Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-03
THE ETIQUETTE OF INVITATIONS.
The Practice in London for Parties. Balls,
Concerts, Etc.

The Practice in London for Parties, Balls,
Concerts, Etc.
From the Home Journal
By way of easier illustration, we will
suppose lady, whom we will call Mrs.
Ashton, to be giving the series of en-
tertainments which we will describe,
and will point Out not only her methed
of doing so, but also wherein it differs
from some common but yet erroneous
modes. We will suppose that Mrs. Ash
ton has arrived at her house in Gorgon
Gardens, and that, having settled her
self and ascertained who among her
friends are in town, she wishes to see
those who may not be going to spend
their Christmas in the country. Of
course she gives small dinners, often of
six, never exceeding eight, and equally.
of course, the invitations are neither
long nor formal. They take the form of
notes, eff not engaged, do dine with
me on Tuesday," and give from two
days to weeks notice. But for people
with whom she is not SO intimate, she
has small afternoon receptions. She
writes cat home" under her name
on the ordinary visiting card, adding
"a to 7" and the date, and avoids
| the very common mistake of
putting several days, as somepeople do,
as, TUESDAYS in December" This is
a mistake, because people are apt to
say, ooh, we can go to one of the 9th
ers, and frequently end by not going
at all. 1T is little more trouble to
write the invitations each time, but the
result is better. The number of guests
invited varies from thirty to fifty; tea is
! placed on the table i'll some convenient
part of the room, and is dispensed by
one of the Misses Ashton, gentlemen
of the party, of course, assisting. Once
a week during the winter season the
tea parties are much smaller; for the
cards of invitation bear in the corner the
word "Whist," and three tables are the
most ever made up. Only those are in
vlted who are known to care for the
game, and tea is provided as in the for
mer instance. These parties are con
tinued till about the end of February,
and are much appreciated by the ha-
bitues.
When February and the meeting of
Parliament bring many of her friends
to town, Mrs. Ashton's dinners be-
come larger, and the invitations are
onger, fortnight not being considered
too long, and are conveyed in more GER
enormous fashion, generally by printed
cards, which run as follows; "Mrs.
Ashton requests the honor Cor pleasure
If preferred) of (here a space is left for
the name to be inserted in
writing) company at dinner on
(space for date) at (space for hour)."
In one corner the address, 600 Gorgon
Gardens, in the other " the favor of an
answer is requested" No crest or
monogram is on the card-nothing is in
worse style. It is usual to send q
servant with these cards; which should
be inclosed in an envelope, as he Can
then wait and bring back the answers,
and thus save time; but if this is not
quite etiquette to send these; or, indeed,
we may as we'll say at once for all, any
invitations by post. Sometimes Mrs.
Ashton, having some guests dine with
her that she wishes other friends to
meet, asks them to come in the evening;
and ii the invitations are not verbal, OF
if the party is larger than only a few
friends, they are conveyed on small
'NAt home cards, "small and early
written IN the corner and underlined.
The guests should arrive about 10
o'clock, OF later, If they have reason to
think that the ladies will not have left
the diningroom by that hour; it is I'M
pleasant to hostess to hear guests
arriving before she can be at her post
to receive them. Tea and coffee, and
sometimes Ices, are handed round; but
in these small parties no refreshments
are laid out in the dining ROOM
After Easter Mrs. Ashton's dinner in
vitations are frequently sent out three
course, careful to invite members of
Parliament either only on Wednesdays
or Saturdays, or else on days when it is
probable that there will be nothing to
detain them at the House at the dinner
hour. ...g .r...
About the middle of May she gives a
concert. Her method of proceeding is
to see some leading musician, to tell
him her wishes as to the day, the artists
she wishes to have, and the price she
is prepared to pay for their services.
He sees them, communicates with her, land
undertakes all such arrangements. The
piano is placed at one end of the room,
and behind it are sofa and chairs for
the artistes The whole of the rest of
the room is filed with rows Of chairs,
fastened together by strips of wood;
this arrangement is necessary, as other
wise people would move their chairs
and occupy more space.
The concert is divided into two parts,
and at the end of the first the guests
4o1 T. b. g.
down stairs for refreshments, etc. It is
the height of rudeness to talk when the
singing is going on. Complete silence
should be preserved, and the servant
who announces the name to his mistress
on the landing, should do so in as Iowa
voice as possible. A programme is
handed to each guest before entering
the room, and supper is partaken of at