Volume Ii Part 30 (1/2)
Calls are paid just as frequently in France as they are in America.
Between two and six o'clock in the afternoon is the correct time for calling in the former country. One observes very much the same conventions of calling that one does here in America, except that the gentleman wears both his gloves when entering a drawing-room, and that the hostess does not rise to welcome a masculine caller. (However, the French hostess always does rise to greet an elderly gentleman, a distinguished person, or a member of the clergy.)
French introductions are never haphazard, never careless. The hostess introduces freely all the guests that a.s.semble in her home, but she is not, as the American hostess sometimes is, careless and hurried. In acknowledging an introduction, a brief, polite greeting should be expressed; French people rarely shake hands.
The significance of the bent visiting card still remains in France, though here in America it has been almost entirely eliminated. When a hostess finds the card of a friend or acquaintance, with one of its corners turned down, she knows that that friend called for the purpose of a visit but found no one at home. In fact, that is almost the only time when cards are left in France--when the person called upon is not at home. However, a dinner call is often paid by the simple process of card-leaving.
CORRESPONDENCE
The French people are very particular in their correspondence. Certain set rules of salutation and closing are observed, and the margins themselves have a particular significance. For instance, when writing a letter to a French person, a wide margin should be left on the left side of the sheet; and the greater the social prestige and distinction of the person addressed, the wider this margin must be.
A man writing to another man who is an intimate friend begins his letter in this manner: ”Mon cher Frederick,” or ”Mon cher ami.” The closing to this letter would be, ”Bien a vous,” or ”Bien cordialement a vous.” When the two men are not intimate friends, a letter should begin, ”Cher Monsieur,” or ”Mon cher Monsieur Blank,” and should end with ”Croyez a mes sentiments devoues.” Strangers address each other merely as ”Monsieur,” and close with ”Recevez je vous prie l'a.s.surance de ma consideration distinguee.”
When writing to a woman friend, a man begins his letter with ”Chere Madame et ami,” or ”Chere Mademoiselle.” But when he is a stranger or just a slight acquaintance, he begins his letter with ”Madame” and concludes it with ”Veuillez, Madame, recevoir l'expression de tout mon respect.” The French have very pretty expressions of greeting and conclusion, and they expect every well-bred person to use them.
A woman writing to a gentleman addresses him in the following manner, if he is an intimate friend: ”Monsieur,” or ”Cher Monsieur Brown,” and she closes the letter with the courtesy phrase, ”Agreez, cher monsieur, l'expression de mes sentiments d'amitie.” Greetings and closings are more formal when the woman addresses a masculine stranger or slight acquaintance by letter. She begins simply with ”Monsieur,” and closes with, ”Veuillez, monsieur, recevoir l'expression de mes sentiments distingues.”
Special forms of address and conclusion are used when writing officers in the French army. A general or commander are addressed in the following manner: ”Monsieur le general,” or ”Monsieur le commandant.”
The letter should be couched in terms of most exact respect.
Tradespeople in France are addressed by letter in the following manner: ”Monsieur C.,” or ”Madame C.,” and the conclusion should be, ”Agreez, Monsieur C., mes civilites.” A servant should be addressed with ”Je prie M. Smith (or Mad. Smith) de vouloir bien.”
In France abbreviations on the envelope are considered very bad form.
M. may never be used for Monsieur, nor may Mlle, be used for Mademoiselle. The full t.i.tle and name must appear on the envelope.