Book of Etiquette Volume I Part 27

INVITATIONS TO GARDEN PARTIES

When the garden party is very formal, the invitations are engraved in black script or block lettering, on white note sheets or large white cards. The invitation is usually issued in the name of the hostess alone, and the most fas.h.i.+onable stationers are to-day printing cards that leave a blank s.p.a.ce for the name of the person to be invited to be written in by the hostess. For instance:

_Mrs. Maurice Bronson requests the pleasure of ........................

company on Friday afternoon May tenth from four until seven o'clock Garden Party Holyoke, West Lake_

In society, the formal garden party holds the place of an at-home held out of doors. Thus the following invitation is considered the best form, better even than the form shown above, although either may be used in good taste:

_Mrs. Maurice Bronson At Home Friday afternoon, May tenth from four until seven o'clock Garden Party Holyoke, West Lake_

When the garden party is a small informal affair, the at-home card may be used with the words, "Garden Party, Friday, May the tenth, from four to seven o'clock," written by the hostess in the lower left-hand corner. This method is usually for personal friends only, and it is considered bad form when the garden party is elaborate and formal.

If the guest invited lives in another town, or must come from the city to the country, a small card bearing the necessary train and schedule information should be enclosed with the invitation, similar to the card explained in the chapter on wedding invitations. Or the information may be lettered neatly at the bottom of the invitation itself. The form is usually:

_Train leaves Pennsylvania Station at 3 o'clock Train leaves Holyoke Station at 6.20 and 7.10 o'clock_

Still another course is open to the hostess who wishes to give a small garden party, yet not undergo the expense and trouble of specially engraved invitations.

She may write brief, friendly notes, in the first person, somewhat in the following form, and send them by post to her friends and acquaintances:

_Holyoke, May 1, 19--_

_My dear Mrs. Keene:_

_I have asked a few of my friends to have tea with me, informally, on the lawn, Friday afternoon, May the tenth, at four o'clock. May I expect you also? Perhaps there will be a few sets of tennis. There is a racquet waiting for you._

_Cordially yours,_

_Rose M. Roberts._

ACKNOWLEDGING THE GARDEN PARTY INVITATION

Whether the garden party invitation bears a request for a reply or not, the courteous thing to do is send an acceptance or regret at once. This is especially true when the invitation is engraved, for then one may a.s.sume that the affair is to be a large and elaborate one. The reply to an engraved invitation follows:

_Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bruce accept with pleasure Mrs. Bronson's kind invitation for May tenth Haywood Park, May second, 19--_

or

_Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bruce regret that a previous engagement prevents their acceptance of Mrs. Bronson's kind invitation for May tenth Haywood Park, May second, 19--_

In reply to a visiting card inscribed with the day and date of the garden party, a brief, polite note of acceptance or regret should be written. A similar note should be promptly written upon receipt of the informal written note of invitation.

_Glendale, May 2, 19--_

_My dear Mrs. Bronson:_

_Mr. Harris and I are looking forward with great pleasure in joining you on May tenth. We hope the weather will continue to be as delightful as it is now._

_Cordially yours,_

_Janet B. Winslow._

HOUSE OR WEEK-END PARTIES

The invitation for a house or week-end party differs from any other invitation. By the week-end party we mean a visit from Friday or Sat.u.r.day until Monday. Thus the invited guest knows that he is expected to arrive Friday afternoon (or Sat.u.r.day morning) and leave Monday morning. On the other hand, the house party may mean a visit of ten days or two weeks' duration, or even longer. It is necessary, therefore, for the hostess to mention specifically the date deciding the length of the visit. It is also courteous for her to mention the sports that will be indulged in and any special events planned, etc., and to send the necessary time-tables, indicating the best and most convenient trains.

Whether for house party or week-end party, the invitation is always a well-worded, cordial note offering the hospitalities of one's roof for the length of time indicated. We will give here one letter of invitation and its acknowledgment, which can be, perhaps, adapted to your own purposes.

_Pine Rock, June 14, 19--_

_Dear Miss Janis:_

_We have planned a house party as a sort of farewell before our trip to Europe, and we are particularly anxious to have you join us. I hope there is nothing to prevent you from coming out to Pine Rock on June twenty-third and remaining here with us until the eighth of July._

_I hope to have many of your own friends with us, including Jean and Marie Cordine, who are also planning to sail towards the end of July. Mr. Frank Parsons and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kingsley may be here, too, along with several others whom you do not know, but whom I am most anxious to have you meet._

_I am enclosing a time-table for your convenience, and I have checked the two trains that I believe are most convenient for you.

If you take the 3.58 on Tuesday you will arrive here at 7.10, and you will be able to meet the guests at dinner at eight-thirty.

There is an earlier train in the morning if you prefer it. If you let me know which train you expect to take, I will see that there is a car at the station to meet you._

_Very cordially yours,_

_Alice M. Bevans._

_Westville, June 16, 19--_

_Dear Mrs. Bevans:_

_It was very good of you and Mr. Bevans to ask me to your house party and I shall be delighted to come. I shall arrive on the 3.58 train, as you suggest. It was so thoughtful of you to inclose the time-table._

_Very sincerely yours,_

_Helen R. Janis._

If the letter were one of regret, it would be necessary for Miss Janis to write definitely just what was making it impossible for her to accept the invitation. It would not be correct form to write vaguely, saying that "you hope you will be able to come," or that "if you are in town you will come." No doubt must be left in the hostess' mind as to whether or not you will be present.

THE "BREAD-AND-b.u.t.tER" LETTER

From constant usage, the term "bread-and-b.u.t.ter" letter has become custom. Now, upon return from a week-end or house party, it is considered necessary and, indeed, it would be a gross neglect to fail in so obvious a duty, to write a cordial note to the hostess, expressing appreciation of the hospitality received, and informing her of your safe arrival.

The letter may be as long and chatty as one pleases, or it may be only a brief note such as the following:

_Terrace Revain, June 23, 19--_

_Dear Mrs. Bevans:_