Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-11-14

The card is 6 by 5 inches. Such is
the style of invitation to dinner with
the Queen of England. The guests
will assemble in the drawing-room and
there await her Nlajesty's entrance.
There is no regular announcement
made, but the guests are generally no.
titled of the approach of the sovereign
lady, and all form themselves in a cres-
cent to receive her. She does not greet
each guest by offering her hand, but
usually extends her hand to the ladies
present. She is always accompanied
by her daughter. When the guest Of
the day is not of royal blood the ar
engagements as to precedence are gener-
ally privately arranged.
The guest of the day, however. sits
on her Majesty'S right hand and the
royal family on the left. At the Ia
bic there are always three servants to
every six guests; one to place the plates
the other to bring the eatables. Her
majesty eats at state dinner without
gloves, and when she finishes every one
Is expected to stop Immediately. When
the meal is over the Queen leaves the
room first aud is followed by the rest Of
the guests.
1t is optional in England whether the
hostess is present at gentleman's din
ner; but they usually are, and will
often have another lady for company.
The lady Of the house receives her hus-
bands guest with him. In England the
gentleman always offers his right arm
to escort a lady from the drawing-room
to the dining table. This point is now
automatically decided by the highest
authority In the world.
A family dinner differs from state af-
fairs IN every essential point. [ was
presented to a nobleman-an earl-who
was considered first class authority on
such matters, and stating what | desir-
ed, [ was treated with the greatest cour-
tesy. Without taking up your valuable
space with the questions, [ will simply
give the answers. They will certainly
be plain enough to the class of readers
who will peruse my poorly written let
ter.
The master Of the house leaves the
drawing-room first and the mistress
last. To digress a little. will state that
of late years there have been so many
changes in dinner etiquette that one
has to keep well posted or be considered
old-fashioned. | will give a part of the
old and all of the new styles. It used
to be the fashion for the hostess to ask
the guest whether he would take soup
or fish, but now the soup is sent around
whether the guest wants it or not, and
of course everybody has it before them
whether they eat it or not. If the SER
wants do not go around with the wine,
the gentleman help their ladies and
themselves. 1t used to be the fashion
for the hostess to say: "Shall [ help
you TO a piece of the chicken or duck?"
(now fowD. Now everything is passed
by the servants. 1t used to be the
style for the first served to wait until
every one was served before he began
to eat; now every one begins 1mmedi-
ately that he is helped.
Young ladies are limited to three
glasses of light wine, while married la
dies accustomed to good society often
drink six.
1t used also to be the fashion for
gentleman to ask the ladies to drink
with him, but not so now.
The different wines with different
dishes as as follows:
With fish or soup use sherry or sau-
terne.
With roast meat use hook or claret.
With turtle use punch.
| With whltebait use champagne.
With game use port or burgundy.
Between the roast and confectionery
use sparkling wines.