Book of Etiquette Volume I Part 28

_This is to tell you again how very much I enjoyed the week-end at Pine Rock. We got into the city at five and Morgan brought me out home in a taxi. Mother is giving a small bridge this afternoon and so I found everyone busy, for while there is not a great deal to do it is impossible to get anyone to help do it._

_Tell Mr. Bevans that I am arranging for three or four tennis games next week, so that when I come again, if I don't win, I shall at least not be beaten quite so shamefully._

_Let me know when you come to town on your next shopping trip.

Perhaps we can arrange for lunch together somewhere._

_Very sincerely yours,_

_Helen R. Janis._

INVITATIONS TO THE THEATER AND OPERA

The host or hostess planning a theater or opera party should strive to have an equal number of men and women guests. For this reason, the person who receives an invitation should make prompt reply, so that if he or she is unable to attend, someone else can be asked to take the place. It is not necessary to have invitations engraved for these occasions; in fact, a brief note, written with just the correct degree of formality, yet with no sacrifice of cordiality, is much to be preferred. The following form is correct for theater or opera, changed to accord with the names, dates, and circ.u.mstances of the particular party:

_22 South Street, October 13, 19--_

_My dear Miss Johnson:_

_Mr. Roberts and I have planned to have a small group of friends hear "Faust" at the Central Opera House, and we are hoping that you will be one of us. The time is Friday evening, the seventeenth of October. I have been fortunate enough to obtain a box in the parquet, where the eight of us who will comprise the party will be comfortably seated._

_If you are free to join us on that evening, Mr. Roberts and I will stop for you in the car at half past seven._

_Cordially yours,_

_Evelyn T. Roberts._

The acknowledgment must be made promptly. The host and hostess must not be kept waiting for a definite reply.

INVITATIONS TO MUSICALES AND PRIVATE THEATRICALS

A ceremonious drawing-room concert requires engraved invitations, issued at least two weeks in advance of the date decided upon. The two approved forms follow:

_Mrs. John M. Cook At Home Tuesday evening, October first at nine o'clock Ten, Farnhut Terrace Music_

or

Mr. and Mrs. John M. Cook request the pleasure of .......................'s company at a musicale on Tuesday evening the first of October at nine o'clock Ten, Farnhut Terrace

It is also permissible for the hostess to write in the lower left-hand corner of her visiting-card the following words, when she wishes to invite friends to hear a famous soloist or orchestra: "Tuesday, October first, half past three o'clock, to hear Mischa Elman." These cards are then posted to friends and acquaintances, and the recipient either accepts by attending, or sends his or her cards to the hostess' house while the entertainment is in progress, or shortly beforehand.

For private theatricals, invitations follow very much the same form as those used for musicales. The hostess may either add the phrase, "Theatricals at nine o'clock," to her invitation, or she may issue engraved cards requesting the pleasure of a friend's company at Private Theatricals. The word "dancing" may be engraved in the left-hand corner of the card, if dancing is to follow the theatricals. It is courteous to send a reply to these invitations.

CHILDREN'S PARTY INVITATIONS

The invitation to the child's party is the one exception to the rule of simplicity. Children love color and decoration, and so etiquette very graciously permits them to have cards and invitations that boast colorful designs. For instance, in a well-known stationer's shop in New York, there are little sheets of pink note paper, in the upper corner of which is a little girl courtesying and smiling. Beneath the picture the words "Won't you please come to my party?" are printed in fine italics. It makes most attractive stationery for the youngsters.

On stationery like that described above, mother might write in the following strain, providing the little host (or hostess) is not old enough to do the writing himself:

_16 Blake Hall, June 14, 19--_

_My dear Mrs. Blank:_

_Harold will be seven years old on Thursday, the eighteenth of June. We are planning to give a little party for his friends on the Sunday following, June the twenty-first. I know he will not be happy unless little Marian is present. I do hope you will let her come._

_If the nurse brings Marian here at three o'clock, she will be in time for the opening game, and I will see that she arrives home safely at about half past six._

_Cordially yours,_

_Helen M. Roberts._

A friendly note of acceptance or regret should be written promptly upon receipt of the above, and if the child is unable to attend, the reason should be given.

Very often, a young host or hostess has a very large and formal party, in which case the invitations must be quite as dignified and formally correct as mother's. For instance, the youngsters who entertain their friends at a small afternoon dance word their invitations in the following manner:

_Miss Jean and Master Walter Curran would like to have the pleasure of Miss Helen Thompson's company at a dance at 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon, November third Clover Hall_

A young boy or girl just old enough to write his or her own invitations, may find some useful suggestions in the following model for a birthday party:

_Hanover Court, October 6, 19--_

_Dear Elizabeth:_

_I am going to have a birthday party on Sat.u.r.day afternoon, the thirteenth of October, at 3 o'clock. All of our friends from dancing school and a good many of Jack's friends from his school will be here. We are planning a donkey game, and I am sure we will all have a great deal of fun. Won't you come, too? I shall be very disappointed if you cannot._

_Sincerely yours,_

_Helen Camden._

It is always wise, however, for the children to make some sort of acknowledgment of the formal engraved invitation, for it impresses upon them the importance of their social duties.

INVITATIONS TO A CHRISTENING

It is not usual for many guests to be invited to the christening of a child. But when it is made an occasion of formal entertainment, it is necessary to have engraved cards prepared and issued to friends and relatives. Here is the correct form:

_Mr. and Mrs. John B. Meredith request the pleasure of your company at the christening of their son on Tuesday, April second at three-thirty o'clock Ten, Jerome Avenue_

The letter requesting a relative or friend to serve as G.o.dfather or G.o.dmother must be tactful and well-worded. It is usually very intimate, for no one with fine sensibility will ask any except a dear friend to act as G.o.dmother or G.o.dfather. Such a request is much better given in person than by letter, whenever it is possible. And it requires an answer in kind. We give here one brief letter of request, and another of acknowledgment, to serve as suggestions:

_34 Kinston Road, March 5, 19--_

_Dear Mr. Burke:_

_Jack and I have both agreed that we would rather have you serve as G.o.dfather for John Paxton, Jr., than anyone else. We hope that you will not refuse._