Evening star., 1942-08-28
Fine Better
Reply Than
Dandy
Former Acceptable
Only Because of
Common Usage
By Emily Post

By Emily Post
cannot answer q reader other
wise than to tell her that the word
dandy" is a tabu of taste, and
fine" tolerated gate-crasher. This
reader has written me:
IF my little girl aged 4 were
taught to answer others How are
you?' with Fine, thank you instead
OF Very well, thank you,' not only
think it would sound more like a
child, but it might be so much more
natural for her that she would feel
inclined to say something. AS it
is, she usually stands and says
nothing! Pefhaps it, would sound
cutter to have her answer I feel just
dandy"
My reply is: It would be Just
dreadful! So please don't teach
her that-if you care anything about
good taste! Pine" is much less
Objectionable because it is said by
almost every one. Even so, 1 think
1t important to give a child the ad-
vantage Of being taught best Eng
lish. In fact, can't see why fine.
thank YOU is any easier to say. or
why you think it sounds more child
like, than very well, thank ,ou."
Dear Mrs. Post: Please give us
form OF invitation to send out for
an evening reception which we are
giving to announce our daughters
engagement. We do not want to
have the invitations engraved or
to suggest formality, but there will
be about a hundred guests. Also,
suggest refreshments, please. We
want to have the announcement
come as surprise to as many people
as possible.
Answer-In order to invite her
friends, it probably will be best to
write your daughter name vrder
the one engraved on your double
visiting cards. Across the top, write
at home" and below this the date
and time In abbreviated torn. This
same invitation sent to your own
friends as we'll as your daughters will
simply show that YOUR friends and
hers are both being invited to the
party.
Typical refreshments would in
clude a bowl of fruit punch at one
END OF table, and perhaps coffee
or chocolate or both 1T the other.
with dishes Of little sandwiches and
cakes in between.
Dear Mrs. Post: am piyinr q
party for my niece after the we'd
ding rehearsal, and In addition to
the wedding party there will be a
few more Of my niece's younger
friends. I feel that since I am
hostess and have invited her friends
to my house I should be present. and
yet 1 am much older than all of
the others and don't want to spoil
their fun in any way. Can I be
hostess and yet be absent in nv
own house-at least for most Of
the time?
Answer can't imagine that your
presence will spoil their fun In any
way unless you can't resist dom
mating the party. You need not
stay all the time If you prefer not
TO, but you should certainly greet
them, be present IN the dining room
to look after service of food.
Dear Mrs. Post: My daughter is
10 be married In church. 1t will all
be very simple, but We hope peauti-
ful. She will wear white and
veil and her two sisters are to be
her only attendants. One will be
In yellow and the other in AQUA,
and except for the colors the
dresses are being made exactly alike.
since these two colors look very
well together, don't you think the
sisters might walk up the aisle to-
gether?
AnsWer-Yes. Much better than
single file which would in fact be
very awkward.
Dr. MRS. Post: A. Who buys the
brldegroom's ring. B. Is he supposed
to buy both If both have rings?
G. Also, please tell me whether the
left hand Is the bridegroom's we'd
ding-ring hand, too?
Answer-A. The bride does.
B. Never. c. Left hand, but little
finger is preferred to third by the
fastidiously fashionable. Those
who care more for sentiment than
for smartness are likely to prefer the
third finger.