CHRISTENING PARTIES
=Christening Parties= may be said to be strictly family gatherings, only
the near relatives of the parents being invited on these occasions.
* * * * *
=The Invitations= are given in friendly notes, and are not issued on "at
home" cards. The notice averages from a week to ten days according to
circumstances, meaning the health and strength of the infant's mother.
* * * * *
=As a Rule Six Weeks= are allowed to elapse between the birth of the
child and the date of the christening.
* * * * *
=The Relatives are either invited= to luncheon after the ceremony, or to
a reception tea, or to a dinner-party to be given the same evening. If a
luncheon is decided upon it generally takes place at 1.30, or earlier,
immediately on the return from the church. The meal usually consists of
hot viands--game or poultry--not substantial joints. Hot and cold
sweets. Fruit to follow. A smart christening cake should occupy the
centre of the table. Champagne, claret, and sherry are given, although
the former is probably the only one of the three drunk on the occasion;
this, when the health of the infant is proposed--the only health which
finds acceptance at these gatherings.
* * * * *
=The Guests go in to Luncheon= quite informally, the ladies and hostess
entering first, followed by the men guests and the host. They should be
seated at table by the help of name cards, each lady being placed at the
right hand of a gentleman. The clergyman who performs the ceremony, if a
friend, should sit at the hostess's left hand, and should be asked to
say grace; but in town he seldom joins these family gatherings unless
well acquainted with his parishioners.
* * * * *
=A Reception Tea=, when given, is served in the dining-room; but in this
case the guests are received on arrival by the hostess in the
drawing-room, and when all have arrived, she accompanies them to the
tea-room and remains there with them. The maid-servants should pour out
and hand the tea and coffee across the tea-table, but the hostess should
hand the cakes, etc., to her relatives, assisted by the host, if
present. The refreshments consist of the usual variety in confectionery
seen at all smart "at homes," a christening cake being the addition.
* * * * *
=Christening Dinner-Parties= closely resemble all other family functions
of this nature, with the exception that the infant's health is drunk at
dessert, and that a christening cake is placed opposite the hostess when
the table is cleared for dessert.
* * * * *
=The Christening Ceremony= takes place in the afternoon, usually at
2.30. The relatives on arrival at the church seat themselves in pews or
on chairs near to the font. The godmother holds the infant during the
first part of the service, and then places it on the left arm of the
officiating clergyman. One of the godfathers should name the child in
response to the clergyman's question. If the child is a girl, two
godmothers and one godfather are necessary. If a boy, two godfathers and
one godmother are required. These godparents are usually the intimate
friends of the child's mother. In certain instances the relatives are
chosen for the office of godfather and godmother, but oftener not for
family reasons.
* * * * *
=Christening Presents= vary according to means and inclination, and
often comprise gifts of jewellery when the infant is a girl, and money
and silver plate if a boy; silver spoons, forks, mugs, bowls, etc. The
selection is a wide one, and nothing comes amiss, from a robe with fine
lace to a chain and pendant or a jewelled watch. These presents are
usually sent the day previous to that of the christening.
* * * * *
=Fees and Tips.=--Only minor fees are given to those assisting at the
ceremony. The officiating priest receives some little gift in old silver
or china, but not of money; if, however, the parents of the child are
wealthy a cheque is sometimes given with a request that he will devote
it to the needs of his parish.
Tips to the nurse from the child's godparents vary from five shillings
to a sovereign according to individual means.
INDEX
AFTERNOON "at homes," 151
Afternoon dances, 157
Afternoon tea, 42
Afternoon weddings, 28
Amusements at children's parties, 192;
at country-house parties, 215;
at garden-parties, 169
"At home" days, 159;
"at homes," 151, 238
BACHELORS' Balls, 87
Balls, 87;
patronesses of, 239
Best man, duties of, 131
Bowing, 206
Breakfasts, 183
Bridal wreath, 141
Bride, 131, 133, 140
Bridegroom's relatives, 133
Bridegroom's responsibilities, 130, 141, 146, 149
Bridesmaids, 132;
presents to, 147
Bride's relatives, 132
Bridge parties, 125, 158;
refreshments at, 126;
teas, 158
CALLS, paying, 32;
after entertainments, 113
Canoe parties, 189
Cards, gentlemen's, 27;
ladies, 19;
memorial, 31;
"P.P.C.," 26
Cards, leaving, 19;
after entertainments, 24, 28;
on new-comers, 25;
returning, 23;
routine of leaving, 21, 28;
"to inquire," 26
Chaperons, 228
Charity Balls, 93
Christening luncheons and teas, 262;
parties, 261;
