The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08
SOME BURNING SOCIAL QUESTIONS
Society Leaders Discuss the Social Who Cannot Be
duced Nor Forced to Reply to Invitations.

Shall invitations to teas and receptions
be answered?
This question is icing argued from Park
avenue to Sunnyside and the society
women do not seem to be able to arrive at
any common conclusion. On one side are
rangAa the hoscesses or the season who
have been taught by experience, that able
teacher, how an answer is appreciated by
the woman who eLtertains. There is
quite group of women who have been
answering cards for receptions and teas
for several years and no one thought
much of it, looking at it AZ a little &c
centricity until the discussion was start
ed. AS the majority Of Minneapolis
women believe that it is not necessary to
acknowledge an invitation Of any kind,
the promptness Of the little group should
meet with the appreciation that it de-
serves.
But q reception is really only an at
home day objects the majority, "and an
invitation simply means that Mrs. Blank
will receive calls at certain time"
That's all very we'll retorts the
woman who has acquired her wisdom
through the fire of experience, "but wait
until you are placed in a position when
you don't know whether 100 or 500 women
will call at the same time II you served
nothing but coffee or tea. it would be
easy to take care Of them but bouillon is
not matter Of moments and even choc-
olate is the better for a boiling. l only
give small tea. sending out cards for 100.
/ heard from possibly fifteen and the ca
terer~ advised me to prepare for 100. !
followed his advice and as only 80 women
called, the family ate sandwiches and
drank chocolate Until that menu affected
their nerves. 1t is not necessary to send
a formal acceptance but I do think it is
only showing proper consideration 10
+I> Cor Nton or
or scrbble' a little note My dear Mrs.
Hostess, l shall be very glad to accept
your kind invitation for Wednesday az
ternoon.'
eff woman will not acknowledge an
invitation to formal luncheon or dinner,
she certainly will not bother about such
an informal affair as a tea or a recep-
tion," darkly prophesied the woman, who
has suffered Il sent out seventy five
cards for buffet luncheon and not even
fifty replied to Them
.'Fourt cen women who accepted my in
vitation to breakfast failed to appear and
I have never heard from them to this
day." groaned another
This but opened the "vials of wrath
and the stories that followed proved that
Minneapolis women err through ignor-
ance, rudeness or selfshness, the attribute
varying with the temper of the speaker
There was a chorus in regard to the eX-
& peflSnce OIL MIS-. f1duuem WHO ulu uO1
hear from seven of her invitations unit
the morning of the day on which her care
party was to be given when three wome1
telephoned that they didn't play cards
the remaining four waived the ceremon.
of reply of any sort. Mrs. Given hat
been surprised at her affair by tire
guests who brought corresponding mum
Der Of OUT -of-town friends. She woul
not have minded, she declared, if Their
had been four but three was an awkwar,
number for a card party.
One woman who entertains at lunch