Evening star., 1942-01-28
.OLimitatiOn
To Number
Receiving
Presence of More
Than Four Is Not
A Social Error
Bp Emily Post

There is no definite rule that linn
its a receiving line to four. 1t can
be as long as a committee on ar
rangements-or even a single host
ess-flnds 1t necessary to make it.
However, it is true that four is the
outside number-unleSs there Is q
reason. ....
Evidently 1 have made the point
mot more than four" sound un-
breakably emphatic to reader who
is serving as chairman Of a commit
tee-on-arrangement for a very large
club tea, and who asks me to ex-
plain what is to be done about five
officers Of the club and the one i'm
portant guest of honor if only four
may stand to receive.
will you also tell me-" she adds.
whether those who receive should
wear hats and street dresses or must
they wear long dresses and no
hats?"
The answer Is that If all five off,
GERS want to receive and the tea Is
so Importantly large that a receiv-
ing line of this length won't be out
Of all proportion, six in line will be
quite all right. The principal OBJ
lection to a long line is that many
people find it awkward to have to
shake hands and say something, or
even bow, to so many. And as al
ready noted, too long a line is over
weighting to a small gathering.
In any case. I think a relay re-
ceiving line of three land the re-
naming three acting as hoStesses
who walk about and conduct guests
to the tea table, etc. makes the
more friendly and, therefore, sue
cessful party. II you follow this
plan the president of the club
should stand nearest the door of
entrance, then the guest of honor
and then the other officers. The
president would stand in line all
the time, but the other officers
would take turns. Whether receiv-
ing or mingling with the guests, all
Of the reception committee can be
easily recognized as hostesses by
wearing duplicate corsages, on their
shoulders. where they would be most
easily seen.
If possible. all Of those who are
going to stand in the receiving line
should wear dresses of the same
length. Long, simple afternoon
dresses would be most suitable. and
with these no hats. On the other
hand, ordinary day dresses with
hats would be permissible.
Dear Mrs. Post: I have a friend
who was inducted into the Army
early this winter, but who, after he
got to camp and had a final exam
ination, was rejected. Many of us
had given him presents and there
are some among us who feel that
he should have returned them. I
am told that the situation is no
different from that Of the girl who
breaks OF her engagement and Is
supposed to return presents already
sent to her because of her coming
marriage.
Answer-If all the presents were
things to be used in camp, then
perhaps he should have returned
them. On the other hand. now that
We are at war, 1t is likely that he
expects to be taken into another
branch of war service for which he
can pass the exams.
Mrs. Post Is sorry she can no
longer answer personal letters.
She Is glad, however, to have
many printed slips on . variety
of subjects to offer to her read
ers. Today's slip is Manners on
the Street." Be sure to send .
Scent, stamped, self-addressed
envelope with your request to
Mrs. Post, in care of this paper.
Leaflets cannot be mailed unless
envelope bears the correct amount
of postage.