Evening star., 1943-03-21
Etiquette in
War itne
BY Emily Post


at camp x tells me: 81 have
To-day furlough. My own home
is clear across the continent and
a girl I know pretty well, whose
home is near here, has invited me
to stay with her family. The
girls parents are strangers to
me, and I think they must be
swell to o. K. the invitation. I
sure would appreciate the FAM
lily life but do you think it's fair
for me to 60 and share their
rationed foods? I get the idea
that they are stretching a point
because I'm q soldier. If you say
forget about 1t and go, will you
give me any pointers guy
should know"
In answer to this, I think it's
true that most people are willing
to stretch a point" for a man
In the service but / can't imagine
that this family would have in
vited you if they didn't want YOU.
Behave as you would were you
staying with friends at home.
do think it would be we'll to be
as moderate as you can on the
rationed foods, such as sugar,
butter, coffee and meat. II YOU
get a little hungry you can take
comfort In thinking of how much
you are going to enjoy the food
when you get back to camp.
1t would probably be best for
you to apply at the rationing
board when you arrive, so that
they can issue you a special ra-
ton certificate designed to take
care Of your needs while YOU are
on furlough. This you could
turn over to your hosts for use
when they are marketing.
Dear MRS. Post: My daughter
and l are going South for her
marriage to a soldier. All the
original plans have had to be
changed and everything will be
very simple. But We don't want
to make mistakes. His mother
tand I don't know who else) is
gong down. They live in this
city. I know her slightly. AS the
brides mother, do you think l
should put her up in a hotel in
the South? My daughter and I
are invited to stay with distant
relatives Of mine who live there,
but there isn't space to include
her.
Answer-1t is, of course, impos-
sible for you TO invite her to stay
In a house not your own. or to ask
to have her invited where there
is no room. For that matter it is
quite likely that she Will much
prefer to stay in the hotel rather
than with strangers. According
to etiquette, it is not an obligation
of the brides family to provide
accommodations for the family Of
the bridegroom. You should, how
ever, make an effort to see that
this particular bridegroom
mother Is invited with you to
whatever is going on" and that
she is not neglected, Her son
also his ushers-will likely stay
at the hotel with her.
Dear Mrs. Post: Is a white satin
dress, and veil, in good taste at a
noon wedding? We're accustomed
to evening weddings here, but
the war has changed the old
order Of things. What differences
are there, if any, between prepa-
rations for weddings at both
times?
Today when all clothes
are noted for their simplicity, a
brides dress, whether the wed
ding is at noon Or in the evening,
is exactly the same. A soft white
satin dress with a very short
train, and a veil TO its edge,
would be suitable even IN the
early morning. AS the day grows
later the train is likely TO grow
longer-but not necessarily.
In writing letters it is at pres
ent customary to write briefly and
not at all necessary to fill all
the letter space available This
worth while point is made by
Mrs. Post, etiquette authority, in
her booklet The Etiquette Of
Letter Writing Send for this
booklet, inclosing 10 cents in coin
and q Scent stamp to cover post
age and handling Address Mrs.
Post, In care of The Washington
Star.