May I Escort You As Far As the Gate?

The Encyclopedia of Ephemera (New York: Routledge, 2000), p 4, reveals how Victorian-era lads used "acquaintance cards" like this one to pursue young ladies. "A novelty variant of the American calling card of the 1870s and 1880s, the acquaintance card was used by the less formal male in approaches to the less formal female" is how the Encyclopedia explains it. "Given also as an 'escort card' or 'invitation card,' the device commonly carried a brief message and a simple illustration."

 

The verse on this card claims "How delightful 'twould be" to "escort you as far as the gate," but the expressions on the faces of the guy and gal in the illustration suggest that they're not enjoying themselves too much as they trudge with an umbrella through the pelting rain (see below for a rotated version of the illustration).

 

"Flirtatious and fun," the Encyclopedia says, "the acquaintance card brought levity to what otherwise might have seemed a more formal proposal. A common means of introduction, it was never taken too seriously."

 

For more information, see National Geographic's Web site for "Saucy ‘Escort Cards’ Were a Way to Flirt in the Victorian Era," an article by Becky Little that appeared on January 4, 2016. The article features a number of images from my Acquaintance Cards album.

 

Confidential

I ne'er on your form for a moment have gazed,

But a thousand temptations beset me;

Please may I escort you as far as the gate,

How delightful 'twould be if you'd let me.

Done