Taking Leave
This is part of a series I've been wanting to do for a long time so I am
excited I am able to have Eugene do this for my blog. It is about
etiquette as was appropriate in the Victorian Era (1837–1901). During
that time, culturally there was a transition away from the rationalism
of the Georgian period and toward romanticism and mysticism with regard to religion, social values, and the arts. The era is popularly associated with the values of social restraint. What? Social restraint? What's that?!? So we move on....thank you for reading.
Love, George
Taking Leave
That the guest of honor must be the first to take leave was in former times so fixed a rule that everyone used to sit on and on, no matter how late it became, waiting for her whose duty it was to go. More often than not, the guest of honor was an absent-minded old lady or a celebrity who very likely was vaguely saying to herself, "Oh, my! are these people ever going to go home?" until by and by it dawned upon her, or someone reminded her, that the obligation was her own !
Love, George
Taking Leave
That the guest of honor must be the first to take leave was in former times so fixed a rule that everyone used to sit on and on, no matter how late it became, waiting for her whose duty it was to go. More often than not, the guest of honor was an absent-minded old lady or a celebrity who very likely was vaguely saying to herself, "Oh, my! are these people ever going to go home?" until by and by it dawned upon her, or someone reminded her, that the obligation was her own !
But today, although it is still the obligation of the guest who sat on the host's right to make the move to go, it is not considered ill-mannered, if the hour is growing late, for another lady to rise first.
The guest rises, goes to her hostess, and says, "Good, night. Thank you so much for the invitation." The hostess answers, "I am so glad that you were able to come!" Guests in bidding good night say, " Good night. It was just wonderful! or " Good night, and thank you so much." And the hostess smiles and says, "So glad you could come!" or "Good night!"
Posted by Eugene Vodovoz at 29 October 2011, 1:29 PM 
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: hostess host guest of honor
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: hostess host guest of honor
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