“I’m Alice.”

“Oh, of course, Millicent has often talked of you, and of your lovely voice.  I want very much to hear you sing some time.”

These self-introductions, however, must never presumingly be made.  It would be in very bad taste for Alice to introduce herself to Mrs. Worldly if her sister knew her only slightly.

=A business visit not an introduction=

A lady who goes to see another to get a reference for a servant, or to ask her aid in an organization for charity, would never consider such a meeting as an introduction, even though they talked for an hour.  Nor would she offer to shake hands in leaving.  On the other hand, neighbors who are continually meeting, gradually become accustomed to say “How do you do?” when they meet, even though they never become acquaintances.

=The retort courteous to one you have forgotten=

Let us suppose some one addresses you, and then slightly disconcerted says:  “You don’t remember me, do you?” The polite thing—­unless his manner does not ring true, is to say “Why, of course, I do.”  And then if a few neutral remarks lead to no enlightening topic, and bring no further memory, you ask at the first opportunity who it was that addressed you.  If the person should prove actually to be unknown, it is very easy to repel any further advances.  But nearly always you find it is some one you ought to have known, and your hiding the fact of your forgetfulness saves you from the rather rude and stupid situation of blankly declaring:  “I don’t remember you.”

If, after being introduced to you, Mr. Jones calls you by a wrong name, you let it pass, at first, but if he persists you may say:  “My name is Simpson, not Simpkin.”

At a private dance, young men nowadays introduce their men friends to young women without first asking the latter’s permission, because all those invited to a lady’s house are supposed to be eligible for presentation to everyone, or they would not be there.

At a public ball young men and women keep very much to their own particular small circle and are not apt to meet outsiders at all.  Under these circumstances a gentleman should be very careful not to introduce a youth whom he knows nothing about to a lady of his acquaintance—­or at least he should ask her first.  He can say frankly:  “There is a man called Sliders who has asked to meet you.  I don’t know who he is, but he seems decent.  Shall I introduce him?” The lady can say “Yes”; or, “I’d rather not.”

=Introduction by letter=

An introduction by letter is far more binding than a casual spoken introduction which commits you to nothing.  This is explained fully and example letters are given in the chapter on Letters.

A letter of introduction is handed you unsealed, always.  It is correct for you to seal it at once in the presence of its author.  You thank your friend for having written it and go on your journey.