The Washington herald., 1915-01-10

With the CrOwding of holiday festVl-
tics. invitations come thick and fast
The person who has no social engage
mentS at this time of year can pe no
other than one who does not wish them'
for when every one l. at home VINO
can possibly he there. il is the signal
for the gathering together of each and
every friend and acquaintance. For the
girl or man. therefore. who wishes T."
keen up social life and be invited again
the lime is ripe to make oneself popu-
lar guest.
Difficult though this may seem, it can
be worked out by the rule OF three
Certain laws govern social success As
surely as they do the working out OF
problem in arithmetic. To be lnNltel
again is merely to observe the seemingly
insignificant little niceties that count SO
heavily and unerringly in weighing the
balance Of peoples favor Once you have
that. A hostess inevitably seeks you as
her guest.
In the first place. no matter what
invitation YOU may receive, answer I
within a day OF the time ii reaches You.
Never hold a summons to any form OF
entertainment for day or so III order
to make sure whether or not you can
accept When in the least bit of doubt
send YOUR regrets in polite or formal
note II the invitation is for an informal
function, however. it is perfectly proper
to qualify your refusal with a word as to
YOUR reasons and hope that at the last
moment you will find that you can come.
Nevertheless. your note should make IL
thoroughly clear that you have definitely
refused and that your hostess should not
expect to see you unless she hears from
you again.
The value of social notes cannot BE-
uverestilnatcd to tho person who would
become popular. That any sort or 4
Dolitc note should be inscribed on the
very ncatest of writing paper. with en-
vrlopc to match. goes without saying.
That the handwriting should he your
own is also most essential. and 1t must
lee clear enough to he easily read. As
lined stationery is not permissible, the
words should run straight and be evenly
spaced. while the margin At the left
Of the sheet should be decided.
Whatever YOU may say. have 1t 10
the point; that is. concise and unequlVo-
cal. Read the note through at least
twice. to he assured that the person re-
Giving it would bc able 10 understand 1t
in any but the way You intend.
Finally. If any mistakes Of spelling,
poorly written words, or blOts OF ink
have crept into the form OF the note, do
not send it out without rewriting. and
when you stamp the envelope put Uncle
Sam s engraved messenger SqudIelE III
tho upper riEht-hand corner.
When to write these social notes is
the next question of Importance. OF
the two kinds. the former should be sent
early and often. Nothing brings more
pleasure to the average person than
sinpIc expression of appreciation or
coincidence in connection with pleasure
ar sorrow that may have come to them.
In such a note there should he above
int Wit h.
out i'm anv way suggesting selfish or
scIC-scekinE motives. But withal II
must he dignified. Too much cannot be
said with regard to the thoughtful note
Y hicn hears with il only good will and
Chccrfulness and which helps TO keep
up the thread Of friendship or acquaint-
anCeshp.
civil notes include answers to invita-
tions and certain explanations called
for hy some slight misunderstanding.
I-nIess YOU have been entertained very
formally. the note which accepted the