Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-26
Requests the pleasure Of
Company on Tuesday evening, December %,
at Q o'clock.

Company on Tuesday evening, December 28,
Dancing. r. g. v. P.
The card Of the debutante (if the ball Is
given for one) is inclosed. If these invita-
| tions are sent to Q new acquaintance, or to
is inclosed to gentlemen, that OF both
husband and wife TO other ladies and gen.
tlemen. If . hostess gives her ball at some
public place, like Delmonico's, she has but
little trouble. The compliment Is not the
same as if she gave it in her own house,
however. If there Is room, q ball in q
private house Is much more agreeable and
of greater honor to the guest. The ballroom
should be brilliantly lighted, well ventilated
and not too hot. Gentlemen who have not
an acquaintance should be presented to the
"young dancing set;" first, of course, to the
chaperon. As, however, the hostess cannot
have two or three friends to help her. And
great care should be taken that there be NO
wall flowers. no neglected girls.
Consideration for Elderly People.
A great drawback to balls in the United
States is that there is lack of convenience
for those who wish to remain seated. In
sidered, seats are placed around the room,
somewhat high, for the chaperons, and at
their feet sit the debutantes. These covered
sofas in three tiers run round the bathrooms
in palaces, and are let out as we hire small
chairs for musicales. have often wondered
why they do not become the fashion in our
cities. They not only add to the comfort of
the sitter, but they are very becoming to the
room, the chaperon making distinguished
background.
Supper is served In two ways, either a
buffet kept open all the evening, with serv-
ants behind the table, or at small tables.
The hostess enters first with the most dis
tinguished guest Hot oysters, boned turkey,
salmon salad, game patties, ices, jellies,
fruits and champagne, punch and liquors
are offered. The first persons asked to dance
should be the daughters Of the house, to
them and to their immediate relatives and
friends must the first attention be paid by
Qentlemen who are invited. It is not wise
Tor young ladies to join in every dance, nor
should young chaperone dance leaving her
protege sitting.
TheMothers at the Bali,
A mother should try to attend her
daughters to every bail and stay as long as
they do. But many mothers are not invited,
a. they take up too much room, and one
young chaperone is asked to do duty for
many. This 10 q great mistake. Let lady
give two or three balls if she has not room
for the mother; ifit be necessary to limit
the invitations, let the whole family be left
out. An American hostess If she wishes to
improve the art of entertaining, should be
true to the idea of the best society; of course
it is sometimes impossible to give ball in
ones own house, as it may be too small, but
q lady should not overcrowd her rooms, and
she must remember that there are: few safe
guards for society In America. "Mother
and home, are the two best. The first duty
Of gentleman in entering ballroom, is to
make his bow to the lady of the house and
her daughters; he should then strive to fud
his host and insist on being presented to
him.
An American gentleman is sometimes
thought to be o myth, in his own house, as
obscure as Mr.. Merdle in Dickens story.
No gentleman invited to ball should leave
until he has made his bow to the head
thereof. tits proper for intimate friends to
make a request for invitations to ball, for
friends, distinguished strangers, or for
young and desirable dancing men, but not
for ladies. No ofenss must be taken If any