CONGRATULATIONS.
BIRTH, ANNOUNCEMENT OF. If wishing to send congratulations after a birth, cards should be left in person or sent by messenger. Cut flowers may be sent with the card.
CARDS. A MR. and MRS. card can be used at any time for congratulations. If left in person, which is preferable, the card should be accompanied by a kindly message, and, if sent by mail or messenger' the word CONGRATULATIONS should be written on it. Business and professional men are not required to make personal calls, and so may send their cards. A Mr. and Mrs. card can be used for all but near friends.
When a card is left in person, with a message of congratulations, nothing should be written thereon.
A man may mail his card to a woman engaged to be married, if acquaintance warrants the action.
Congratulations upon the birth of a child may be expressed by a man to its father by sending a card with the word Congratulations written on it, or by leaving it in person.
A card should be mailed to a man engaged to be married.
WEDDINGS. Congratulations may be sent with letter of acceptance or declination to a wedding to those sending the invitations. And if acquaintance with bride and groom warrant, a note of congratulations may be sent to them also.
Guests in personal conversation with the latter give best wishes to the bride and congratulations to the groom.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. In accepting or declining invitations to wedding anniversaries, congratulations may be extended.
CONVERSATION AT DINNERS. Aim at bright and general conversation, avoiding all personalities and any subject that all cannot join in. This is largely determined by the character of the company. The guests should accommodate themselves to their surroundings.
COOKS-TIPS. It is customary for men who have been guests at a house party when they leave to remember the cook by sending her a tip.
CORN ON THE COB is eaten with the fingers of one hand.
A good plan is to cut off the kernels and eat
them with the aid of a fork.
CORNER OF CARD TURNED DOWN. This is no longer
done by persons when calling and leaving
cards.
CORRESPONDENCE. How to address official and social
letters. See under title of person addressed
—as, ARCHBISHOP, etc.
COSTUME BALLS.—INVITATIONS. Invitations are similar to invitations to balls, except that they have in place of DANCING in the lower left-hand corner. COSTUME OF THE XVIIIth CENTURY, BAL MASQUE, OR BAL POUDRE.
COTILLIONS. Germans are less formal than balls. Supper precedes the dancing. Those who do not dance or enjoy it can leave before that time.
The etiquette is the same as for balls.
DRESS. The regulation evening dress is worn.
HOSTESS. The rules governing a hostess when giving a ball are the same for a cotillion, with this addition—that there should be an even number of men and women, and, failing this, more men than women.
It is for the hostess to choose the leader of the cotillion, and to him are entrusted all its details.
At the conclusion of the cotillion the hostess stands at the door with the leader at her side, to receive the greetings and the compliments of the guests.
See also BALLS—HOSTESS.
INVITATIONS. The invitations are engraved, and the hour for beginning is placed in the lower left-hand corner, and are sent out two weeks in advance. They may be sent in one envelope.
Such invitations should be promptly accepted or declined.
COTILIONS BY SUBSCRIPTIONS. These are given by leading society women, who subscribe to a fund sufficient to pay all expenses of the entertainment. They are usually held in some fashionable resort where suitable accommodations can be had.
Guests are shown to the cloak-room, where attendants check their wraps.
After the supper, the German, or cotillion, begins. Those not dancing in this generally retire. When leaving, guests should take leave especially of the patroness inviting them.
DRESS. Full dress is worn by all.
INVITATIONS. The patronesses whose names appear on the back of the cards are the subscribers. They send out the invitations to their friends. A presentation card, to be shown at the door, is sent with the invitation.
MEN. Men wear evening dress.
The men wait upon their partners and themselves at the table, the waiters assisting, unless small tables are used, when the patronesses sit by themselves, and others form groups as they like. The guests are served by the waiters, as at a dinner.
When retiring, guests should take leave especially of the patroness inviting them.
PATRONESSES. The patronesses stand in line to receive the guests, bowing or shaking hands as they prefer.
When supper is announced, the leading patroness leads the way with her escort, the others following. If small tables are used, the patronesses sit by themselves.
WOMEN. Women wear full dress.
When guests depart, they should take leave especially of the patroness inviting them.
COUNTESS—HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter begins:
Madam, and ends: I have the honor to
remain your Ladyship's most obedient servant.
The address on the envelope is: To the
Right Honorable The Countess of Kent.
A social letter begins: Dear Lady Kent, and ends: Believe me, dear Lady Kent, sincerely yours.
The address is: To the Countess of Kent.
COUNTRY CALLS. The usual rule in calling is for the residents to call first upon the temporary cottage people, and between these latter the early comers call first upon those coming later.
In the city there is no necessity for
neighbors to call upon each other.
CRACKERS should be broken into small pieces and
eaten with the fingers.
CRESTS. If men and women wish, these may be stamped in the latest fashionable colors on their stationery. It is not customary to use a crest and a stamped address on the same paper.
The present fashion in crests is that they
should be of small size.
It is not usual to stamp the crest on the
flap of the envelope.
If sealing-wax is used, some dull color
should be chosen.
A person should avoid all individual eccentricities and oddities in stamping, such as facsimile autographs, etc.
CRYSTAL WEDDINGS. This anniversary comes after fifteen years of married life, and the invitations may bear the words: No presents received, and on their acceptance or declination, congratulations may be extended. An entertainment should be provided for. Any article of crystal or glass is appropriate as a gift.