Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-19
Showers for Brides
CERTAIN amount Of snobbery
Is perhaps at the bottom OF


IA it, but whatever the cause, it
1 \ does really make little sense
that rules of etiquette are
infinitely concerned with details such
as what to wear and what to do when
presented at court in a foreign land,
how to address letter to queen, how
to answer when spoken to by king
and then-so far as the conventions
go-not so much as a mention of
charming, neighborly, friendly customs
that are practiced across the entire
length and breadth of our own United
States. Among these neighborly Gus
toms none is more widely popular in
the majority of American communities
than the shower given for bride, the
larder shower either in welcome OF a
new clergyman or friendship for new
house-owners. or the stork shower for
q soon-to-be mother.
In fact, shower of almost any va
riety that imagination can invent is
typical OF the Thoughtful kindness of
neighbors under practically all circum-
stances Of individual popularity.
Presents given at a stork shower in
clude everything of use to a new baby.
A larder shower includes everything
eatable; tin wedding shower would
include things either made of tin or
foods put up in tin The shower for
bride is sometimes specified as linen
shower or a kitchen shower or a silk
stocking shower or an unnamed shower
Ito which each person brings what she
chooses.
Invitations to showers are either tele-
phoned-"I'm having a shower for Mary
on Tuesday at o'clock"-or the in
vitation is written on your visiting card
Surprise larder shower for DR..
Smyth" or "Stork shower for Mrs.
Larry Brown" or Shower for Miss
Mary Bride"-and then the day and
hour
1t is obviously not quite appropriate
that a shower be suggested or given
by the immediate family. Of the guest of
honor, because each person who ac-
cepts the invitation Is obliged to
shower her, or him, with present
TT is true that presents are more or
less expected upon receipt Of an In
vitation to a wedding reception or
breakfast. But wedding is an ap-
pealing social event for which eonsid-
cradle preparation has been made
moreover. one need not, unless rela-
tive or intimate friend, send wedding
present. On the other hand, the sole
object of a shower Is the showering OF
presents upon Mary; that is, one can
not go to shower and not take gift.
Sometimes each person arrives with a
present and hands it to Mary. But the
idea that sounds the most attractive
is to have all gifts sent to the hostess
a day or two beforehand. She leaves
the packages wrapped as they are. but
makes the whole effect attractive by
putting each package in uniform
outer wrapping This outer wrapping
is perhaps white shelf-paper tied with
the same patterned or colored paper
ribbon. Or perhaps she chooses one
of the patterns OF package paper aSso-
ciated with Christmas wrappings. Or
she chooses roll of wall paper-for
bride, something in silver or green ana
white suggestive of orange blossoms;
for stork shower, paper that Is either
pink or blue; colored cellophane perhaps
for a larder shower or any wrapping
which seems to her attractive. When
they are all wrapped, the presents are
piled on a table, perhaps In another
room, or behind screen, or perhaps In
full view against one wall OF the living
room, depending upoh "Hcliiei Va uoe
1t is surprise party.
The presents may, of course, be given
at any time and at any type of informal
gathering But at typical shower, as
soon as every one or almost every one
expected has arrived Mary Is led to
wherever the packages are piled and
told that they are for her. She then
opens the packages one by one and
thanks each giver. THANK you, Susie
How lovely!" ooh, Margaret, this is
| Just what I needl" Or Jane, dear,
never saw anything prettierl" 1t is
rather safer that cards of the givers be
Enclosed. But If not, the giver waits,
and as her present is unwrapped, says,
] "I-aat's from me"