o the hostess's ideas
of social propriety or congeniality. No man ever takes his wife in to
dinner. The place of honor for men is at the hostess's right hand. Dinner
cards, legibly written, are placed on the napkins. The men draw out the
chairs and seat the ladies, then seat themselves. Generally, at a small
dinner, the hostess tells each man before leaving the drawing room, whom
he is to take out: at large functions, he finds in the men's cloak room an
envelope addressed to him containing the lady's name. He seeks out his
partner and gives her his arm when dinner is announced.

Be Prompt.--It is almost unpardonable for a guest to be late at a dinner.
The arrival should be within fifteen minutes of the time named on the
invitation, never earlier. The hostess must be ready in ample time, and
must appear calm and untroubled. Nervousness bespeaks the novice in
entertaining. Generally, however, even if the affair passes off without
any contretemps she is ready to say "Thank heaven it's over!"

Now this is not to say that one may not serve a good and very enjoyable
dinner or luncheon to a few friends, without as much trouble and expense
as are here indicated. This is simply to state how such meals are served,
formally and informally. Knowing the proper procedure one may adopt as
much or as little as her circumstances and style of living warrant.

[MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 701]

THE INFORMAL DINNER

The informal dinner resembles the formal, save that fewer courses are
served, the menu is simpler, and the decorations less elaborate. The
serving is on the same order--a la Russe. If one is fortunate enough to
have a maid who combines the experience of a waitress with the qualities
of a good cook, by ingenious planning it is possible to serve six persons
acceptably in the approved fashion.

But there are thousands of households in which but one maid is kept, and
in this case what may be termed "the family dinner" will be found better,
because there will be no endeavor to do more than one can accomplish with
the means at her command. Better by far serve well and simply than attempt
something more elaborate and fall short in it.

Family Dinners.--At the family dinner, the grape fruit or oyster cocktail,
or the raw oysters which form the first course, is on the table when the
guests are seated. The grape fruit may be served in glasses, like the
cocktail. If oysters are served, the maid passes the condiments. She then
remove