The conventions of courtship, described in advice literature of the nineteenth century, centered upon “calling” in which man visited a woman in her home. The young woman, or her mother, extended the invitation to the young man to visit and a multitude of rules were to be followed. These rules varied somewhat in urban or rural settings, or by social class, but the general outline of the procedures were followed by all that wanted to be considered “respectable”.
Image courtesy of Library of Congress.