DINNERS. See DINNERS--PRECEDENCE.
FUNERALS. See FUNERALS--PRECEDENCE.
THEATRE. See THEATRE--PRECEDENCE.
PRESENTS. See GIFTS.
PRESIDENT--HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter
begins: Sir, and ends: I have the honor to
remain your most obedient servant.
A social letter begins: My dear Mr.
President, and ends: I have the honor to remain
most sincerely yours.
The address on the envelope is: President
John Wilson.
PRINCE, ROYAL--HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter
begins: Sir, may it please your Royal
Highness, and ends: I have the honor to remain,
sir, your Royal Highness' humble servant.
A social letter begins: Dear Sir, and
ends: Your Royal Highness' most obedient
servant.
The address on the envelope is: To His
Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.
PRINCESS, 'ROYAL-HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter
begins: Madam, may it please your Royal
Highness, and ends: Your Royal Highness'
most obedient servant.
A social letter begins: Dear Madam, and
ends: Your Royal Highness' most obedient
servant.
The address on the envelope is: To Her
Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales.
PRIVATE WEDDINGS. These are attended only by
intimate friends and members of the
family, and vary but little from home weddings.
If the family is in mourning the cards are
issued with the name of bride and groom
and new address, together with card having
bride's maiden name, and the announcement
cards are sent after the ceremony.
Afternoon dress should be worn at an afternoon
wedding, and evening dress at an evening
wedding.
PROPOSALS OF MARRIAGE. The time, manner, and details
of proposals of marriage are appropriately
left to the good taste and judgment
of the groom. If the proposal is rejected,
good taste, womanly refinement, and courteous
consideration demand that it be kept
an inviolate secret, and any such breach of
confidence may be rightly deemed the act of
a woman without taste or tact, and unworthy
of respect.
Proposals by women, while permissible,
are not customary.
PUBLIC BALLS, By public balls are meant county and
charity balls, and balls given by social institutions
where dancing is the main feature.
These public balls differ from private ones in
that all the duties of the hostess fall upon
some committees.
These committees would follow the same
rules as laid down for a hostess--issuing
engraved invitations from fourteen to seventeen
days in advance, engaging a caterer,
etc.
The etiquette for a public ball is the same
as for a private one, save that guests arrive
and depart when they please without taking
leave of those who receive, and men wishing
introductions apply for them to the Floor or
Reception Committee.
At the cloak-rooms a small fee is paid to
the attendant.
SEE ALSO all entries under Balls.
BADGES. It is customary for the men and women
on the committees to wear on the left side of
the breast ornamental and embroidered
badges, with the official position designated
on it.
COMMITTEE. The committee at a public ball
takes the place of the hostess, filling all her
duties and offices.
PATRONESSES. It is customary for the management
formally to invite six, eight, or more
married women to act as patronesses of the
ball, and for their names to appear on the
invitations. If badges are prepared for the
patronesses, one is sent to each patroness or
handed to her on the evening of the dance.
The patronesses should be welcomed at
the ball by the management, and they then
take their position ready to receive the guests.
The management should look after the
patronesses, to see that they are taken into
supper, to introduce prominent guests to
them, and, finally, to escort the patronesses to
their carriages.
PUBLIC PLACES. SEE ALSO ELEVATORS. RESTAURANTS,
STREET-CARS. STREET ETIQUETTE.
R. S. V. P. The use of these letters-standing
for Repondez, s'il vous plait (Answer, if you
please)-is decreasing. All invitations to
which acceptances are expected should be
answered at once. If preferred, however,
the above abbreviations may be used on the
following: invitations to ceremonious receptions,
breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, and to
meet a prominent person.
RAILROAD-MEN. A man should remove his hat in a
parlor-car, but not in a day coach.
RECALLING WEDDING INVITATIONS. When from some
good reason a wedding has to be canceled or
postponed, the parents of the bride should
send, as soon as possible, printed notices, giving
reasons to all the guests.
RECEPTIONS. Reception days are placed in the lower
left-hand corner of visiting-cards-as, UNTIL
LENT, or, In JANUARY-and may be either
engraved or written.
Daughters have no reception day of their
own, but receive on their mother's reception
day.
The etiquette at receptions is the same as
at afternoon teas.