BIRTH, ANNOUNCEMENT OF. If wishing to
send congratulations after a birth, cards
should be left in person or sent by messenger.
Cut flowers may be sent with the card.
CARDS. A MR. and MRS. card can be used at any
time for congratulations. If left in person,
which is preferable, the card should be accompanied
by a kindly message, and, if sent
by mail or messenger' the word CONGRATULATIONS
should be written on it. Business and professional
men are not required to make personal calls, and
so may send their cards. A Mr. and Mrs. card can
be used for all but near friends.
When a card is left in person, with a message
of congratulations, nothing should be
written thereon.
A man may mail his card to a woman engaged
to be married, if acquaintance warrants
the action.
Congratulations upon the birth of a child
may be expressed by a man to its father by
sending a card with the word Congratulations
written on it, or by leaving it in
person.
A card should be mailed to a man engaged
to be married.
WEDDINGS. Congratulations may be sent with
letter of acceptance or declination to a wedding
to those sending the invitations. And
if acquaintance with bride and groom warrant,
a note of congratulations may be sent to
them also.
Guests in personal conversation with the
latter give best wishes to the bride and
congratulations to the groom.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. In accepting or
declining invitations to wedding anniversaries,
congratulations may be extended.
CONVERSATION AT DINNERS. Aim at bright and general
conversation, avoiding all personalities and
any subject that all cannot join in. This
is largely determined by the character of the
company. The guests should accommodate
themselves to their surroundings.
COOKS-TIPS. It is customary for men who have
been guests at a house party when they
leave to remember the cook by sending her
a tip.
CORN ON THE COB is eaten with the fingers of one hand.
A good plan is to cut off the kernels and eat
them with the aid of a fork.
CORNER OF CARD TURNED DOWN. This is no longer
done by persons when calling and leaving
cards.
CORRESPONDENCE. How to address official and social
letters. See under title of person addressed
--as, ARCHBISHOP, etc.
COSTUME BALLS.--INVITATIONS. Invitations are similar
to invitations to balls, except that they have
in place of DANCING in the lower left-hand
corner. COSTUME OF THE XVIIIth CENTURY, BAL
MASQUE, OR BAL POUDRE.
COTILLIONS. Germans are less formal than balls.
Supper precedes the dancing. Those who
do not dance or enjoy it can leave before
that time.
The etiquette is the same as for balls.
DRESS. The regulation evening dress is worn.
HOSTESS. The rules governing a hostess when
giving a ball are the same for a cotillion,
with this addition--that there should be an
even number of men and women, and, failing
this, more men than women.
It is for the hostess to choose the leader
of the cotillion, and to him are entrusted all
its details.
At the conclusion of the cotillion the hostess
stands at the door with the leader at
her side, to receive the greetings and the compliments
of the guests.
See also BALLS--HOSTESS.
INVITATIONS. The invitations are engraved, and the
hour for beginning is placed in the lower
left-hand corner, and are sent out two weeks
in advance. They may be sent in one envelope.
Such invitations should be promptly accepted
or declined.
COTILIONS BY SUBSCRIPTIONS. These are given by leading
society women, who subscribe to a fund
sufficient to pay all expenses of the
entertainment. They are usually held in some
fashionable resort where suitable
accommodations can be had.
Guests are shown to the cloak-room, where
attendants check their wraps.
After the supper, the German, or cotillion,
begins. Those not dancing in this generally
retire. When leaving, guests should take
leave especially of the patroness inviting
them.
DRESS. Full dress is worn by all.
INVITATIONS. The patronesses whose names appear
on the back of the cards are the subscribers.
They send out the invitations to
their friends. A presentation card, to be
shown at the door, is sent with the invitation.
MEN. Men wear evening dress.
The men wait upon their partners and
themselves at the table, the waiters assisting,
unless small tables are used, when the
patronesses sit by themselves, and others form
groups as they like. The guests are served
by the waiters, as at a dinner.
When retiring, guests should take leave
especially of the patroness inviting them.
PATRONESSES. The patronesses stand in line to
receive the guests, bowing or shaking hands
as they prefer.
When supper is announced, the leading
patroness leads the way with her escort, the
others following. If small tables are used,
the patronesses sit by themselves.
WOMEN. Women wear full dress.
When guests depart, they should take
leave especially of the patroness inviting
them.
COUNTESS--HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter begins:
Madam, and ends: I have the honor to
remain your Ladyship's most obedient servant.
The address on the envelope is: To the
Right Honorable The Countess of Kent.
A social letter begins: Dear Lady Kent,
and ends: Believe me, dear Lady Kent,
sincerely yours.
The address is: To the Countess of Kent.
COUNTRY CALLS. The usual rule in calling is for the
residents to call first upon the temporary
cottage people, and between these latter the
early comers call first upon those coming
later.
In the city there is no necessity for
neighbors to call upon each other.
CRACKERS should be broken into small pieces and
eaten with the fingers.
CRESTS. If men and women wish, these may be
stamped in the latest fashionable colors on
their stationery. It is not customary to use
a crest and a stamped address on the same
paper.
The present fashion in crests is that they
should be of small size.
It is not usual to stamp the crest on the
flap of the envelope.
If sealing-wax is used, some dull color
should be chosen.
A person should avoid all individual
eccentricities and oddities in stamping, such
as facsimile autographs, etc.
CRYSTAL WEDDINGS. This anniversary comes after
fifteen years of married life, and the
invitations may bear the words: No presents
received, and on their acceptance or declination,
congratulations may be extended. An
entertainment should be provided for. Any
article of crystal or glass is appropriate as a
gift.