PRECEDENCE.
DINNERS. See DINNERS—PRECEDENCE.
FUNERALS. See FUNERALS—PRECEDENCE.
THEATRE. See THEATRE—PRECEDENCE.
PRESENTS. See GIFTS.
PRESIDENT—HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter begins: Sir, and ends: I have the honor to remain your most obedient servant.
A social letter begins: My dear Mr.
President, and ends: I have the honor to remain
most sincerely yours.
The address on the envelope is: President
John Wilson.
PRINCE, ROYAL—HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter begins: Sir, may it please your Royal Highness, and ends: I have the honor to remain, sir, your Royal Highness' humble servant.
A social letter begins: Dear Sir, and ends: Your Royal Highness' most obedient servant.
The address on the envelope is: To His
Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.
PRINCESS, 'ROYAL-HOW ADDRESSED. An official letter begins: Madam, may it please your Royal Highness, and ends: Your Royal Highness' most obedient servant.
A social letter begins: Dear Madam, and ends: Your Royal Highness' most obedient servant.
The address on the envelope is: To Her
Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales.
PRIVATE WEDDINGS. These are attended only by intimate friends and members of the family, and vary but little from home weddings.
If the family is in mourning the cards are issued with the name of bride and groom and new address, together with card having bride's maiden name, and the announcement cards are sent after the ceremony.
Afternoon dress should be worn at an afternoon wedding, and evening dress at an evening wedding.
PROPOSALS OF MARRIAGE. The time, manner, and details of proposals of marriage are appropriately left to the good taste and judgment of the groom. If the proposal is rejected, good taste, womanly refinement, and courteous consideration demand that it be kept an inviolate secret, and any such breach of confidence may be rightly deemed the act of a woman without taste or tact, and unworthy of respect.
Proposals by women, while permissible, are not customary.
PUBLIC BALLS, By public balls are meant county and charity balls, and balls given by social institutions where dancing is the main feature. These public balls differ from private ones in that all the duties of the hostess fall upon some committees.
These committees would follow the same rules as laid down for a hostess—issuing engraved invitations from fourteen to seventeen days in advance, engaging a caterer, etc.
The etiquette for a public ball is the same as for a private one, save that guests arrive and depart when they please without taking leave of those who receive, and men wishing introductions apply for them to the Floor or Reception Committee.
At the cloak-rooms a small fee is paid to the attendant.
SEE ALSO all entries under Balls.
BADGES. It is customary for the men and women on the committees to wear on the left side of the breast ornamental and embroidered badges, with the official position designated on it.
COMMITTEE. The committee at a public ball takes the place of the hostess, filling all her duties and offices.
PATRONESSES. It is customary for the management formally to invite six, eight, or more married women to act as patronesses of the ball, and for their names to appear on the invitations. If badges are prepared for the patronesses, one is sent to each patroness or handed to her on the evening of the dance.
The patronesses should be welcomed at the ball by the management, and they then take their position ready to receive the guests.
The management should look after the patronesses, to see that they are taken into supper, to introduce prominent guests to them, and, finally, to escort the patronesses to their carriages.