CARRIAGES. A man should secure his carriage-check
when leaving his carriage. It is safer
to take wraps and coats to the house in case
of accidents.
When taking a woman wearing evening
dress to a ball or dance, a man should
provide a carriage.
DEBUTANTE. See DANCES--WOMEN--DEBUTANTE.
DRESS. Evening dress is worn by men and
women.
DINNER INVITATIONS. The hostess issues two
sets of invitations--one for those invited to
both dinner and dance, and one for those
invited to the dance only.
For the former, the hostess should use her
usual engraved dinner cards, with the written
words: Dancing at eleven, and for the latter
her usual engraved At Home cards, with the
written words: Dancing at eleven.
A less formal way is to use, instead of
the At Home card, a Mr. and Mrs. card,
or Mrs. And Miss card, with the following
written in the lower left-hand corner:
Dancing at ten. March the second. R. S. V. P.
INVITATIONS. These should be acknowledged
by an acceptance, or declined, with a note of
regret within one week.
MEN. ASKING A WOMAN TO DANCE. A man
asks for the privilege of a dance, either with
the daughter of the hostess or with any guest
of the latter or any young woman receiving
with her.
On being introduced to a woman, he may
ask her for a dance, and he should be prompt
in keeping his appointment.
It is her privilege to end the dance, and,
when it is ended, he should conduct her to
her chaperone, or, failing that, he should find
her a seat--after which he is at perfect 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.
DEBUTANTE. At a debutante's reception the
first partner is selected by the mother, usually
the nearest and dearest friend, who
dances but once, and the others follow.
INVITATIONS. Invitations to balls or assemblies
should be answered immediately; if declined,
the ticket should be returned. A man should
call or leave cards a few days before the
affair.
SUPPER. At balls and assemblies where small
tables are provided, a man should not sit
alone with his partner, but make up a party
in advance, and keep together.
If a patroness asks a man to sit at her
table, she should provide a partner for him.
At supper the senior patroness leads the
way, escorted by the man honored for the
occasion.
If one large table is provided, the men,
assisted by the waiters, serve the women.
When small tables are used the patronesses
generally sit by themselves, and the
guests group themselves to their own satisfaction.
TRONESSES. Their duties are varied and
responsible--among them, the subscription to
the expenses of the entertainments.
The patronesses should be divided into
various committees to attend to special duties
--as, music, caterers, supper arrangements,
the ball-room, and all other details.
While affairs of this kind could be left in
the hands of those employed to carry out the
details, it is better and safer for each committee
to follow the various matters out to the
smallest details.
Those devising new features and surprises
for such an occasion will give the most successful ball.
The one most active and having the best
business ability should take the lead.
Lists should be compared, in order to avoid
duplicate invitations.
The tickets should be divided among the
patronesses, who, in turn, distribute them
among their friends.
The patronesses should be at the ball-room
in ample time before the arrival of the guests,
to see that all is in readiness.
They should stand together beside the entrance
to welcome the guests. They should
see, as far as possible, that the proper introductions
are made, and that every one is enjoying
the evening, their own pleasure coming last.
If time permits, a hasty introduction to
the patroness beside her may be made by a
patroness, but it should not be done if there
is the slightest possibility of blocking up the
entrance.
A nod of recognition here and there, or a
shake of the hands with some particular
friend, is all that is necessary. Prolonged
conversation should be avoided.
A patroness should not worry over the
affair, or leave anything to be done at the last
minute. If she has to worry, she should
not show it, lest she interfere with the pleasure
of others.
They should be the last to leave as well as
the first to arrive, to see that the affair closes
brilliantly.
SUPPER. The senior patroness leads the way
to supper, escorted by the man honored for
the occasion.
If one large table is provided, the men,
assisted by the waiters, serve the women.
When small tables are used, the patronesses
generally sit by themselves, and the guests
group themselves to their own satisfaction.
If a patroness asks a man to sit at her
table, she should provide a partner for him,
and in case of a previous engagement, he
should notify her by mail.
WOMEN. A woman should always keep any engagement made,
if possible. If, for a good
reason, it is desired to break one, she should
do so in ample time to enable the man to
secure a partner.
It is bad form to refuse one partner for a
dance and to accept another for the same
dance afterward. After refusing to dance, a
woman should lose that dance unless previously engaged.
A woman may refuse to dance at a public
entertainment.
A young woman chaperoned should not accept a man's invitation,
unless he first asks
permission of her chaperone.
It is not good taste to keep late hours at an
informal dance.
In round dances the man supports the
woman with his right arm around the waist,
taking care not to hold her too closely. Her
right hand is extended, held by his left hand,
and her left hand is on his arm or shoulder,
her head erect.
When tired, the woman should indicate a
desire to stop dancing.
When the dancing ends, the woman takes
her partner's arm and strolls about a few minutes.
He then conducts her to her seat by
her chaperone, and, after a few remarks, excuses himself.
When supper is announced, and the young
woman and her chaperone are in conversation
with the man who danced with her last, they
should accept his offer as escort if they are
not already provided with one.
If a woman is without escort when supper
is announced, she must rely upon attendants
or members of the host's family.
At balls and assemblies where small tables
are provided for the supper, the woman should
not sit alone at a table with her partner, but
she should have others present also.
DEBUTANTE. At a debutante's reception the
first partner is selected by the mother, usually
the nearest and dearest friend, who dances
but once with her, and the others follow.