The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30
Some Questions of
Etiquette Answered

understand at the present time a finger bowl
should be used before the coffee Is drunk. Am I
| correct?
Also. when serving coffee. IL the waiter does
not pour 1t. whose place is it to do SO. that of
the lady OF the gentleman?
Is bouillon supposed to be drunk with q spoon
or should one drink from the cup?
When calling in the evening merely with a
friend. a gentleman. on some friends OF his.
what is correct for tire lady to say when leaving?
! Is ii consldeir ed bad form fer q lady to take
wine when dining at a hotel, In the presence OF
the man she is with. or are cafes the correct
places for one to dine without a cha 2eron IL one
has wine:
! II a person wanted to drink other than intox-
icating liquor in uo-to-date places. what drinks
should be asked for?
ST. LOUIS BUSINESS GIRL
A lady is supposed TO sit at the right side
Of her own victoria.
In entering a hanson the lady enters first
and sits at the side nearest the pavement.
and her escort crosses over and takes the
other seat.
A finger bowl always is placed on the ia
BILE when the fruit is to be served. and that.
of course, comes before the coffee.
The lady of the house pours the coffee
when II is not served TO each person in turn.
Bcuillon is taken with the spoon and
drunk from the cup-that .s, one begins the
course by using the spoon and finishes by
drinking the bcuillon.
There is no stereotyped form of express
SION necessary
All that the hostess has to say is that she
is pleased to have had the pleasure of see
ing MIR. - and his friend.
There is nothing incorrect in a lady drink
ing wine at n dinner: the incorrect thing -
her dining alone with a gentleman without
a chaperon at any hotel or restaurant.
Any of the effervescent table waters are
correct in case 1t is not desired to drink
wine.
1t is a poor plan for a woman to drink
wine at any time. not from a total absti-
nence point of view. but because a wrong
Interpretation often is put upon 1t.
If a woman constantly is seen in public
hotels or restaurants dining alone with Il
man and drinking wine she is likely to lay
herself open to unkind criticism.
VIII you kindly state the proper time and place
for n gentleman to appear in frock and cutaway
coats: also proper hat and overcoat to wear with
each?
Are gray or striped trousers considered proper
with frock or cutaway coats?
When should the white Ascot tie be worn and
with what dress?
Is a sack coat with white waistcoat considered
good form for an informal evening call or the
aterc VERY OLD READER.
A cutaway coat is sometimes worn down
town, and just now there are some ultra
fashionable business suits made with 4 cut
away coat in colored cheviots.
But as a rule. the frock coats and cut
away coats are supposed to be for after
noon wear.
The high hat is correct with either. and
an overcoat long enough to cover them Is
the only one possible.
Gray and striped trousers are correct with
cutaway coat or frock coat. and the white
Ascot tie is suitable to be worn at the same
time; the white waistcoat also Is correct
for afternoon wear.
The white waistcoat with a sack coat ia
not correct for an evening suit.
1t is not really correct with a Tuxedo. al
though it is sometimes worn with it, but
1t is quite out of place with a sack coat in
the evening.
Please inform me If men use white gloves At the
theater when wearing a Tuxedo.
What Is the correct dress for . woman at q
wedding breakfast? JAMES.
White gloves are worn with a Tuxedo
coat at the theater. but as a rule a man
takes off his gloves now at the theater.
and the ordinary heavy glove is sufficient.
The regular reception gown made Of silk
or cloth is correct for q woman 10 wear ut
at a wedding breakfast.
A complete costume with q hat is smarter
than a more elaborate gown without a hat.
Is an answer required to cards or letters OF
sympathy or coincidence at the time Of a death
OF a member OF the family?
Is it expected that one return calls of n~eighbors
made at the time OF bereavement?
No calls had been exchanged previous to the
time Of a%fhictisn. JERSEY GIRL.
Letters Of coincidence should be answered,
IL not by a letter. at least by a card
acknowledging the receipt of the sympathy.
Persons In mourning are not expected to
make calls. SO that it would not be neces-
sary to return a visit Of coincidence.
Mourning now is much more sensibly
carried out than formerly was the case.
Ii certainly is a gracious acknowledgment
of kindness to return the call as soon
as one make any calls-that is, within
three to six months.
Kindly inform an old reader whether an opera
hat can be worn on all occasions that call for a
silk high hat.
How should oranges be eaten when served in
the natural state. as with grapes. bananas. pears
for desert.
The correct use of the finger bowl. ]. r.
The opera hat cannot be worn in the day.
time: it is suitable only in the evening with
dress suit.
The fashionable way at present to eat
oranges Is to place the fork through the
orange and then cut the skin off will q
knife. and after that to cut the orange into
small pieces.
Another way is to peel the orange and
eat each piece in turn.
The finger bowl is put on the table with
the fruit, then any sickness caused by
the fruit can be removed from the fingers.
Will you kindly inform me Of the newest and
most popular way Of announcing an engage
ment?
Is 1t necessary to send cards?
Or is It bester form to give a family party and
announce it afterward verbally to other friends?
J. E. w.
The best way to announce an engagement
is to write letters to personal friends.
1t is correct for the mother of the young |
gentleman to write to her family and init
mate friends announcing her sons engage
ment.
Then the mother of the young lady does
the same.
Christmas present to a young man with whom
she has kept company for seven months. II he
gives her a present? |
Should she have 1t for him on Christmas or
after Christmas? |
Does the bride or bridegroom buy the wedding |
Who buys furniture? D. L.
There Is no reason why a young lady
should not send some trihing Christmas
gift to a young gentleman-anything ex-
pepsive would be quite out of place.
1t would not be necessary for her to walt
until she had received a gift from him be-
fore sending hers.
1t would be better to send 1t so that he
will receive 1t on Christmas Day.
The bride always provides her wedding
gown.