=Other forms of introduction=

Other permissible forms of introduction are: 

“Mrs. Jones, do you know Mrs. Norman?”

or,

“Mrs. Jones, you know Mrs. Robinson, don’t you?” (on no account say “Do you not?” Best Society always says “don’t you?”)

or,

“Mrs. Robinson, have you met Mrs. Jones?”

or,

“Mrs. Jones, do you know my mother?”

or,

“This is my daughter Ellen, Mrs. Jones.”

These are all good form, whether gentlemen are introduced to ladies, ladies to ladies, or gentlemen to gentlemen.  In introducing a gentleman to a lady, you may ask Mr. Smith if he has met Mrs. Jones, but you must not ask Mrs. Jones if she has met Mr. Smith!

=Forms of introductions to avoid=

Do not say:  “Mr. Jones, shake hands with Mr. Smith,” or “Mrs. Jones, I want to make you acquainted with Mrs. Smith.”  Never say:  “make you acquainted with” and do not, in introducing one person to another, call one of them “my friend.”  You can say “my aunt,” or “my sister,” or “my cousin”—­but to pick out a particular person as “my friend” is not only bad style but, unless you have only one friend, bad manners—­as it implies Mrs. Smith is “my friend” and you are a stranger.

You may very properly say to Mr. Smith “I want you to meet Mrs. Jones,” but this is not a form of introduction, nor is it to be said in Mrs. Jones’ hearing.  Upon leading Mr. Smith up to Mrs. Jones, you say “Mrs. Jones may I present Mr. Smith” or “Mrs. Jones; Mr. Smith.”  Under no circumstances whatsoever say “Mr. Smith meet Mrs. Jones,” or “Mrs. Jones meet Mr. Smith.”  Either wording is equally preposterous.

Do not repeat “Mrs. Jones?  Mrs. Smith!  Mrs. Smith?  Mrs. Jones!” To say each name once is quite enough.

Most people of good taste very much dislike being asked their names.  To say “What is your name?” is always abrupt and unflattering.  If you want to know with whom you have been talking, you can generally find a third person later and ask “Who was the lady with the grey feather in her hat?” The next time you see her you can say “How do you do, Mrs. ——­” (calling her by name).

=When to shake hands=

When gentlemen are introduced to each other they always shake hands.

When a gentleman is introduced to a lady, she sometimes puts out her hand—­especially if he is some one she has long heard about from friends in common, but to an entire stranger she generally merely bows her head slightly and says:  “How do you do!” Strictly speaking, it is always her place to offer her hand or not as she chooses, but if he puts out his hand, it is rude on her part to ignore it.  Nothing could be more ill-bred than to treat curtly any overture made in spontaneous friendliness.  No thoroughbred lady would ever refuse to shake any hand that is honorable, not even the hand of a coal heaver at the risk of her fresh white glove.