The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-25
ON ISSUING INVITATIONS.
How Tncy should Read in Order TO &c-
cord with Coed Form.


cord with Good Form.
The subject Of invitations is one OF
general interest. First and foremost
is the doubt as to when invitations should
be issued in tho names Of husband and
wife or when in the name OF the wife
only. Practically speaking. says the
Queen. there arc but few occasions when
the former would be correct according
to etiquette.
A dinner invitation should be issued
in the names Of husband and wife. Thus
" hen writing in the third person the note
should run As follows: MIR. and Mrs.
A. request the pleasure Of Capt. and Mrs.
3. g company at dinner on Wednesday.
the 2ist. at q quarter to eight o'clock,
This il q strictly formal invitation and
only employed when the acquaintance
il II the slightest.
The answ ers TO invitations so worded
are likewise given in the names Of hus-
band and wife in tais wise: Capt. and
Mrs b. have much pleasure in accept
ing MIR and Mrs. As kind invitation 20
dino with them on Wednesday. the 2ist. Z"
Tho refusal should also be worded in
the Joint names Of husband and wife.
thus: Capt. and Mrs. b. much regret
that a previous engagement will prevent
their having the pleasure Of dining with
Mr. and Mrs. A. on Wednesday. the 2ist. .
II a previous engagement cannot be
pleaded the words unable to accept
should be substituted.
Invitations 20 dinner are moro often
issued in tho first person than in the third
and here again husband and wife join
a. -.sk
variations according to tho friendship
existing between the writers and the
recipients of the notes: Dear Mrs. b {:
II will give III much pleasure y you and
Capt b. will dine With us on Wednesday.
the 2ist. At n quarter to eight
II on less formal terms: Dear Mrs. b.:
II would give my husband and myself
much pleasure il You and Capt. b would
dine with us on Wednesday. the Fist.
at a quarter to eight The hus Islands
name should be referred To by the wife
in this manner and not a. Mr.. A. This
Is q question which psrplexes many
when giving invitations.
The answers Co the above invitafi ions
should he as follows: Dear Mrs. A.: NV
husband and myself have much pleasure
in accepting your kind invit alton to dine
with you ON Wednesday. the 2lst-; or 1T
will give Us much pleasure ter dine With
YOU &c. or. more friendly still. We shall
be delighted TO dine with you." &c
RefusaIs vary accordingly. and run in
this groove: Dear Mrs. A. MY husband
and much regret that We cannot have
the pleasure OF dining with YOU on wedncs-
day, the 2lst-: or Dear Mr. A.: We ARE
ever 40 sorry We cannot accept your kind
invit at ion to dinner on Wednesday. the
2Iss. but -" and here should follow he
nature OF tho excuse.
Dinner cards Of Invita- ions, accep,anc
and ref>lsals are chisfy in use in town in
ultra smart sets and in official sets. BAT
seldom in general society and in country
ncighborhoods. The form IL in the third
person as regards the igsue Of the invita-
ton. the acceI tance and the refusal also
as given i'm the notes OF invit At ion written
in the third person with slight varias ion
Wedding invitations are issued in the
names OF husband and wife. and arc in
variably written in the third person: ONLY
under exceptional circumstances are they
issued in the first person-in tho case OF
very quiet weddings. for instance. when
only the Immediate relatives are invit %.
when tho FIRST person would be EMPLOYED
In tho construction OF the notes. The
form should be a. follows: Mr.. and Mira.
A. request the pleasure OF Capt and Mrs.
Be- company AZ the marriage OF thsir
daughter Frances with Mr.. Edward c.
ut Sc. Johns Church on Tuesday. Decenn-