Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 237, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1911 — Good Form [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Good Form

Bridal Etiquette.

Smart brides who hare stepped ofl the carpet in recent weeks have set the pace for a number of bridesmaids, from four to eight being chosen, th« number of ushers often corresponding. With these, two little children may act as pages or flower girls, the little maids carrying baskets of flowers, 'which they strew before the bride on her way up the aisle. The bride to be selects her bridesmaids from her intimate friends and relatives, but if the bridegroom, has sisters it is etiquette to include one o' more of these. The maid of honor U the sister of the bride or her deares' friend, and of course the bridegroom's best man is either his brother or hb. chum. -

The ushers are chosen from the dost friends of the bridal pair, and the in vltations to these are given by note 01 verbally without the least formality It is thought rather bad taste, some thing of an affront indeed, for a selected bridesmaid or usher to refuse the honor unless there is some very gpod excuse for so doing. About a week before the marriage the bride elect gives a pretty luncheon or dinner to her bridesmaids, and it is not uncommon for the affair to be a dinner party at which the future groom, the best man and the ushers are present. Sentiment calls for a little affair sacred to girlhood, so, as the bride to be is generally much occupied in the evening, she gives what is called her maiden luncheon. The bridegroom’s last bachelor dinner or supper occurs about the same time, and if it is going to be a grand affair in a hotel the bride and bridesmaids may go in the afternoon, accompanied by the future groom, to see the decorations. But this little visit is made rather secretly, as the whole object of the groom’s last function to bis friends is to honor them alone. yt , ■ Where a Man Rises. When a woman comes into a room in which there are only a few people, say about half a dozen, all the men should rise at once and remain standing until she is seated. In a crowded room, at a tea or party, this, of course, is not necessary." If a man is already seated at the table he should rise when women come to the table. Men who are very careful of their manners do this even at hotels and restaurants if strangers are put at their table, but it is unusual. Heidelberg students in Europe keep up this courteous practice, and it is said that Harvard students in this country also do so. If a woman in passing down the aisle of a theater or train pauses to speak to friends any men in the party should rise while she is speaking, and if on a train one of them should offer his seat A min should always remain standing until the women at a table are seated, pulling the chair back for the oldest or the one nearest if there are more men present If a man by chance sits next to a woman acquaintance on a car or subway and she leaves the train before he does he should rise and lift bis hat when saying goodby. It is not necessary for a man to rise if a woman goes in and out of a room many times. This would be stretching an act of courtesy to the point of the ridiculous, although there are few excessively polite men who insist on keeping their manners polished to this degree. A man should never remain seated while he talks to a woman who is standing. This applies to offices as well as drawing rooms. A courteous employer can always get good work from his employees. Calling Cards. Even conservative women are carrying cards measuring less than two by three inches, so that in the case of a deep mourning card there is only sufficient blank space for the name. The smallest woman’s card measures 2 by 2% inches, the largest 8% by 2% inches, with four sizes coming between. The pasteboard is of only medium thickness. The stiff card is out of date. This year preference is given to the shaded old English lettering and the black and shaded French script, the latter being the very latest style. The size of the lettering is regulated by the length of the name to be engraved, and the size of the card is re* ulated by the length of the name. e Unexpected Guests. One reason why hospitality is exercised with little freedom in these days is that we are so fettered by conventionality and so resolhte in a determination to keep everything at concert pitch that we are beside ourselves if people pay us surprise visits. Perhaps It Is as well to add that a visitor would better send a message In advance by post or telegraph, since surprises are sometimes most Inconvenient. If, however. a guest, either a relative or a friend, comes when it suits her to do so. the resources of any ordinarily capable housewife should be equal to this emergency