Until a girl is formally launched in society, her parties are of the
simplest and most informal kind. She will invite a few friends to tea, or
to a card-party, giving informal invitations and confining them to her
school friends and most intimate acquaintances. Games, music, and the like
are the usual amusements. Properly chaperoned, she may give a small
theater party.
Birthday Party.--The largest of her social functions will probably be her
birthday party. For this, her birthday flower will be chosen for
decorations. Her young friends may give her little presents. Once in a
season she may be invited to a small dance given for some schoolmate. This
she will attend, prettily and simply gowned, and properly chaperoned. On
no account will she go alone in a carriage, or with a young man alone. If
she is a well bred girl she will not pique herself in dancing every dance,
nor "split the dances" into fragments to please those who wish to dance
with her. She will be careful not to romp nor laugh too loud; nor to
permit herself to be held too closely in dancing, nor be served too often
with punch.
"STAG" DINNERS.
The woman who wishes to give her husband a birthday party or anniversary
will not go amiss if she makes it a "stag dinner"--that is, a dinner for
men only.
To this she invites as many of his men friends as she can accommodate, and
provides a good, substantial meal, without any "frills." It need not be
elaborate if everything is good of its kind, well cooked and served hot.
The menu may include oysters, roast fowl, two vegetables, several
relishes, and an entree, with some simple dessert and good coffee. She
will also see to it that the cigars are of the proper excellence. It is
optional whether she sits at the table till the coffee and cigars are
served, or stays in the kitchen to superintend the serving. Red is the
most appropriate color for decorations, since a man's ideas of color are
usually rather crude. Men always enjoy a dinner of this kind. The evening
may conclude with cards.
A stag card-party sometimes takes the place of a dinner; it is followed by
a substantial supper.