Announcement Cards are frequently sent out to all friends immediately
upon the arrival of a little heir or heiress. These cards are variously
worded. One seen by the writer was as follows:
ARRIVED: In Los Gatos, Sunday morning, November third, eighteen hundred
and ninety-five, FLORENCE WESCOTT. Weight, ten pounds; blue eyes and
sound lungs. She sends greeting to all her friends.
A simpler one would be: GREETING: EDITH MAY TOUCEY, November 1, 1895.
Weight, 9½ pounds.
These cards received (or even if they are omitted), the lady friends
and acquaintances call and leave cards with kind inquires or send them
by a servant. Gentlemen do not call, but they are expected to see the
happy father and inquire after mother and child.
When the mother is ready to receive friends she sends out cards to all
that have called “with thanks for kind inquiries,” written beneath her
name, or issues invitations for a candle or christening party.
The Christening.
The baptism or christening is performed according to the rites of
whatever church the parents may be members of. If the ceremony is
performed in church, personal fancy has very little play, though it is
almost a law that flowers shall cluster about the place where little
ones are brought for dedication.
If the occasion is to be further celebrated by festivities at the house
they may take whatever form is most agreeable. When the christening is
held at the house and guests are invited, it is customary to defer the
ceremony until the mother is ready to take the part of hostess; usually
until the child is a month or six weeks old.
Invitations are issued for an afternoon or early evening reception.
They may be written or engraved, and are issued in the name of both
parents, thus: MR. and MRS. JAMES GRAY request the pleasure of your
presence at the Christening of their son at half-past four o’clock,
Wednesday, May tenth. 12 Madison Avenue.
Or: MR. and MRS. JOHN THURSTON request the honor of MR. and MRS.
BROWN’S presence at the Christening of their daughter on Thursday,
May 11th, at three o’clock. Reception from two to five, 150 Delaware
Place. Sometimes the words, “No presents expected,” are added to the
invitation.
Attendance at the Ceremony.
These invitations are promptly answered, and those who attend should
wear a reception dress. The solemnity of the occasion should be
recognized by the appearance, previous to the hour named, of all who
expect to be present. Those who cannot be in time to witness the
ceremony should defer their arrival until a sufficient time has elapsed
to allow of its completion.
A temporary font is placed in a central position. This is best arranged
by banking up the top of a small round table with mosses, smilax and
delicate ferns, while the top, outside the rim of the bowl holding the
china basin containing the water, is a mass of white flowers.
The drawing-room may be decorated with blossoms, and vocal or
instrumental music is usually provided. Hired musicians are sometimes
engaged. See that the selections are suitable to the sacred character
of the occasion. Friends are sometimes asked to give two or three vocal
selections.
At the appointed time the father and mother stand before the clergyman
at the font and receive their child from the nurse or some friend; the
godparents range themselves on either side, and the clergyman proceeds
with the service. If the parents are able, the clergyman is usually
given a handsome fee on these occasions.
Congratulations are offered the father and mother, and the baby,
robed elaborately, then becomes the center of attraction for a few
moments, until the host leads the way to the refreshment table which is
bountifully spread as for a reception.
A toast in the child’s honor is often given at this time by one of the
sponsors. Guests shortly disperse. After calls are made, or cards left,
within ten days. Sometimes relatives only are invited to these parties.
When the christening is held in church, the party is set for some hour
of the same day.
Godfathers and Godmothers.
In selecting godparents or sponsors, relatives are often given
precedence and very close friends come next. Be careful in the choice,
as from these godparents is to be expected much good counsel and kindly
aid in the future. In all old countries this relationship is expected
to last for a lifetime, and the godparents are supposed to watch over
the religious growth of the child and see that in due time he is
brought forward for confirmation, or for union with the church in some
other manner.
A boy is expected to have two godfathers and one godmother; a girl one
godfather and two godmothers. A note is sent to each person selected as
sponsor asking him to assume that friendly office. This request should
never be refused except for good and sufficient reason.
