The Art of Polite Society
The unwritten laws of the Assembly Rooms
The Assembly Rooms:
Country Dance & Reverence
The ballroom demands absolute poise. Before forming the set for the expansive Country Dance, the elegant reverence – the gentleman's profound bow and the lady's graceful curtsy – is indispensable. Here, within the flowing lines of the dance, the true propriety of English society is revealed.
Titles & Protocol:
Carte de Visite & Gallicisms
In Polite Society, an ironclad protocol of introduction prevails: one never addresses a person to whom one has not previously been formally introduced by a mutual acquaintance! For the polite initiation of contacts, the Carte de Visite (calling card) is therefore indispensable during morning visits. Following the introduction, strict forms of address apply (the eldest daughter is always "Miss Bennet" (surname), the younger "Miss Elizabeth" (first name)). To demonstrate true sophistication, the Haut Ton is also fond of lacing its conversation with fashionable Gallicisms such as Ennui or Tête-à-Tête.
Subtle Communication:
Fan Language & Lorgnette
Where words fail for reasons of propriety, gestures take over. The lady's fan is not mere ornamentation, but a sophisticated means of communication: a rapid fanning signals displeasure, while a slow glide across the cheek reveals affection. This silent play is complemented by the fashionable lorgnette (opera glasses on a handle), with which one eyes other guests in the ballroom coquettishly or with discreet condescension.
Ballroom Etiquette:
Carnet de Bal & Dance Rules
The social parquet demands the proper instruments. The often ornately decorated Carnet de Bal (dance card) is indispensable in the exciting age of the novel waltz for noting down the fortunate dance partners for the evening. Yet the rules are strict: a lady who refuses a gentleman a dance may not, out of courtesy, take to the floor with any other for the remainder of the evening.
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