Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-17

srd longer before \ week enc visit.
dinner invitation should be addresset
70 ? husband and wife, and individual
~ 80 single persons The recipient q
an invitation should answer pvomptl,
and follow The invitation with cordia
answer within the following "a hours
Follow The date. hour. and general pla'
set forth By your hostess in her lette,
Of invitation and don't forget 10 TAX
= personal Gift "a your hostess. I
there are children in the family tax
. small Gift 10 each of them II BY
any unhappy chance you miss YOU;
train. or Il the train is ia be very late
let YOUR hostess know by wire or tele-
phone Individual notes Of acceptance
O. regret arc not necessary or expected
Thus z wife replies for both herself and
her husband. n mother for herself and
child who may have been included. and
the elder Of two sisters writes for both
Should the reply be in the negative
The reason for declining should 30
stated in more or less detail accord
lnE to the degree Of intimacy existing
The Ideal Guest
During your visit be agreeable and
helpful in every possible way Ee
courteous and amenable. Try to fit
into the plans made by your hostess
10 not expect entertainment to be pro-
vi6ed for YOU every minute A tactful
guest is one who makes her hostess
feel that 10 be in her home is a privi-
leze n itself Always be ready TO MAKE
prompt decision when offered &
choice Of diversions or occupations TT
II adapt Yourself when possible 70
whatever games or smuscments others
enjoy. bat do not feel obliged 10 join
n ANYTHING which you do not approve
r YOU have any talent for music or
other entertainment. be ready and VIII
ina 70 contribute your share 70 the
general entertainment
The ideal guest Is one who has that
ease and poise of manner. that calm
ness and kindness Of temper. tina,
loving and lova6is disposition that
somehow makes people want To talk
10 and be with her Such a guest needs
nc set Of rules 1nstinctivelv she knows
the laws Of good conduct and fine man
rers. She strives for harmony at sll
times. and Is thoroughly loyal to her
hostess She always refrsins from say
ang what she thinks when an express
sion Of opinion will cause strained re-
iation
There are some obligations which &
guest must observe The most exact
ing. perhaps. is punctuslity. She must
be on time for meals II it is the Gus
tom for the entire family 10 gather "a
breakfast, fall in line with this. even
though you would prefer an hours
extra sleep and a cup of coffee in yoslr
room. Provide yourself with all neces-
sary toilet articles, particularly pack
age al absorbent cotton or absorbent
tissue paper for removing cold cream.
You may prefer TO use soft old towels
a. home. but do not be so discourteous
as 70 use your friends towels for the
purpose. Provide yourself with station
cry. stamps and sewing materials. A
careful hostess usually provides these
things as guest-roon accessories. but Il
Is wise TO have q supply Of your own.
Formal and Informal.
The woman in her own home does
two general kinds of entertaining,
formal and informal Specially invited
guests for meals and afternoon and
evening guests by invitation include
most of the formal occasions. The
informal occasions are more numerous
and therefore easier 70 be careless
about. They have more to do with set
ting the tone and atmosphere Of the
home than the more formal ones.
II you can serve certain things that
are good TO look at as well as good 10
taste. so much the better. but do not
forget that the more pretentious dish
Is. the more it will invite criticism.
The important thing in dinner giving Is
10 refrain from doing anything you
cannot do we'll The simple dinner
perfectly achieved is as admirable a
feat as the elaborate dinner perfectly
achieved. The hostess who has
attained the art of giving perfect din
ners. although they may be small may
we'll be proud Of her attainment. You
NAV give informal or small dinners.
and you need not worry because you
cannot serve the dishes Of profess
slcnal dinner party cook. II the table
IL correctly and sttractively laid. II
the food offered is good Of its KIND and
well served. If the welcome is cordial
enc the company congenial the simple
dinner may rank with the most elsoo-
rate formal dinner.
Seating the Guests.
The duty Of receiving and welcoming
the guests rests with the host anc
hostess. They receive until about Il
minutes after the time mentioned In
the invitations. then, even tnougn
guest or TWO may be missing II Is Gus
fornary for dinner TO be served. II the
dinner is being given in honor OF
celebrated guest, il should not be served
Until ne has arrived If guest ar
r,ves late. the hostess must strive u
make him feel al ease without EN-
ts~rassmert. At a small dinner. place
cards are not necessary II there Is
guest Of honor. and II the guest Is
lse~. she should be placed al the right
81 the host; II man, at the right OF
the hostess. AS the guests enter the
S.ning room. the hostess indicates
v1eYe she wishes each guest To sit.
M more than four courses should b.
attempted al an informal dinner. Fol
ire first course grapefruit melon. fril
rroRtatls or soup. the second. the MAR
course Of meat or fish and vegetables
thp trird. salad; fourth. dessert. II
this case. the necessary silverwari
should BE- at the right. fruit or soup
s,7eor q knife and il bread Is served /:
butter spreader AZ the left. meat forl
ard q salad FORK Extra silverware fol
coffee and dessert may be placed Oh
the serving table The water glaS
should De placed al the point of III
knife II favoTs are offered, the.
shoulo BE- placed either in front Of tn
plate or IN groups around the center
peer Salts and peppers should b
placed between each two covers.
Al the present time eo-oriui table
cloths with matching napkins are pop
ular and for simple. informal dinner
the able is frequently laid ~ith doilie
o. embroidered pieces The center
piece may be small bowl ~ flowers o
DAINTY ferns Csndlcsticks are artisti
when placed a equal distances aroun'
the flowers. the candies should mattel
the flowers 81 color and should be tai
enough 50 nat ne fame viii rom
sbove ne level 81 The eyes, On n
u hie mas be placed small dishes con
tanning preserved singer oT DonboE1s an
ssiteo nuts The dinner napkin shout
b. foldeo square unless The table
somewhat crowded when II gay b
folded dlagonailv II should be place
a the left Of he forks which are place
~ the LETT Of the service Knife an