CHAPERONES. If women are present, a married
chaperone is indispensable, who should be
the first person invited by personal call.
The chaperone at a small affair pours the
tea, and at a large one she receives with the
host, and each guest is presented to her.
The host conducts the chaperone to her
carriage, and also any other women who may
have assisted her.
DRESS. The hosts and guests wear afternoon
dress.
INVITATIONS. These maybe oral, brief notes, or,
for a large affair, engraved, and should be
sent from three days to a week in advance.
HOST. The host should greet his guests at the
door, shaking hands with each one, and introducing
to the chaperone those not known
to her.
He introduces guests who are strangers to
each other, bids them adieu, accompanies the
women to the door, and escorts the chaperone
to her carriage, and if she has come
alone without one, may very properly escort
her home.
If at a large reception several women have
helped him entertain, he should thank them
and see them to their carriages.
He will, of course, see that there is provided
a dressing-room for women with a maid to
wait upon them, and that the rooms are in
good order, well furnished with flowers, and
that the refreshments are attended to.
See also INVITATIONS.
MEN. Afternoon dress is worn.
WOMEN. The invitations, engraved or oral,
should be promptly acknowledged.
Women wear dress customary at afternoon
teas, and on their entrance should greet the
host. Upon departing they take leave of him,
though this is not necessary if the reception
be a large one.
If a young woman knows that a chaperone
is present, she need not have her own chaperone
accompany her.
If the chaperone leaves early, she should do
likewise.
BACHELORS' THEATRE PARTY. See THEATRE AND OPERA
PARTIES GIVEN BY MEN.
BADGES--BALLS (PUBLIC). It is customary for men
and women on the committees to wear on the
left side of the breast ornamental badges,
embroidered with the official position of the
wearer.
BAGGAGE. If a man is traveling with a woman, he
should see to the checking and care of her
baggage.
See also TRAVELING.
WEDDING TRIP. The best man should, some
time before the wedding, see that the baggage
of the bridal couple has been checked, and
the checks given to the groom.
See also BEST MAN.
BALLS. A ball is an evening function, beginning at
a late hour, devoted wholly to dancing. The
costumes are more elaborate, the supper arrangements
more extensive, and the floral
decorations more lavish than at a dance.
ACCEPTING INVITATION TO DANCE. While a
young woman may accept or decline any invitation
to dance, it is considered an act of discourtesy
to refuse one man for a dance and
to accept an invitation thereafter for the
same dance from another.
ANNOUNCING GUESTS. The hostess decides
whether or not the guests are to be announced.
At public balls it is customary.
ANSWERING INVITATIONS. These should be answered
immediately, and if declined, the
ticket should be returned.
ARRIVING AT. There is no set rule when guests
should arrive.
In the city, guests should arrive anywhere
between eleven and twelve, and in the country,
fifteen minutes after the hour set in the
invitation.
ASKING WOMEN TO DANCE. A man asks for
the privilege of a dance either with the
daughter of the hostess, with any guest of
the latter, or with any young woman receiving
with her.
On being introduced to a woman, he may
ask her for a dance, and should be punctual
in keeping the engagement.
It is her privilege to end the dance at any
moment she wishes, after which he should
conduct her to her chaperone or find a seat
for her, after which he is at liberty to go
elsewhere.
If for any cause a man has to break his
engagements to dance, he should personally
explain the matter to every woman with
whom he has an engagement and make a
suitable apology.
BALLS, ASSEMBLY. The etiquette at an assembly
ball is much the same as at a private ball,
the functions and duties of the hostess being
filled by a committee of women selected for
that purpose.
On entering the room, the guests bow to
the committee and pass on.
It is not necessary to take leave of the
committee.
CARRIAGE. A man should provide a carriage
in which to call for the woman he escorts
and her chaperone.
CHAPERONES. For a small ball given in a private
house, the hostess need not invite the mothers
of the young women, and the young women
can properly attend, knowing that the hostess
will act as a chaperone.
But at a large ball it is necessary to invite
the mother as well as the daughters, and
the chaperone as well as the debutante under
her care. The mother can send regrets for
herself, and send her daughters in care of a
maid. Or she can attend, and, after remaining
a suitable time, she may entrust her
daughter to the care of a chaperone who
intends to remain the whole evening.