Evening star., 1942-12-02
Which Sponsor
Holds the Baby
AtCerenony?
The One for Whom
He Viii BE Good
Is Best Choice
By Emily Post

1O question asking now IL can
be decided which godparent is to be
chosen to hold the baby at the
christening, the answer is simple in
the case of boy. since he has only
one godmother, and this duty is al
most automatically considered hers
But If the baby is girl and there
are two godmothers, this principal
godmother is usually an intimate
friend and the second godmother a
member of the family. Or it may be
that the one who is the more skilled
IN handling baby does so. At one
christening I went to the godfather
held the baby, but this is the only
case I remember. In short, the
answer perhaps reduces itself to
choose the godparent for whom the
baby is most likely to ''be good"
Dear Mrs Post: In answering a
young girls question of the correct
way for her mother to refer to her
father OF whom she is talking to the
daughters young friends, you said
my husband" to those who are
grown, and if she is talking to boys
and girls in their lower or midteens,
it would be proper to say Mr..
Jones" I was thinking that per-
haps you had forgotten one other
way, which seems natural. My
mother says "Mary's father" when
she mentions him to my friends.
Isn't this good way, too?
Answer-You are quite right, and
1t Is by far the best way. Also the
proper way for her father to speak
of Marys mother. In other words,
l don't know how it happened that
I merely decided between the two
names given me and did not answer
further. In giving these answers it
is often necessary to keep to the
question in point in order to keep
within short space.
Dear Mrs. Post: When a bride has
a portion of veil over her face. I
believe you have said that this
should be lifted back after the cere-
mony as the bride and bridegroom
turn to start the occasional. 1 was
wondering why this has to be lifted
back if the bride and bridegroom
have decided that he is not to kiss
her at the altar?
Answer-The lifting back Of the
veil from the face of the bride at
the conclusion of the wedding cere-
mony follows tradition that goes
back to the Far East, where the face
of the bride is revealed to the BRIDE
groom for the first time at the con-
clusion of the ceremony. Even here
and now 1t would seem strange after
the clergyman has pronounced that
they are man and wife" then to
have the wife come down the aisle
with the veil over her face as though
the ceremony had not taken place.
In other words, 1t has nothing to do
with the bridegroom kissing his
bride, but the proper following out
of a ritual that is ages old.
Dear Mrs. Post: My husband and
I were separated for two years but
had not been divorced. I have lust
received telegram from his family,
from whom I have been estranged,
telling me that he was instantly
killed overseas, and telling me when
a memorial service will be held. |
Would it be out of place for me to
go to this service. and If 60 where
shall sit? Shall I send flowers or
will this be in bad taste? II I can't |
30 shall I write to his mother under
the circumstances?
Answer-The only possible guide |
to suggest is that of your own feel |
lngs and knowledge of theirs. The
fact that they notified you of the |
service would suggest tha. they
would like you to 60 to 1t. If you |
have remained friends with certain
members of his family then you
could sit with them. If not, sit back |
Of the pews occupied by them. Send
ing flowers is also q question of |
'ourbwn feeling. Perhaps you might |
prefer to send them without a card, |
since you have been
estranged from his family. Other
wise. the more sincere the sympathy |
you feel. the more frankly 1t can be |