Anyhow, I have been invited to three evening parties in London this
year, in each of which “Morning Dress” was specified.
Again, doctors (not that I am a real one--only an amateur) must always
be in trim for an instant summons to a patient. And when you invite a
doctor to dinner (say), do you not always add “Morning Dress”? (I grant
you it is done by initials in _this_ case. And perhaps you will say you
don’t understand M.D. to stand for “Morning Dress”? Then take a few
lessons in elementary spelling.) Aye, and many and many a time have I
received invitations to evening parties wherein the actual colours of
the Morning Dress expected were stated!
For instance, “Red Scarf: Vest, Pink.” That is a _very_ common form,
though it is usually (I grant you) expressed by initials.
[37] From a letter to Miss Dora Abdy (1880).