branches lighted, let a Psyche or cheval glass be also there;
likewise a hand-mirror on each toilette, to enable the ladies to
see the back of their heads; with an ample suppy of pins,
combs, brushes, hair-pins, &c., and a workbox containing
needles, thread, &c. Let there be bottles of fine eau-de
Cologne^ and camphor, and hartshorn, in case of faintings.
Among the furniture have a sofa and several footstools for the
ladies to sit on if they wish to change their shoes.
The women attending must take charge of the cloaks,
shawls, overshoes, &c., rolling up together the things that be-
long to each lady, and putting each bundle in some place they
can easily remember when wanted at the breaking-up of the
assembly.
It is now the custom for the lady of the house (and those of
her own family) to be dressed rather plainly, showing no desire
to eclipse any of her guests on this her own night. But her
attire, though simple, should be handsome, becoming, and in
good taste. Her business is, without any bustle or apparent
officiousness, quietly and almost imperceptibly to try and ren-
der the evening as pleasant as possible to all her guests, intro-
ducing those who, though not yet acquainted, ought to be, and
finding seats for ladies who are not young enough to continue
standing.
The custom that formerly prevailed, in the absurd days of
crowds and jams, when dense masses were squeezed into small
apartments, of removing every seat and every piece of furni-
ture from the room, is now obsolete. A hard squeeze is no
longer a high boast. Genteel people no longer go to parties
on the staircase or in the passages.
In houses where space is not abundant, it is now customary
to have several moderate parties in the course of th« season,
instead of inviting everybody you know on the same night.
When the hour of assembling is stated in the notes of invi-
tation (as it always should be) the guests, of course, will take
care to arrive as nearly as possible about that hour. At large
parties tea is Usually omitted, it being supposed that every one
has already taken that beverage at home previous to com-
mencing the business of the toilette. Many truly hospitable
ladies still continue the custom, thinking that it makes a pleas-
58 ^TIQUETTIi.
ant beginning to the evening and exhilarates the ladies aftef
the fatigue of dressing and arriving. So it does. For a large
company, a table with tea, coffee, and cakes may be set in the
ladies* room, attendants being there to supply the guests with
refreshments before they go down. If there is no tea, re-
freshments are sent round soon after the majority of the com-
pany has come.
After a little time allotted to conversation, music is gene-
rally introduced by one of the ladies of the family, if she plays
well; otherwise, she invites a competent friend to commence.
A lady who can do nothing "without her notes," or who can-
not read music and play at sight, is scarcely enough of a music-
ian to perform in a large company, for this incapacity is an
evidence that she has not a good ear, or rather a good mem-
ory, for melody, or that her musical talent wants more cultiva-
tion. A large party is no time or place for practising or for
risking attempts at new things, or for vainly trying to remem-
ber old ones.
Page 38
Presented as published in 1883. 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
branches lighted, let a Psyche or cheval glass be also there; likewise a hand-mirror on each toilette, to enable the ladies to see the back of their heads; with an ample supply of pins, combs, brushes, hair-pins, &c., and a workbox containing needles, thread, &c. Let there be bottles of fine eau-de-Cologne and camphor, and hartshorn, in case of faintings. Among the furniture have a sofa and several footstools for the ladies to sit on if they wish to change their shoes.
The women attending must take charge of the cloaks, shawls, overshoes, &c., rolling up together the things that belong to each lady, and putting each bundle in some place they can easily remember when wanted at the breaking-up of the assembly.
It is now the custom for the lady of the house (and those of her own family) to be dressed rather plainly, showing no desire to eclipse any of her guests on this her own night. But her attire, though simple, should be handsome, becoming, and in good taste. Her business is, without any bustle or apparent officiousness, quietly and almost imperceptibly to try and render the evening as pleasant as possible to all her guests, introducing those who, though not yet acquainted, ought to be, and finding seats for ladies who are not young enough to continue standing.
The custom that formerly prevailed, in the absurd days of crowds and jams, when dense masses were squeezed into small apartments, of removing every seat and every piece of furniture from the room, is now obsolete. A hard squeeze is no longer a high boast. Genteel people no longer go to parties on the staircase or in the passages.
In houses where space is not abundant, it is now customary to have several moderate parties in the course of the season, instead of inviting everybody you know on the same night.
When the hour of assembling is stated in the notes of invitation (as it always should be) the guests, of course, will take care to arrive as nearly as possible about that hour. At large parties tea is Usually omitted, it being supposed that every one has already taken that beverage at home previous to commencing the business of the toilette. Many truly hospitable ladies still continue the custom, thinking that it makes a pleasant
58 ^TIQUETTIi.
ant beginning to the evening and exhilarates the ladies after the fatigue of dressing and arriving. So it does. For a large company, a table with tea, coffee, and cakes may be set in the ladies* room, attendants being there to supply the guests with refreshments before they go down. If there is no tea, refreshments are sent round soon after the majority of the company has come.
After a little time allotted to conversation, music is generally introduced by one of the ladies of the family, if she plays well; otherwise, she invites a competent friend to commence. A lady who can do nothing "without her notes," or who cannot read music and play at sight, is scarcely enough of a musician to perform in a large company, for this incapacity is an evidence that she has not a good ear, or rather a good memory, for melody, or that her musical talent wants more cultivation. A large party is no time or place for practising or for risking attempts at new things, or for vainly trying to remember old ones.