Social Life Part 76

GEORGETOWN, D.C., January 10, 189-.

DEAR JACK:

"And so they were married and lived happy ever after," of course. At least, that is what you and Mrs. Julia antic.i.p.ate at this present time, and is what I, knowing you both, do confidently predict. Accept my heartfelt congratulations, and believe me

Your true friend,

RICHARD DOE.

TO JOHN MYERS, Esq., Yankton, Da.

Answer to the foregoing might be:

YANKTON, Da., January 20, 189-.

DEAR d.i.c.k:

Julia and I received your congratulations with pleasure, my only regret being that I cannot return them in kind.

"Gather roses while ye may, Old Time's a-flying."

A word to the wise, etc., and let me speedily have occasion to felicitate you in like manner.

Your friend and well-wisher,

JOHN MYERS.

MR. RICHARD DOE, Georgetown, D.C.

It should be mentioned here that while one congratulates a gentleman upon his engagement, or marriage, and may congratulate his parents upon the same occasion, it is inadmissible to congratulate a lady on a similar event, or to extend the congratulations to her parents.

Well-bred mothers have been known to resent this solecism keenly. You may, and indeed are expected to, offer to her, and her parents, all manner of good wishes for future happiness, but be sure not to congratulate.

Almost any success, or pleasant happiness in life, may be made the subject of a congratulatory letter, but a multiplicity of forms is unnecessary here.

Proposals, Engagements, "Naming the Day,"

and other letters of this description are important affairs that may all be transacted through the medium of correspondence, but it is to be hoped that a matter so closely personal will quicken the imagination and inspire the pen of the dullest swain.

Let him woo his Dulcinea swiftly and tempestuously, as King Hal wooed Kate, or let him serve twice seven years as Jacob served for Rachel, but let him never search out printed forms whereby to declare his pa.s.sion; nor fit the measure of his love to the lines of the "Model Letter-Writer." As to "naming the day," 'twere a wordless lover indeed who could not say, as the poet says:

"Sun comes, moon comes, Time slips away.

Sun sets, moon sets, Love, fix a day."

The note has become a factor in modern social life. We send a note when we send a gift, when we ask a favor, when we acknowledge a favor, when we offer an apology, when we postpone an engagement, and when we give, accept, or refuse an informal invitation. These forms will be given here for reference, excepting those pertaining to invitations, which are discussed in their place.

Notes Accompanying a Gift

should be brief, prettily worded, and strictly confined to the subject in hand; for instance, a gentleman sending flowers to a lady might say:

Mr. Irwin, hearing Miss. St. John express a preference for roses, hopes that he may have the pleasure of seeing her wearing the accompanying cl.u.s.ter this evening at the Opera.

91 Ashland Boulevard, October 2d.

The wearing of the flowers would be all the answer required by this note.

With a birthday gift an appropriately worded note would be as follows:

AT HOME, August 1st.

DEAR NETTIE:

Remembering that your birthday is at hand, I send you this little painting as a token of my love, together with wishes for many happy returns of this day.

Your friend,

MARIE ST. JOHN.

These little notes should always receive an answer, as, for instance, this last might be appropriately replied to thus:

632 CORSON STREET, August 2. 189-.

MY DEAR MARIE:

You cannot think with what delight I received your beautiful birthday gift, rendered tenfold dearer by the knowledge that it is the handiwork of my friend. With many thanks,

I am, as ever, yours,

NETTIE D. CATON.

Notes of Apology

are a frequent necessity. They should be written with promptness, evince a repentant spirit, and should be acknowledged pleasantly and forgivingly. Always remember in such a note to explain the cause rendering the apology necessary. For instance, an unfulfilled engagement might be apologized for thus:

DEAR MISS MASON:

I cannot sufficiently regret that I was unfortunately prevented from keeping my engagement to drive with you on Wednesday. An important telegram, received but a moment before the time set for our "outing," left me but a brief five minutes to catch the first train for R----, where affairs, permitting no delay, awaited my attention.

Dare I hope that I have your pardon for so great a seeming negligence?

Very respectfully yours,

JOHN H. CURRAN.

This note being written in the first person will be replied to in the same manner by the recipient:

MR. CURRAN (or, DEAR MR. CURRAN, according to the degree of familiarity):