the child into the church. Sponsors and parents group
themselves around the font, which is often decorated with white flowers.
The godmother has the privilege of holding the babe until it is time to
lay him in the clergyman's arms, the cap having been removed. The parents
make the responses; after the naming the godmother takes the little one
again, holding him until the close of the service. She should not wipe
away any of the water placed on the child's head. A good baby is expected
not to cry during the ceremony, and one advantage of an early christening
is that the little fellow is less liable to be alarmed at strange
surroundings.

The same forms are observed at a home christening, the hour being usually
in the afternoon.

[MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 749]

A luncheon to which the clergyman and the christening party, and a few
friends if desired, are invited, customarily follows the church
ceremony--unless several children of other families are baptized at the
same time--and always follows the home christening. It is not unusual to
make some recognition of a clergyman's services at a church christening,
and always is in order at the home rite, though it is not expected as a
clergyman counts on his wedding fee.

If church or house is decorated for a christening, white flowers only are
employed, in conjunction with palms and ferns to relieve them. White
lilies are particularly beautiful. The table is adorned with white
flowers; the cakes and bonbons are white. Any desired refreshments may be
served, those for afternoon tea being suitable. That old-fashioned
beverage known as caudle is never served at any other time. It is
dispensed in bouillon cups.

MOURNING ETIQUETTE.

Conduct of Funerals--

So brief the span between our birth and death that the etiquette of burial
may fittingly follow that of the christening ceremony. It might be
supposed that the funeral, especially the private, could be conducted
without formality. But informality often means disorder, and simplicity
without order is confusion. There is no time where lack of order and
system so grate on one's nerves as at a funeral. The less "fuss" on such
an occasion the better, and for that reason, the routine of meals should
go on as usual, though no one seems to have the heart to eat them. Still,
it is in a way a comfort to most people to feel the chain of accustomed
habit; it brings a trifling sense of relief.

Save in the case of a person who