Social Life; or, The Manners and Customs of Polite Society

by Maud C. Cooke

Mrs. P.V. VanVechton,
At Home,
Tuesday, April second.
Music at half-past three.

Or: Mrs. P.V. VanVechton, At Home, Tuesday afternoon, April second, from half-past three to five o'clock. Matinée Musicale.

If the Musicale is to be an evening affair, and dancing is to follow the music, the following form of invitation may be used: Mrs. Herbert Hughes, At Home, Friday evening, January tenth, at eight o'clock. 200 Winchester Avenue. Music. Dancing at ten.

Precisely the same form is to be used in giving out invitations for a soirée, save that the word "soirée" is substituted for that of "Musicale" or "matinée musicale." It may be farther added that the term "matinée" applies exclusively to entertainments given in the morning, or at any time before dinner, a distinction to which our custom of late dinners gives a wide latitude, so that any entertainment up to eight o'clock in the evening may receive the name of matinée, notwithstanding the fact that drawn curtains and gas-lighted rooms may give all the semblance of night-time. "Soirée," however, is used only where an evening party of a semi-informal character is denoted.

Garden Parties.

Precisely the same form of "At Home" cards can be used for these entertainments, substituting the words "Garden Party" in the left hand corner and sending them out some two or three days in advance. Or, if a more formal affair is intended, use the following: Mrs. Waite Talcott requests the pleasure of the company of Mr. and Mrs. John Clay, on Monday, August fifth, at four o'clock. Garden Party. "The Oaks."

If it should be desirable to include the entire family in the invitation, the wording would be as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. John Clay and Party.
Mrs. Waite Talcott,
At Home,
Tuesday, August fifth, at four o'clock.
"The Oaks."
Garden Party.
R.S.V.P.
Carriages will meet the 3.40 train from Union Depot.

This clause to be added only when the party is to be given at some distance from the station. If preferred, these directions may be written on a separate small card and enclosed in the same envelope.