The dining-room should be bright and attractive, well lighted, and artistically decorated with flowers.
The success of a dinner lies in the selection of the guests, with regard to their congeniality to each other, and their conversational powers and varying attainments. It is better to have a few at a time, perhaps eight, as a larger number is unmanageable.
CALLS. Guests should call soon after the dinner.
DRESS. Full dress is worn by both men and women.
GUESTS. When guests are not congenial, or have dislikes, they should not show it, but appear as if the contrary were the case.
Guests should be prompt in arriving at the hour named.
At the table it is in good taste to accept whatever is offered, eating it or not, as one desires. Wines should be accepted, even if one does not partake of them. And if a toast is offered, a guest should recognize the courtesy by raising his glass.
Conversing across the table is permissible, provided the distance does not require the voice to be unduly raised.
When coffee is served in the drawing-room, young women serve, and the men hand it to the guests.
When the men re-enter the drawing-room after the coffee, the guests should retire, unless some further entertainment follows. This is usually about eleven o'clock. When leaving, a guest should thank the host and hostess, making some agreeable and appropriate remark suitable to the occasion.