Book of Etiquette Volume I Part 24

If the invitations are issued and distributed by a committee or board of directors, instead of by private subscribers, the words:

_The Committee of the Third Reunion Hilldale Club 234 Kingston Avenue_

appear beneath the engraving, in the left-hand corner. The proper form is to use a letter sheet, engraving the invitation on the outer face, and listing on the second inner face, the names of the men who are giving the ball. However, it is also correct to use a large bristol board card, listing the hosts on the reverse side, or on another similar card.

ACKNOWLEDGING SUBSCRIPTION DANCE INVITATIONS

An invitation to a subscription ball, received in the name of the whole body of subscribers, requires a prompt acknowledgment of acceptance or denial to the address given on the card. But if a subscriber extends an invitation to a friend, enclosing with the invitation his or her own card, the answer is sent to this subscriber individually. It is usually a short, informal note, something like the following, and it may be addressed to the entire Committee or merely to its Chairman:

_19 West Street, April 18, 19--_

_My dear Mrs. Blake:_

_It is with great pleasure that I accept your invitation to attend the Third Reunion of the Hilldale Club, on Friday, the tenth of April._

_Sincerely yours,_

_Helen R. Haddock._

INVITATION TO PUBLIC BALL

Public b.a.l.l.s that require purchased tickets have a very distinct kind of invitation. The following invitation should be printed or engraved on very large letter sheets or cards, giving, either on the second inner sheet or on the reverse of the card, the names of the patronesses.

_The pleasure of your company is requested at the Annual Masquerade Ball To be given at the Taft Hotel Thursday Evening January the fifth, at ten o'clock_

_Cards of admission, Three Dollars On sale at the Taft Hotel and homes of the Patronesses_

REQUESTING AN INVITATION

When one is invited to an entertainment and finds it impossible to attend without a visiting guest or relative, an invitation may be requested. But a great deal of tact and good judgment must be exerted.

A note of request follows, but in writing notes for your own particular instances, you must remember that each note has to be adapted to the occasion in hand.

_27 Claremont Terrace, May 8, 192--._

_My dear Mrs. Jolson:_

_Elsie Millerton, whose brother you remember was at Hot Springs last year when we were, is spending a few days with me. I wonder if I may bring her to your dance next Thursday?_

_Sincerely yours,_

_Mary B. Hall._

It is rarely necessary to refuse such a request as this; but if the ballroom is already too crowded and if the hostess has received a number of similar pet.i.tions she may with propriety send a brief note of refusal with a courteous word or two of explanation.

THE DINNER INVITATION

A dinner invitation is the highest form of courtesy. That is why it requires prompt and very courteous acknowledgment.

Ordinarily dinner invitations are issued ten days ahead, unless it is a very large formal affair, when two full weeks are allowed. It is not good form to send an invitation just about a day or two before the day set for the dinner-party, for then the guest will be perfectly correct in feeling that the invitation was issued to her (or him) only because some other guest was unable to attend. If there are only three or four guests informal notes are usually sent, however elaborate the dinner itself is to be. Such an invitation should occupy only the first page of a sheet of note paper.

Dinner invitations may either be written on ordinary sheets of white stationery, or engraved on cards. If the latter is decided upon, it must be large, pure white, and of rather heavy bristol board. The hostess who gives many large and elaborate dinners may have cards like the following printed, leaving s.p.a.ces for the insertion of the name of the person invited, the day, hour and date:

_Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Knight request the pleasure of ...................

company at dinner on ................ evening at ................ o'clock 55 Court Street_

The words "To meet Mr. and Mrs. John Staple" may be written in ink at the bottom of the engraved card, when the dinner is in honor of a special guest. Or small cards may be printed and enclosed with the invitations.

IN HONOR OF CELEBRATED GUESTS

Often, to introduce someone of distinguished position to the hostess'

acquaintances and friends, a large and elaborate dinner is given. The cards should be engraved in a fine script or block letter, in the following wording:

_To meet Mr. and Mrs. McAllister Van Doren Mr. and Mrs. John King request the pleasure of .......................

company at dinner on Thursday, January the sixth at eight o'clock 455 North Avenue._

THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For the formal invitation, written in the third person, a similar acknowledgment must be sent within twenty-four hours. Following are an acceptance and a regret that may serve as suggestions for the dinner invitations that _you_ will accept and refuse in the future:

_Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Thorne accept with pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Knight's kind invitation to dinner on Friday, August the fifth at eight o'clock 64 West Drive_

_Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Thorne regret that a previous engagement prevents their accepting Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Knight's kind invitation to dinner on Friday, August the fifth 64 West Drive_

It is not necessary to give complete details regarding time and hour, in the second acknowledgment--which is a regret. Inasmuch as one does not expect to attend, it is unnecessary to pay great attention to details that are important only for those who expect to be guests. In writing regrets, it is always more courteous to give the reason for being unable to accept, but it is not important to do so unless one really wishes to.

FOR THE INFORMAL DINNER

The informal dinner invitation is invariably sent by the wife for her husband and herself, to the wife, including the latter's husband. The invitation takes the form of a short, friendly little social note, and is answered as such. For instance, here is an invitation to an informal dinner, and the acknowledgment:

_356 Cosgrove Avenue, November 1, 19--_

_My dear Mrs. Harris:_

_Will you and Mr. Harris give us the pleasure of having you with us at a small dinner on Thursday, November the eighth, at seven o'clock?_

_Hoping that you will be disengaged that evening, I am_

_Yours very sincerely,_

_Margaret B. Leanders._

You will notice that in signing herself, the wife uses her Christian and married name, and the initial of her maiden name. She may spell her maiden name out, if she wishes, but the form given above is the most usual. Here is the correct acknowledgment to the invitation above: