12. Give Her Your Card
While it may sound deeply unromantic to give someone your business card, calling cards were the height of romance in the Victorian era. Social calling cards were extraordinarily lavish and elegant with beautiful paper and bright colors for the wealthy socialists. The cards often bore romantic floral motifs for both men and women. Many examples still exist today, and it is a rather enjoyable pastime to view the beautiful calling cards of yesteryear’s young aristocrats.
In the era, if a man wanted to court a woman, he would give her his calling card, which would have his name and compliments. A woman, particularly an exceptionally pretty or desirable unwed woman, would often collect numerous cards at a social event. The card was extended with the offer of escorting a woman to and from a future social gathering.
If a woman selected a given man’s calling card, she would send a servant or messenger with her card in response. This notion was the signal that she accepted his offer of an escort and was interested in potentially returning his affection. The process was likely repeated several times before true courting began, as the Victorians were extremely rigid and strict in their courtship rituals and sense of propriety.