presents, 260, 263
Clergy, how to address, 59
Cockades, 209
Colonial etiquette, 161
County Balls, 93
Country dinner-parties, 114
Country-house visits, 211
Court, attending, 73;
presentation at, 73
Court dress for gentlemen, 85;
for ladies, 80
Cricket matches, 168
DANCES, invitation, 256;
public, 257
Debutantes, 228
_Diner a la Russe_, 106
Dining out, 100
Dinner guests, 101
Dinner invitations, 99
Dinner-table decorations, 107;
etiquette, 108, 116
Drawing-room, retiring to, 111
Drawing-rooms at Viceregal Court, Dublin, 229
Driving, 203
ENGAGEMENTS, 250;
etiquette of, 251;
presents, 147
_Entree_ at Court, 77
Etiquette, 1;
at balls, 91;
at dinner-table, 108, 116;
colonial, 161;
Indian, 164;
in regard to royalty, 61;
of visiting at bachelors' houses, 217;
when travelling abroad, 65
Evening parties, 122;
garden-parties, 174
FOREIGNERS of rank, how to address, 57
Funerals, 248
Funeral wreaths, 249
GAMEKEEPERS, tips to, 223
Game licence, 224
Garden-parties, 166;
in the evening, 174;
in town, 171
Giving presents, 259
Going in to luncheon, 180;
to supper, 123, 126
Golden weddings, 255
Gratuities to servants, 97, 113, 156, 223, 260, 263
HONEYMOON, 141
Hostesses, 234
Hunt Balls, 87, 95
Hunt breakfasts, 221
Hunting, 219
INDIAN etiquette, 164
Introductions, 6;
correct formula for, 8;
at afternoon calls, 17;
at country-house parties, 11;
at dinner-parties, 9;
at evening parties, 123;
at Public Balls, 12, 90
Invitations, 96, 122, 125, 152, 167, 177, 194
JUVENILE parties, 190
LADIES in the hunting-field, 219
Levee dress, 85
Levees, 82;
at Viceregal Court, Dublin, 232;
presentations at, 84;
who may attend, 83
Licences, marriage, 128
Luncheons, 176
MARRIAGE by banns, 128;
by licence, 128, 148;
fees, 129, 148
Memorial cards, 249
Menus, 106, 139
Military Balls, 87, 95
Mourning, 242;
Court, 242
"NOT at home," 41
OFFICERS, how to address, 59
Opening a ball, 90
PATRONESSES of Public Balls, 239
Pheasant shooting, 222
Picnics, 186
Plumes in Court dress, 81
Politeness, graces of, 4
Precedency amongst royalty, 44, 50;
at ball suppers, 91;
at dinner-parties, 49, 105;
of ambassadors and diplomats, 45;
of army and navy, 45;
of baronets and knights, 45, 51;
of bishops, 51;
of clergy, 45, 48;
of esquires, 48;
of ladies, 52;
of legal profession, 45, 48;
of peers, 50;
of widows, 46
Presentation at Court, 73;
at foreign Courts, 65;
at levees, 82;
at Viceregal Court, Dublin, 229
Presents, christening, 260;
giving, 259;
wedding, 130, 141, 259
Public Balls, 87
RECEIVING guests, 101, 123, 154, 234
Refreshments for "at homes," 153;
at bridge parties, 126;
at children's parties, 194
Refusing invitations, 200
Responsibilities of patronesses, 239
Riding, 204
Royal guests present, 90, 123
Royalty, how to address, 53
SAYING grace, 114
Sending in to dinner, 103
Shaking hands, 225
Shooting, 219
Signing the register, 134
Silver weddings, 253
State Balls, 97
State mourning, 97
Subscription dances, 256
Supper, going in to, 123
Surnames of peculiar pronunciation, 69
TEA for afternoon callers, 42
Titles, how to use in speaking, 53
Town garden-parties, 171
Trousseau, 141
UNDESIRED introductions, 6
WALKING, 202
Water parties, 188
Wedding cake, 137, 142;
cards, 142;
etiquette, 129;
expenses, 146;
favours, 134;
fees, 129, 148;
golden, 255;
invitations, 129;
luncheon, 137;
of widow, 134;
presents, 130, 141, 259;
receptions, 136, 143;
ring, 130;
service, 131;
silver, 253
Widow's wedding, 134
Writing invitations, 195
THE END
Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
Passages in bold style are indicated by =bold=.
Currency symbols such as L, d., and s. are italicised in the original
text, this format has been removed in the current text version for a
smoother reading experience.
C[=o]burn (page 70) and P[=y]tch'ley (page 71) have diacritical marks.
They are marked as [=o] which represents a marcron (straight line) above
the o and [=y] which represents a macron above the y.
The following words have been retained in both versions:
table-cloth and tablecloth
out-door and outdoor
solemnized and solemnised
The following misprints have been corrected:
changed "AT THE VICE-REGAL COURT," into "AT THE VICEREGAL COURT,"
page viii
changed "refusal, and the profered" into "refusal, and the proffered"
page 8
changed "by a manservant or" into "by a man-servant or" page 21
changed "to the manservant silently," into "to the man-servant
silently," page 22
changed "Villiers" into Villiers." page 72
changed "a tablespoon for soup," into "a table-spoon for soup,"
page 108
changed "a box of bonbons," into "a box of bon-bons," page 125
changed "chickens, game, mayonaises," into "chickens, game,
mayonnaises," page 139
changed "at dinner-table, 80, 116;" into "at dinner-table, 108,
116;" page 266
changed "Levees, 82," into "Levees, 82;" page 266
Other than the corrections listed above, printer's inconsistencies
in spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, and ligature usage have
been retained.
End of Project Gutenberg's Manners and Rules of Good Society, by Anonymous