Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-06-06
A CEREMONlOUS DINNER.

Etiquette Pertaining to Invitations, Verbal
and Written, and Their Ncccptancr.
At formal diuucr-that Is, one
where there are invited transformations
little formalitipS are usual among To-
fined people, bat they are hy no means
such wide variations from ones daily
habits that they need disturb the tram
GUILTY. of the most timid. There is or
ought TO be a difference i'll form be-
tween impromptu hospitality and that
which is offered with forethought.
When hidden TO dinner. respond at
once, whether the invitation is verbal or
written. Delay in answering written
invitation renders it difficult for the
hostess TO secure some ono to take your
place in case You arc unable to accept,
and even if she does not desire an OPP
portunity Of inviting another i'll your
stead it is embarrassing to her to be
uncertain as TO the number 10 be enter
tanned. There is no formality prescribed
concerning a verbal invitation, except
that the date and hour must be careful
ly stated and we'll understood. Nor is
there any customary wording for the re-
ply. Impulse and good manners will
says The DClinoator, authority for the
following:
Except when an informal note is sent
asking an intimate friend TO ones table,
a written or engraved invitation to din
her should read rs follows:
Mr.. and Mrs. John Henry Brown quest the
pleasure Of Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Smith Car
tcr'S company 1T dinner on Monday, June
tenth, al scNCa "'ruCk.
lOl Carleton street.
This note or card should be posted a
considerable length of time i'll advance
of the dinner date, 10 days being the
period usually allowed TO intervene, al
though in large cities, whore social en-
gagements are likely to be numerous, it
is sometimes necessary TO send out the
invitations for n dinner month or moro
ahead of the date selected.
A reply to a written invitation must
always be in the same form rs the invi-
tation-that is, either friendly or form
al, as the case may be. There is no set
form for answering an informal note,
but the response TO a ceremonious invita-
ton should read:
Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Smith Carter accept
with pleasure Tor decline with regreD Mr.. and
MIS- JOAn henry Brown = hlnu lnNltallOn 10
dinner on Monday, June tenth.
Is Willow place.
February twenty-eiShth.
1t is courteous TO give n reason for
declinirS-as, for instance, that q pre-
vious engagement or an illness pre-
vents an acceptance of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Henry Browns kind invitation.
Attire for formal dinner should be
chosen according to the usages prevail
ing in one S own locality. Evening dress
is de rigueur for men in cities and in
most towns, and women wear ceremo-
NOUS gowns suited to their years and
dignity.
Dinner guests should be careful to ar
rive at the hosts residence only few
minutes before the hour mentioned, and
any unavoidable delay, even though of
the briefest duration, should be amply
explained and apologized for. If some
thing unforeseen transpires to prevent
attendance after an invitation has been
accepted, the circumstances must be i'm
mediately explained by note, hardness
in according this courtesy to ones host
being objectionable.