Godparents usually make a present to the child, generally in the form
of some suitable silver article. Among the very wealthy, especially if
the child bears the godfather’s name, very valuable presents are often
made, these generally taking the form of checks for large amounts.
Caudle Party.
The modern caudle party is given when the child is about six weeks old,
and is quite a separate affair from the christening, the church having
objected in some cases to having the two celebrated at the same time.
Caudle parties, simply in the nature of a name-festival, are frequently
given when the christening is not observed.
Invitations are sent out one week in advance, and are in the following
form: MR. and MRS. BROWN request your company, Wednesday afternoon, at
three. CAUDLE. 125 Vancouver Street. No presents expected.
The words, “no presents,” need not prevent any who wish from making a
gift, but relieves those who may not be prepared.
The phrase, “Caudle Party,” is somewhat difficult to define, but the
name and the custom have come down from olden times. It used then to be
the habit to serve all who called with inquiries and congratulations on
the arrival of a little stranger, with a kind of spiced gruel, flavored
with rum or Madeira, and known as “caudle.” This was served in china
cups having two handles, so they could be passed from one to another.
These were called “caudle cups,” and are much prized heirlooms in more
than one old family. This ceremony was then observed when the child
was three days old; now the “caudle party” is celebrated when it is at
least six weeks old.
The mother receives her guests in some elaborate house gown, the baby
in robes of state is on exhibition for a short time, and the guests are
served with “caudle” in the form of an oatmeal gruel, long and slowly
boiled with raisins and spices, and fine old Madeira or rum added at
the last until the beverage is “to the Queen’s taste.”
Christening Gifts.
When the announcement cards of a baby’s birth are sent out, very many
friends of the family interpret this as an opportunity for making a
present to the new arrival. This is not a new social custom, for its
origin goes back to the time of the Chaldean shepherds, when wise men
of the East journeyed to the stable cradle to present their gifts of
frankincense and myrrh.
The most sensible plan in this case, and, in fact, in all gift making,
is to consult the condition of the recipient as well as the purse
of the giver. If the parental purse is a little slim, gifts that
are useful are generally the best to give. Dainty gowns, embroidered
flannels, coach rugs, things that every baby needs.
The least expensive and simplest gifts and always of use, are the lace
pin, shoulder pin and chained buttons in gold. Three pins connected
by delicate gold chains are very much in demand, and a studding
of turquoise of pearl adds much to their beauty. The dear little
silver-backed brushes and powder boxes have always been favorites.
One exquisite present from a point of sentiment and value was recently
presented to a girl. Each of her father’s groomsmen sent a five-dollar
gold piece to the goldsmith, who melted them down and transformed them
into a gold chain and locket. The locket bore the monogram of the baby
and the initial letter of each groomsman’s name.
Dainty Presents for the Newcomer.
Another tiny new woman received from her grandmother a spoon which was
made of little bits of silver melted down. A silver piece taken from
the pocket of a dead aunt, two or three bits left in the purse of the
grandfather, who had died; a bit of a broken spoon used by the baby’s
own mamma—these and other souvenirs of the family history made the gift
spoon something far out of the ordinary.
One of the most magnificent and costly gifts in silver that is given to
the baby is the entire food set, consisting of plate, bowl, pitcher,
knife and fork, spoon and napkin ring. These sets come in cases and
range in prices ordinarily from $50 to $150, though some very elaborate
ones may be ordered which go far into the hundreds.
A very pretty and surely most interesting gift that could be sent to a
baby is a baby diary in which the principal events of the little one’s
life can be entered by the mother and kept in after years as a record
of those marvelously interesting days of babyhood.
A certain very sensible woman usually deposits a small sum of money in
bank and presents the bank book to her little new friend, thus laying
the foundation for future habits of economy and thrift.
Some Birthday Superstitions.
Monday’s child is fair of face.
Tuesday’s child is full of grace.
Wednesday’s child is born for woe.
Thursday’s child has far to go.
Friday’s child is loving and giving.
Saturday’s child must work for a living.
But the child that is born on the Sabbath Day,
Is bonny and happy and wealthy and gay.