Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-01-21
ETIQUETTE =
BY FLO

/ Dear Miss Flo:
am going to give formal dinner
party in honor of quite distin
guished guest. Would it be correct
| for me to have menu cards beside the
plate of each guest. If so, may have
! them printed or engraved in French!
; Would roses make proper decora
i tive center piece? What is the usua
hour for such an affair? About how
many guests should ] invite. Should
the table cloth be long enough for the
four points to almost touch the floor,
or should it be just long enough to
come down over the sides of the table.
You see, Pm a brand new bride,
and this is my first big dinner. do
want it to be huge success, and
, shall greatly appreciate any informa-
ton you might give me.-C. 5.
..3 - ~ q - 49,
The usual hour for a formal dinner
is between. seven and eight O'Clock.
The invitations should be mailed no
earlier than ten days before, and no
later than. one week before the date
set. The hostess may use her own
Judgment as to whether she has the
invitations engraved or hand-written,
although the engraved card IS the
most acceptable form. There is no
absolute limit to the number of
guests one may invite to a formal
dinner, although there must never be
more than the hostess can manage
easily. AS this is your first eXper-
fence, | should advise you to invite
not more than ten, nor less than four
guests. Keep in Snind, in selecting
your guests, the fact that they must
be congenial, and do not invite a
guest who will not be in harmony
with your other guests.
To seA the formal dinner table cor
rectly is really an, art. The appoint
ments should be of the finest. Either
a square or round table is appropri-
ate. First comes the asbestos mat
over it comes the snowy linen table
cover. 1t should be long enough to
fall gracefully over the sides with the
four points almost touching the floor.
A large lace or embroidered dolly is
placed in the center of the table, and
smaller ones should be used indicat-
ing the position of the guests. Roses
are the faVOrite decoration at an elab-
crate dinner, although delicate ferns
may also be used if preferred. If it
is quite an suspicious occasion, the
hostess may have printed or engraved
menus placed beside the plate of each
guest. 1t is considered quite the fash
ionabIe thing to have the menus
printed in French, or in delicate
English script.
A hostess must give as careful at
tention to the arrangement of the
table as to the planning of the menu.
1t must not be crowded or overhaul
anced A correctly laid table will add
surprisingly to the entire success of
the party, and if the likes and dis
likes of each guest are kept in mind,
the dinner is bound to be a happy
one.
Dear Miss Flo:
When lettuce is used with a salad,
is it considered good form to eat it, or
should one just eat the salad? Thank
YOU'D. Fl.
1t is quite correct to eat the let
tuce that is served with a salad of
any kind.
Dear Miss Flo:
Do you believe it is proper for a
girl to accept an invitation from her
employer, who is married, to lunch?
The man I work for has asked me sew
eral times to lunch with him, but I
have always refused. Please advise
me.-A. w.
l think you were very wise to re-
fuse such an invitation to lunch. 1t
is very poor policy to attempt to
combine business and social pleasure.