Written invitations are always complimentary and in
finer style than any other for small parties, but persons
who entertain often, have engraved cards with blanks left
for the name of guest, and date, for convenience. The
following is the form adopted by Tiffany & Co. for dinner
cards, a large, nearly square form being used :
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hoyt,
Request the pleasure of
- Company, (name.)
date and No.
- ....o'clock.
The favor of an answer is requested,
(or) R. s. V. p.
For a gentleman's party the host's name alone appears
on the invitation. An early answer must be sent in all
r33)
34
THE HOME COOK BOOK.
cases, either to accept or to decline. Not to do so, is the
grossest rudeness.
Invitations are always sent to persons in the same town
by private messenger. Outside envelopes are necessary
only when sent by mail to another city. No particular
excuse need be sent. It is enough to say "Mr. and Mrs.
regret that they are unable to accept Mr. and Mrs.
• kind invitation for the date named." When the
dinner is to meet any particular guest or distinguished
person, it is made known by the words, " To meet So ar.d
So," at the head of the invitation, or after the name oi the
invited person before the date.
Written invitations are on note sheets of mill-finished
paper with side fold, the fancy rough and the highly
glazed papers of eccentric shapes and fold being out of
use. The large envelope, nearly square, allows the sheet
to be doubled once to fit. Cards have the same finish,
neither dull, nor highly polished. The cipher of initials
entwined is preferred to the .nonogram, and occupies the
corner of the note sheet.
Guests arrive at any time during the half hour before
dinner, and after leaving wraps in the dressing room, are
met by the host and hostess at the door of the drawing-
room. Introductions follow if the guest is a stranger.
If the party is given in honor of any distinguished person^
or favorite visitor, the other guests are brought up to him
or her, and presented. It is an omen of success for her
evening if the hostess can make conversation general
before dinner. To this end, have some novelty at hand,
either in the shape of a personage whom everybody wants
DINNER ETIQUETTE.
35
to meet, or a new picture, a grotesque group, a rare plant
in the drawing-room, the latest spice of news to tell, or a
pretty girl to bring forward. Whatever the attraction,
bring it on at once, to prevent that very stupid half hour.
At the hour, the servant comes in and tells the hostess
dinner is served. The arranging of the guests has all
been considered beforehand. If she wishes people to
think her dinner a pleasant one, the hostess will see that
the likings of her guests are consulted in pairing off for
the table. Host and hostess intimate to the gentlemen
whom they are to escort. " Mr. Lance, will you be kind
enough to take Miss Dart in to dinner.? Mr. Curtis, be so
good as to see to Mrs. Vane. Jermingham, I knov^ you'd
prefer Miss Olney, she's such a good listener. Mr. King,
if you want to finish telling that story to Mrs. Capron,
suppose you give her your arm," and so on. If the guest
to be honored is a lady, the host offers her his arm and
goes out first, the hostess last. If a gentleman, he escorts
the hostess and the host follows the company.
Page 14
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Written invitations are always complimentary and in finer style than any other for small parties, but persons who entertain often, have engraved cards with blanks left for the name of guest, and date, for convenience. The following is the form adopted by Tiffany & Co. for dinner cards, a large, nearly square form being used :
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hoyt, Request the pleasure of
- Company, (name.)
date and No.
- ....o'clock.
The favor of an answer is requested, (or) R. s. V. p.
For a gentleman's party the host's name alone appears on the invitation. An early answer must be sent in all (33)
cases, either to accept or to decline. Not to do so, is the grossest rudeness.
Invitations are always sent to persons in the same town by private messenger. Outside envelopes are necessary only when sent by mail to another city. No particular excuse need be sent. It is enough to say "Mr. and Mrs.
regret that they are unable to accept Mr. and Mrs.
• kind invitation for the date named." When the
dinner is to meet any particular guest or distinguished person, it is made known by the words, " To meet So and So," at the head of the invitation, or after the name oi the invited person before the date.
Written invitations are on note sheets of mill-finished paper with side fold, the fancy rough and the highly glazed papers of eccentric shapes and fold being out of use. The large envelope, nearly square, allows the sheet to be doubled once to fit. Cards have the same finish, neither dull, nor highly polished. The cipher of initials entwined is preferred to the .nonogram, and occupies the corner of the note sheet.
Guests arrive at any time during the half hour before dinner, and after leaving wraps in the dressing room, are met by the host and hostess at the door of the drawingroom. Introductions follow if the guest is a stranger. If the party is given in honor of any distinguished person^ or favorite visitor, the other guests are brought up to him or her, and presented. It is an omen of success for her evening if the hostess can make conversation general before dinner. To this end, have some novelty at hand, either in the shape of a personage whom everybody wants
DINNER ETIQUETTE.
to meet, or a new picture, a grotesque group, a rare plant in the drawing-room, the latest spice of news to tell, or a pretty girl to bring forward. Whatever the attraction, bring it on at once, to prevent that very stupid half hour. At the hour, the servant comes in and tells the hostess dinner is served. The arranging of the guests has all been considered beforehand. If she wishes people to think her dinner a pleasant one, the hostess will see that the likings of her guests are consulted in pairing off for the table. Host and hostess intimate to the gentlemen whom they are to escort. " Mr. Lance, will you be kind enough to take Miss Dart in to dinner.? Mr. Curtis, be so good as to see to Mrs. Vane. Jermingham, I know you'd prefer Miss Olney, she's such a good listener. Mr. King, if you want to finish telling that story to Mrs. Capron, suppose you give her your arm," and so on. If the guest to be honored is a lady, the host offers her his arm and goes out first, the hostess last. If a gentleman, he escorts the hostess and the host follows the company.