Evening star., 1944-02-04
Emily Post
Advises

No question has more answers
than the one asked in this letter:
"A widower who became such re-
Gently wants to know how long it
should be before he takes a woman
friend to concerts and movies-not
to dances, of course. His wife was
an invalid for long time, and this
woman friend knew her and has
known him for many years. In fact,
he has known her family almost as
far back as he can remember"
Individual cases always alter sit
uations to certain extent. In
other words, so much depends upon
what kind of husband he was.
Devotion to an invalid wife for a.
long time should make even the
most loyal of friends glad to hope
that he may before long find hap
piness-especially with friend who
was fond of her. However, 1 think
six months would be a safe general
rule to make before paying her
marked attention.
Dear Mrs. Post: Does an invita-
ton to the wedding have to be
acknowledged now in wartime?
Isn't the present to the bride suf-
hcient acknowledgement? This
bride Is a stranger, her parents in
whose names the invitation comes,
are also strangers. But she is mar
rylng a relative of mine and the
wedding Is taking place out of town.
Answer: 1t is particularly neces-
sary in the present day that invi-
tations to anything involving pro-
visions be answered. It Is not fair
to the brides mother to have no
idea how many to provide for and
If your family did the same, she
would almost certainly order either
too much or too little food. Even
If to you it seems obvious that you
cannot go, I think it is neverthe-
less necessary that you answer the
Invitation.
Dear Mrs. Post: Who should be
flrst to say, I'm glad to have met
you? The man or the woman?"
Answer: The woman
Dear Mrs Post: How wrong will
1t be, since I am chief cook, wait
ress and hostess, to serve dinner
for my young son (too young to
take his fathers place at table,
and two guests, this way: Cocktails
In the living room; the hot blue
plate" main course served at each
place before we sit down; salad
above each place also; bread and
butter plates each with rolls on
them. After these courses have
been eaten, 1 shall then get up and
remove the used plates and bring
In the dessert? Shall I serve the
coffee at the table with dessert,
or later in the living room? +
think 1t might be easier to serve
1t at the table. Could anyone
criticize this service? The guests
are formal by nature.
Answer: No one criticizes unpre-
tentiousness. For the hostess who
serves her own meals, the first rule
to follow is that of expedience
Therefore, think your plan is en-
tirely proper. 1t seems to me that
serving coffee in the living room
would be both better and simpler
However, do whatever is most prac-
tcal for your equipment.
Dear Mrs. Post: May we include
our telephone number with R.s.v.p.
on the cards to be inclosed with
the church invitations, for the re-
ception? I think it might help to
add the telephone number because
Ocnerwise comparatively few feel
obliged to answer. AS I have to
order food from the hotel it would
be better to know how many to pre-
pare for.
Answer have never heard of
using a telephone number this way,
but I think 1t is very practical
suggestion and in wartime all prac-
tcal suggestions have value.