(_By a Recent Victim_)
[Illustration: A MAN OF MANY WOES]
One of the first troubles to be faced by the young wife is the
difficulty of getting servants. It will be found that a cook is almost
indispensable. Rather than be without one, take time by the forelock
and, during the engagement, try the following advertisement (one is
bound to offer additional attractions nowadays):--"Wanted, at once, a
good plain cook. If necessary, _advertiser would be willing to make her
a bridesmaid_. Must be able to wear blue."
* * *
Or again:--"Newly married couple require cook and parlour maid. _All
china, glass, &c., in house new and unused and never been broken
before._"
* * *
In taking a house, remember that it is absolutely necessary to have an
attic--in which to place some of the presents. It is all very well to
say that they can be put in the servants' hall, but it must not be
forgotten that it is now very difficult to keep servants, even under the
most favourable circumstances.
* * *
You cannot be too careful in giving instructions for your house
decoration. "In the dining-room I think I would like a dado," I said one
day to the paper-man. The paper-man's face turned almost white at the
suggestion. "You cannot, sir," he said in a hushed voice, "_the dado is
extinct_." Then he explained that persons of taste have friezes
nowadays, both in summer and winter.
* * *
To avoid a rush at the end, it will be worth the bride's while to write
out beforehand a large number of letters of thanks for wedding-presents.
The most handy form is, "DEAR ----, We both thank you so very much for
your ---- present." When the present arrives you can fill in the missing
word as circumstances require. On no account leave the blank.
* * *
Another happy form is, "DEAR ----, Thank you so much for your charming
and useful present. Please, what is it for?"
* * *
But beware of the following form, as some persons do not take it in the
way in which it is meant, "DEAR ----, Many thanks for your present. It
is very good of you to have sent anything."
* * *
Nothing looks so solidly generous in the list of presents as the vague
word, Cheque. Many mean people now send as a present a cheque for
ten-and-six.
* * *
A novelty at wedding-receptions, and very _chic_, is to have in the
present-room, in place of a detective, a parrot which has been trained
to cry out every now and then, "Put that back! Put that back!"
* * *
Another novelty is to have a stall for the sale of duplicate articles.
* * * * *
The custom by which the bridegroom, on the night before the wedding,
gives a farewell dinner to his bachelor friends is falling into
desuetude. As a consequence one sees less frequently the
announcement:--"On the ---- instant, by the Rev. Mr. ----, _assisted by_
the Rev. Mr. ----, &c."
* * * * *
[Illustration: SPORTING EVENT--A RECORD