Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-17
ETIQUETTE.
How to Wear Engagement and We'd
ding RingS-Party Calls.
Some Advice About Dinners, Giving, Accepting
and Leave Taking-where the Hon
ored Guests Must Sit.
Written for the Gazette.

! of etiquette and manners.
Questions should be addressed to the
| editor of THE GAZETTE.
1t will be impossible to answer all ques-
tons, owing to the limited space that
can be given to this department. Mrs.
Sherwood viii select such questions as
suggest points of the most general inter
est TO our readers.
These questions having reached the
editor, we would answer them to the
best Of our ability, promising that as all
etiquette in America is in a chaotic state
| Gas, witness the recent dismissal of the
English minister, which had it been done
III like manner between Austria and
France or any other two powers in
Europe, would have been instantly a
cause of war; therefore, opinions differ
so much that these answers are offered
mOdestly.
etiquette of engagement rings and on what finger
should the ring be worn. Is 1t proper for a
young lady to wear one when not engaged?
When was the custom establiShed?''
The custom of wearing wedding and
engagement rings is lost in Il remote an
tiquity. OF course no one would wear
either but as signet of betrothal or
marriage. A handsome diamond is the
usual gift of lover to his fair Iadye'
when she consents to be his She wears
it on the third finger of her right hand,
nor removes it until he puts the plain gold
wedding ring on. Then the engagement
ring takes the place of a guard.
Barbara Warren asks: ~ ''If it is proper to
take leave of the host at an evening party?''
1t is not necessary.
(2.) ''Please tell me how to eat an egg properly
from an egg cup?''
Put the egg in the small end and deli
cately break the top of the shell There
are many people, however, who prefer
to have the egg broken into the large
end, and to salt and pepper the whole
mass. Either way is proper enough.
90 1t is not well to eat the garnishing
of said.
a. A gentleman always precedes
lady going up and down stairs.
90 1t is permissible in a small Western town
for a gentleman meeting q lady on the street to
invite her to a ball?''
Yes, if the acquaintance was intimate
enough, and manner and customs rural,
we should say it was.
(6.l when hostess pours coffee for guests
should she put in the cream and sugar or allow
the guests to do so?''
She should ask each guest if she shall
do so if she is sitting at tine head of the
table.
'ssheridan Avenue asks: is it proper to
address a letter or, card to lady by her hus-
bands name if he is dead?''
Yes, if she uses his name.
rs it proper to leave cards when the lady is at
homer
Yes, if she is engaged and cannot see
you
.'should minister be called doctor or plain
If he is a doctor of divinity give him his
title; if not, call him plain ''Mr.
&C. V. B'' asks: eff on going to see
friend, I should be introduced to young lady
calling there and we exchange invitations to
There can be no law on this point;
either should call rs soon as possible.
tations to balls and weddings, if there is young
man young woman in the family, is it re-
quisite to send either special invitation or will
one TO the parents be sufficient
1t is more complimentary to send an
especial one to the young man or maiden
Ignorance asks chow to serve a nice din
This is long question and requires a
long experience. She had better buy some
good work on the subject
Cayten asks: SIS it proper to take bread from
the bread plate with the fingers or with for1?''
Always with the fingers
(2.) ''In making party call should the lady
leave her husband card?''
OF course.
81 within what time should party call be
made?''
In London it is always made the next
day; in New York within a week.
Jack asks: ''when gentleman makes
formal call should he wear his oyercoat into the
parlor, keeping his hat in his hand, or should he
leave them in the hall?''
A gentleman leaves his heavy overcoat
in the hall but he carries his hat in his |
hand.
Inquirer asks: 'sAt small but formal din
ner party should guest take leave of each of the
guests separately or only of the host and hostess,
with general bow to the rest of the company?''
Etiquette is satisfied if the departing |
guest takes leave only of his host and
hostess.
Constant Reader asks: eff a bridegroom is
sixty years old, what colored gloves does he wear
at his wedding?''
We should say lavender; his years do
not make a more gloomy color necessary /
on so ausplcious an occasion.
Upon going into the dining room, who &C
the bride?'
The groom.
Is there such a thing as groom s cake, and |
who cuts il? What place does the groom occupy |
at the table2''
At a wedding breakfast the groom sits |
next the bride, and there is no such /
thing as groom IS cake.
Miss Propriety'' writes: 81 live in uni
versity town, and it seems TO me that the rules /
OF propTlety are somewhat relaxed as to the /
students and their young girl friends. If young |
girl receives invitation to go 10 foot ball or
base ball game, should she have a chaperon or |
can three or four go together? After the game is /
over would it be proper for them to go to the /
rooms of their student friends without an older |
ladys''
1t is proper enough for young girls to go !
to see u game of ball in party, es-
pecially if invited by their brothers, but