described in the
chapter on Cards, page 213 [Sorry, Miss Abigail is not including
this chapter here. It's quite long!]. As a rule, the hour is not
specified and the hostess may look for her very promptest callers
a few moments after three and for her tardiest before half-past
five. When a day at home is kept, the hostess usually prepares
some light refreshment for her guests. . . .
