Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1911 — Madame Merri’s Advice and Suggestions [ARTICLE]

Madame Merri’s Advice and Suggestions

Reply to “W. B." 1 am a regular reader of your paper and find many helpful suggestions in it Please answer this in an early issue: I would like to know if a young man is expected to have visiting cards and what style is best. I wish also to know the address of a magazine on table etiquette and one on correct dress for all occasions. What is a suitable present for birthday of a girl friend of mine about nineteen years of age? W. B. A young man should have visiting cards, which he leaves when people are not at home, which he may hand to the servant to announce his presence, to enclose with a gift and to present to an acquaintance he meets in traveling. Send me a self-addressed stamped envelope and I will send you the information about the book on etiquette. For the girl friend's birthday I would advise sending her a handsome box of fine confectionery or a box of roses. It is not considered good form to give things to girls unless in the family or engaged. Books, magazines, flowers and bon-bons are always permissible. For a Home Wedding. At a home wedding, is it good form for the bride’s parents to be downstairs among the guests before the ceremony, or is it preferable to have the mother come down on her son’s arm just before the orchestra starts to play the wedding march? You may suggest a, newer way. Is it still good form to have a bride’s cake and have the bride cut into it? Should the bridal party be served in the dining room first or last? ZILLA. The parents of the bride should be ,in the drawing room to receive the guests. They issued the invitations and are the host and hostess and should be in readiness for the arrival of the first guest. There is always the wedding cake, and the ribbon-tied knife is handed the bride for her to make the first incision, the so-called “cutting the cake.” The bridal party generally goes in last after receiving all the congratulations. The guests begin to go in to be served soon after the ceremony. A Budget of Questions. I have read your column and find it such a help. What is it proper to reply when a young man asks to escort you home if you wish to accept? Also if you do not? Which side should a girl walk on? and what side should she sit at the table? If you meet a girl friend’s husband soon after

they are married, should you congratnlate him if you *never met before? If a boy takes you to some entertainment how can you thank him when you return home? “PERPLEXED." Say "Thank you, I will be glad to lave you go with me," or “I have company, thank you." A girl usually walks >n the inside the walk and sits on the est side at table. By all means congratulate the busband of your girl friend. After the entertainment say “I am Indebted to you for a very pleasant evening, and I thank you.” Celebrating First Anniversary. We are going to entertain about forty guests on our first wedding anniversary. Do we stand to receive guests and congratulations, or would It be all right to receive informally, as I think that would suit my husband better? MAPLE. By all means have suqh occasions informal, but be sure to be on hand to welcome all guests as they arrive. MADAME MERRI