Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02


fore the general principles of all the questions
can alone be reached. and that to the best abil-
ity of the writer.
When a new and puzzling point is made more
attention is. of course. bestowed ON that letter.
Sometimes in order that several authorities
may be consulted: sometimes that time for re-
Election be gained Many questions are unan-
swerable. as authorities differ. Some are Hip
pant and impairment and naturally go TO the
waste basket. Most of them, however, discover
genuine desire 10 improve.
"Young Irishman" writes: please put a stranger
In this country right on the following points, Is it
necessary TO answer an invitation TO an afternoon
No, it is not. Either go or send your card.
"How should printed invitation to a dance be
answered.
"Mr. Patrick accepts with pleasure Mrs.
Browns kind invitation for Thursday even
ing"
How soon should party call be made, and how
long should IL LAST"
A call should be returned within a week. and
It should never last over an hour. A half-hour
IL better.
the evening should the card be sent in if she is in
the parlOr7"
Yes. if you do not know her very well
should the gloves, OvercOat and hat be removed
before going into the parlor?"
Decidedly.
INVITATION AND ANSWER.
"B. @. T." A card written: compliments of the
Misses Jones, for Thursday evening dancing
$50" is very bad form, ungrammatical and IN
graceful. II should be: 1.-The Misses Jones at
home on Thursday evening, at $780, Dancing"
OR. The Misses Jones present their Compliments
and request the pleasure OF Mr.. b. q. /. 5 COM
pany on Thursday evening. Dancing"
Your answer would be: ''Mr. b. @. I. accepts
with much pleasure the polite invitation of the
Misses Jones'" etc. The note should be di-
rected THE Misses JONES'"
"Nym OtheIlo'' asks: what should be the proper
address To firm which Is composed of both ladies'
and gentlemen Should il be similar TO that of a
firm composed entirely of men, as Ivison Blake
man, Taylor * Co: Should say Dear Sirs?
No: you would address them Messieurs or
Messrs.
Second question: ''wOuld il be etiquette for
young lady to shake hands with a gentleman
whom she knows but slightly"
Yes; In this country every one shakes hands.
''In giving a country party should young lady
or her parents invite the guests
The parents should always invite the guests
IL young man gives party his mother or
some elderly friend should issue the invitations
TO ladies'; that is. it is more usually done.
"E. F. "" asks if there is '.any objection to a
gentleman calling in full dress family in
mourning"
No. certainly not. Full dress refers to the
time OF day. not to the condition of the family
called upon. gentlemen should ALWAYS be
IN full dress for an evening visit.
IMPROVEMENT
"Twenty-six Years old and Married" asks a pa
thetic question: II am in sore distress and n AZ
your aaylce. have very poor education which
wish 70 Improve without going to public school 1t
would not be right for me to go there for / am
twenty-six years old and married. Can you tell
me how could get instruction in reading. writing
spelling and grammar have the entire day 10
myself and would like TO devote it to those studies
but have no money TO pay for private tuition"
Could you not ask the wife of the clergyman
OF your parish to get up an evening school?
Doubtless many young ladies would be de-
lighted to teach you.
Carl asks: as any kind Of a ring more appro-
pirate for an engagement ring than a solitaire
diamond. should an engagement ring he an.
gravedg Initials and date presumably, and to
- diamond solitaire is the favorite ring. and
mere Is seldom more put inside than the
initials and date, although you can add a posy
If there is room.
common Sense" please explain why convex
ing food to the mouth with a knife is wrong!"
II Is not wrong; it is simply vulgar and nm
but 1t Is decidedly unpleasant for ones neigh
bors.
PIP. C. CARDS
Quondam Friend" asks: "Win you kindly ex-
plain the etiquette of p. z. c. cards. Ny husband
lived for some time. Shall send cards TO those,
only who are on my visiting list. How shall
send hem! BY post Our town is a small one.
Ought TO inclose my husband card with nv own
Ladies who have called on me have not left their
husbands cards Shall 1 leave cards where /
make visit in person, Is IL the correct thing 10
leave ones own card as well as two of ones hus-
band one Is admitted and pays the visit in per-
son! Is II proper TO leave cards at evening re-
cepuon, and, II one does, Is IL necessary TO call
afterward." " o"-A
To answer the last first: No. Never leave
cards at an evening reception. but call after
ward As to the leaving cards, when paying a
visit In person one card is enough A card en-
grayed Mr.. and Mrs Brown" is better for
p +. e.. If you are moving away, although
In this country lady's card answers all pur-
poses OF etiquette. 1t is proper to send ''P. p.
C." cards by mail
George Knox" asks: "what should be the pro-
per form for the calling card Of a minister. Rev
William Jones, d. ID. Colonel George jackson,
Also Is II proper for titled person, in issuing in
vltatlons 10 a reception, to style himself colonel
doctor or whatever the title may BET"
OF course it is.
Several Of the questions are on the subject OF
leaving card at o'clock tea It is proper
to do 80, and that is a call for the season
several others are as to forms of invitation
Ihey SHOULD be in the third person stately
formal and clear, as: Mrs. John Brown re-
quests the pleasure of Mr.. Horace Clayton's
company at dinner, on Thursday, November
-, at 7:SO O'Clock; II Madison street" And
the answer should be: "Mr Horace CLAYTON
accepts, with pleasure, the polite invitation of
Mrs John Brown, for dinner, at 7:3O O'Clock.
on November D."
"ignorace asks: 81 have received at boma
cards from friend who was married on the DIST
OF November. The card reads: Ar home Wei
nesday evenings In January Now do not wish
70 call nor do wish 10 be impolite. What shall
Simply send your care.
Nv. p. W." asks: is IL proper 20 rise and ofyar
my seat in a crowded car TO a lady who enters.
And at church should pass the plate for her col
ies: she has Of course a right IN give her
money 70 charity IL she chooses. As 10 rising
ana giving your seat, il is an American CUSTOM
IL Is polite attention, not a duty. and IL a
man u very weary he ought not to be Obliged
to do il. eoN
MOURNING ETIQUETTE
So many questions are asked on the subiect
OF mourning that it is best also to concentrate
the answers. One lady asks how long she
should wear the veil '.for parent"
In England mourning for a father or mother
lasts year. During half the year dresses
trimmed with Grape are worn, with black tulle
st the wrists and neck. deep veil is worn at
the back OF the bonnet for six months. For a
husband mourning is much deeper II lasts
eighteen months; with the queen il has lasted
twenty-five years. For twelve months the
WIDOWS cap Is worn, a Grape bonnet and long
vel and white cuffs. Jet ornaments and dia,
monds set In black enamel alone are proper.
Mourning for your children lasts six months
Officially alfh0uUh mann 49, =. =