Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-14

DRAWING ROOM MEETINGS.
One Way in Which Society Assists Phil
anthropie Enterprises.

antiropie Enterprises.
The English fashion Of holding drawing
room meetings" finds increasing favor be-
cause of its convenience when it is impor.
tant that persons whose interest is desired
in some philanthropic movement should be-
come known TO each other and to the pro
| rnoteEs of the undertaking. At drawing
room meeting social amenities and ex-
change OF ideas can take place almost with
out interruption, "a thing impossible on n
public platform. Another point in favor
OF drawing room meetings is that many
ladies incapable Of doing mach toward
helping on some meritorious scheme are
glad to place their drawing rooms ut the
disposal Of more active workers and to
thus save the hire OF a suitable hall or
place Of meeting no inconsiderab bic drain
upon the funds Of any young and small so
cIety, and, to mention a small point-the
reircShmcEtS-tea, coffee. etc, which are
always given at its conclusion, is a furt hcr
social element toward success. Again.
drawing room meetings are held in the
afternoon and the most occupied of women
can spare half in hour to look in and hear
an address.
The arrangements, according to English
etiquette, are carried ont with little varia-
ton, although the invitations are not al
ways in exactly the same words. One
printed form, for example. will run thus.
"A drawing room meeting first line):
then, in smaller type, will be held ut 20
Clinton avenue, by Kind permission of Mrs
Graham, on Wednesday, Jan. 3. on behalf
OF" etc. On the next line is the inCorma-
ton that - has kindly consented to
preside and an address viii be given by. :"
etc. II any we'll known name can be in
sf.~t tad = L L. =.
line, The pleasure of your company is ear
nestly invited Tea and coffee $50 D.
IN" is put in one corner of the card. ''R
;. V. p" and the address in the other On
this form the name of the person to whom
the invitation is given is not written and
the cards are distributed by the members
of II society to their friends and to their
friends friends
Another and more friendly form runs
thus:
Mrs. - at home:" above this is the
name of the person and friends invited,
at the top of the card the name of the so-
ciety; under the words AT home'' is given
the date, the day, and the hour. aud the
names of the different gentlemen bv whom
addresses Will he given. In one corner, us
before Is the address, and in he other Tea
and coffee at FOUR and "R 5 V. p"
W men an invitation to Il drawing room
meeting is in this wise, it is usual for the
hostess toshake hands with all corners, and
strangers are introduced to her by their
friends; but when the invitations are
issued in the first form, the lady in whose
house the IL citing is held does not come
forward to receive the whole of the com
pany.
The arrangements for these meetings are
very simple. The speakers place them
selves IN the most convenient part of the
room, Il small table is close at hand for
books, papers, etc, and rows of chairs are
placed as at "A concert Tea and coffee are
given IN the dining room ut the conclusion
OF the meeting, the hostess leading the
way with the speakers, the general com
pany following in their wake. The com
pany take their departure from the tea
room. Drawing room meetings commence
at p. m, 800 and at 4, to suit the cunven-
fence of the speakers.