A lady’s hands and feet form so great a feature in the estimation of her beauty, that they are made a distinctive test for deciding preferences on certain occasions.

Thus, partners for the dance are sometimes chosen in a way that excites a great deal of mirth.  The custom is called “choosing by hands.”

A large round screen, made expressly for the purpose, stands at one end of a ball-room; behind this a certain number of ladies—­generally twelve at a time—­place themselves, accompanied by the master of the ceremonies.  The opening in the doorway is then closed.  The screen, though not closed at the top, is sufficiently high to completely mask the ladies, and there are in it twelve or more small apertures, lined or faced with a soft crimson or other warm-coloured velvet, sufficiently large to admit of a hand being passed through, so that it may be seen and criticised on the exposed side of the screen.  Through one of these openings each of the ladies passes her right hand, and the gentlemen choose the hand they prefer, each by touching a spring nearest the hand selected, and at the same time announcing his name.  The chosen one is immediately led out from behind the screen and presented by the master of ceremonies to the gentleman, in the midst of the applause or merriment of the company before the screen, and of the rest of the ladies behind it.  Ladies are very particular about their hands and nails, and, as may easily be conceived, give them a little extra attention before going to a party.

CHOOSING BY FOOT.

There is another peculiar mode of choosing partners—­“by foot”—­but this is conducted in a different manner, and is made to depend on the superior beauty of the foot, as decided by an arbiter, who is chosen by the company, and who is, of course, a man famous for his taste and knowledge of the beautiful.

While the arbiter pursues his duties, the ladies are concealed behind a screen, which is, however, open sufficiently at the bottom to disclose the foot and ankle.  She to whom the palm is awarded has the first choice of a partner, and the others follow in succession in the order in which they have been ranked.  This diversion, though exciting great interest, is not so happy as “the choice by hand.”  The ladies whose feet are placed in a lower rank often think themselves aggrieved, and are slightly jealous of their rivals, for in spite of the efficacy of my laws, I could not—­whilst giving just triumphs to superior beauty—­ altogether prevent a feeling of disappointment in ladies who saw the palm given to others by one recognised as an honest and able judge,—­a man whose taste was known to be irreproachable.

When the hand and foot of a young lady are inclined to coarseness, while at the same time her talents and goodness entitle her to a superior position, the fingers or toes, and afterwards the hand and foot themselves, are bound up, for a certain number of hours each day.  We do not like “contradictions,” or, as I have before observed, we object to a garment partly of rich brocade, partly of common stuff.