The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-24

1t is on record that Emile oliver and
his cabinet plunged into the Franco
Prussian war with Eight heart" The
result was Sedan. So, too, the woman
who enters lightly upon the perform
ance of the most ceremonious of social
functions-the dinner party-is very
likely to meet her Sedan. Let no wom-
an undertake this entertainment with
out a profound sense of the importance
of the occasion.
Cambaceres was selected as Third
Consul by Napoleon because he under
stood the science of dinner-giving, and
confirmed adherents and concilated
and the savoriness of his plates. But
for Lady Hollands famous dinners at
Holland House what would have be-
come of the Wing party? In our time
much has been heard of the political
success of the Countess Waldegrave's
dinners, and it is generally admitted
that the politician who keeps a good
cook is a tower of strength to his party
Iealousies are soothed, hostilities
averted. friendships cemented at din
ner parties. 1t is the time of all times
for a hostess to prove herself equal to
her important position. like Alexander
on the battlefield
The number of guests for a success
full dinner is not less than six, nor more
than twenty. Fourteen is a fatal num-
~
the hostess finds thirteen at her table.
A curious agency has been inaugurated
in Paris-its object is to supply the
fourteenth guest. Parisians have q
deep-rooted superstitious objection to
dinner parties of thirteen. The agency
supplies a fourteenth guest when de-
sirsd
The powers that be decree that dinner
invitations shall be engraved, not writ
ten, IL the dinner is formal. Engraved
cards may be purchased of the station
er. with the space left for the guests
name and the date.
The usual form is as follows:
MIR. and Mrs. Diedrich Knickerbock-
er would be happy to see you and Mrs
Worster Van Twiller at dinner on
Wednesday. Ian. 9. at o'clock
December the twenty
For less formal dinner the hostess
writes:
MY dear Mrs. Blank: VIII you and
Mr.. Blank give us the pleasure of your
company at dinner on Wednesday
evening Dec 9. at o'clock? Your cor
daily, Constance Throckmorton.
Nov. 25th."
An invitation to an informal little
dinner need not be sent more than a
week in advance.
The invitation should be answered
as soon as read, and written in the
first or third person. according to the
form used by the sender. The day and
hour Of the entertainment. mentioned
in the invitation. must be re-repeated
in an acceptance. It gives assurance
TO the hostess that there has been 10
misunderstanding An invitation
should never be accepted Professionally.
Don't say TT will give me pleasure
TO accept" but 1T gives me pleasure"
or the preferred form is as follows
Mr.. and Mrs. Worster Van Twiller
accept with pleasure Mr.. and Mrs.
Diederich Knickerbocker's kind invi-
tation to dinner on Wednesday. the
ninth Of December. at 8 o'clock"
II obliged to decline the invitation.
instead Of accept with pleasure"
substitute regret extremely that a
previous engagement prevents their
acceptance Of" etc.
The hosts name always appears on
a dinner invitation. because at dinner
parties he is an important parsonage.
A. other social functions he may be
visible and agreeable. or absent. or
present and disagreeable, without dim
ming the brilliancy OF the occasion.
At dinner he II, in way. master OF
ceremonies.
An invitation to dinner having been