COME AND SEE ME.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2598, 5 May 1877, Page 4

COME AND SEE ME.

Never talce this, says an American paper, as a phrase meant in earnest, unless it is accompanied with a date. Such an invitation amounts to nothing at all. If a lady or gen'l; man desires your company he or she will appoint a time for your visit. ' Call on me when you can maUe it convenient,' ' drop in as you are passing,' ' make us avisit whenever you have an hour or two to spare,' are social ambiguities by which men and women of the world understand that they are not expected to do the thing requested. When people wish to be cheaply polite there is nothing like this kind of vagueness. The complimentary small change of society must, be taken at a large discount. It is never worth its face or anything like it. Yet it is a convenient medium of exchange, and heavy debts of gratitude that ought to be requited in better coin. People who have more polish than principle use it lavishly —plain, blunt, honest men, sparingly or not at all. Whoever makes a friendly visit to a fashionable house on the strength of a mere ' Come and see me,' will very often find that the family circle he has dropped into by request is has ungenial as the Arctic circle, and he will probably leave it with a chill feeling that- will prevent him from venturing into the same latitude again. But when a whole, sound man, whom you known to be your friend, grasps you vigorously by the. hand says, • Come and dine with me to-day—dinner on the table at five o'clock—be sure to come, we shall expect you,' you can take it as certain that your presence is warmly desired. It is pleasant always to make or receive a visit from a friend, but a nod is all-sufficient from a fashionable acquaintance.