Gilded Age City Girls vs Country Girls

In very formal society, a lady does not ask to take a gentleman’s hat; but in the country, where it is less so, and servants are not always in the hall, or in attendance upon callers, there is no impropriety in a young lady asking a gentleman to allow her to take his hat and relieve him from the inconvenience of holding it.

City and County Etiquette

In a city, no young lady goes out in the evening with a young gentleman without a chaperon (some lady older than either, who accompanies them), be it to the theatre, ball or elsewhere; while in the country, it is not considered improper for a young gentleman to call for a young lady and take her to a party or any entertainment in a carriage or to walk with her to the place alone. 

Or, if a gentleman meets a young lady of his acquaintance, and finds she has no escort, to ask permission to attend her to her home; and it is proper, if the party be eligible, to accept his escort, and, on reaching home, to thank him for his kindness, bid him good night at the door, particularly if the hour is late. If it is not late, and the family of the young lady are still in the parlor, it is proper to invite the young gentleman in, that he may pay his respects to her family. 

In very formal society, a lady does not ask to take a gentleman’s hat; but in the country, where it is less so, and servants are not always in the hall, or in attendance upon callers, there is no impropriety in a young lady asking a gentleman to allow her to take his hat and relieve him from the inconvenience of holding it.—Home Magazine, 1892

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