Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-16
Written for THE EvxSrSs star.
EXQUISITE AND MANNERS.
What to Do and What Not to Do I'm
Polite Society.


Polite Society.
MRS. sHERwooDs CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN
HOW TO EAT EaGs-ENGAeEMENT AND WEDDING
RINGs - CORRESPONDENCE ADVICE - DINNER
PARTISAN OFFICER AND HIS UNIFORM.
The following questions have been selected
this week by Mrs. Sherwood for consideration,
| as being of general interest:
E r Earnest asks "wil you explain the clique tie
Of engagement rings ard on what finger should the
ring be worn. Is il proper for young lady to wear
one when not engageds When was the custom estab
Hshed.
The custom of wearing wedding and engage
ment rings is lost in a remote antiquity. OF
course no one would wear either but as a signet
OF betrothal marriage A handsome da-
mond Is the usual gift of a lover to his fair
ladye" when she consents to be his. She wears
1t on the third finger OF her right hand. nor re-
moves 1t until he puts the plain gold wedding
ring on. Then the engagement ring takes the
place of guard.
Barbara Warren asks ~ eff it is proper to take
leave oil the host at all evening partys"
1t is not necessary
an egg cup.'
Put the egg in the small end and delicately
break the top Of the she'll There many peo-
pie, 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.
go 1t is not we'll to eat the garnshing of salal
t5l 1T is permissible in small western town for
to a baliy'' iAu' oi ''0 '%ee' " iD-'e A''
Yes, if the acquaintance was intimate enough,
and manner and customs rural, We should say
it was.
abe put in the cream and sugar or allow the guests to
She should ask each guest if she shall do so
II she is sitting at the head of the table.
SHERIDAN Avenue asks: SIS it proper to address
letter or card to lady by her husbands If he is
Yes; if she uses his name.
us Il proper to leave cards when the lady is at
Yes; il she is engaged and cannot see you.
g., SHOULD minister be called doctor or plain
II he is doctor of divinity give him his title;
II not, call him plain Mr."
sbo5,d hs e. axis II. on going to see friend,
after the eting!"
There can be no law on this point; either
should call as soon as possible
1id Sp6scriber' asks: In regard to invitations to
s RssisA invitation or will one to the parents be sa
IL Is more complimentary to send an especial
one 10 the young man or maiden.
Ignorance asks how to serve a nice dinner"
This Is long question and requires long
experience. She had better buy some good
work on the subject
Clayton" asks: ia it proper to take bread from thu
oread-plate with the fingers or with o forh!'
Always with the fingers
he G I'm making party call should the lady leave
OF course.
made''' -'' 'I0"iu party call DC
In London it is always made the next day: in
New York within week
Jack" asks: when a gentleman makes a formal
i ms hat In his hand or should he leave them in
A gentleman leaves his heavy overcoat in the
nall, but he carries his hat in his hand
Inquirer. asks AT q small but formal dinner
party should guest take leave Of each Of the guests
raj bow to the rest of the company!'
Etiquette is satisfied il the departing guest
takes leave only of his host and hostess.
Constant Reader" asks; IF BRIDEGROOM is sixty
Sead0s gloves does he wear at bis
We should say lavender; his years do not
make a more gloomy color necessary on so aus
picious an occasion.
the Se gSns INTO the dnnsroom who accompanies
The groom,
rs z, a1sre sEh thing as sroom's cake, and who
tabie!" p-A'e uoe' 'ne groom occupy al the
-, At a wedding breakfast the groom sits next
the bride. and there is no such thing as a
groom's cake.
THE CHAPERoN QUESTION.
Miss Propr1ety' writes: Il live in Q university
town, and it seems to that the rules Of propriety
are somewhat relaxed as to the students and their
% s game .s s i.
Of their .sadsns %t ans@ :. to
1t is proper enough for young girls to 20 to
see game OF ball in q party, especially IL in
vited by their brothers, but it would be much
better II they were accompanied by a chaperon
IL they are invited to breakfast at the rooms
Of the students
as the Misses Beach il they are aunt and nieces
No; one should address the older lady ss
Miss Beach, the niece Miss Anna Beach.
81 H. asks the following question:
Seek ago wrote to her, but failed mail the letter
from and she nsO.sd her card WHAT aid if. .hs
Probably delicate little scolding for your
neglect
Catherine Leyburn'' asks: what is proper thing
You are unable to attendt"
Send your card on the wedding day.
NO UNIFORMS.
young naval officer asks: Am expected to wear
my uniform at private partiess 1t In very stiff and
uncomfortable.
No; an army or naval officer must wear his
uniform on state occasions or a visit to his
chief to weddings and to fancy balls. but he
Is allowed the freedom of plain clothes on all
other occasions. 1t might be whispered in his
ear that he looks much better in uniform than
he does in plain clothes, however.
1t is q great drawback to the brilliancv NJ
American streets and American parties that ali
the men are in solemn black. The beauty and
popularity of fancy balls is therefore keenly
appreciated by all lovers Of color and costume
In Europe, where at every ball. even in sober
England, are seen men in uniform, in costume.
and with orders and ribbons. the effect is very
much Landowner. Every street in foreign
city is enameled with costumes. The Turks.
the Persians the Tunisians walk about Paris
and London in their gay dress; the brilliant
scarlet OF the guards and common soldiers
lights up the city Of the Thames, and in Rome
the soldiers, ecclesiastics, and occasional Wis
itors from foreign chimes make the narrow
Corso or the bridge Of St. Angelo brilliant:
while our streets are innocent of any such en-
bellishment In Spain the drivers Of carts and
donkeys are handsome in their gay rags, while
the passing matador is superb. Nowhere but
IN America are all men somber; SO we advise
the young naval officer to wear his uniform
whenever he can.
INSIGNIA OF RANK.
Matilda writes: II have lately returned from En-.
rope and wore head-dress Of gold BOUGHT In Rome
ct a party In London. I heard afterwsrd that was
IL Ia