informal.

Do not send your card with "Regrets" written upon it, in response to any
invitation, formal or informal.

Telephone invitations are admissible only for informal affairs. General
invitations, given verbally, have no social footing. "Do come and dine
with us some day," unless followed by a definite date or note of
invitation, means nothing.

An invitation given by a man to dine or visit, or to a home entertainment,
is not to be accepted unless seconded by his wife.

A girl, sending invitations to commencement exercises, encloses her card.

It is bad form to show that one feels slighted or affronted at not having
been invited to any function, or not given the precedence one feels
herself entitles to. The hostess, in her own home, obeys such rules as she
believes correct.

A visitor is expected to contribute her share to the pleasure of the
occasion by being conversationally agreeable.

If hostess, one must overlook every awkwardness on the part of the guest
or servant, and any accident to one's belongings, but be deeply solicitous
and apologetic if an accident happens to a guest,

The guest of honor at a dinner party should take leave first. Other
departures follow speedily.

Remember--

That an invitation to spend a few days with a friend requires a speedy
reply. It is not allowable to say one will come either earlier or later
than the time specified.

A visitor should adapt herself to the ways of the household, be punctual
at meals, and make no plans or arrangements without consulting her
hostess.

She may not invite a friend of her own to a meal without requesting
permission of her hostess.

She should be careful not to infringe upon the privileges and prerogatives
of the man of the house.

MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 785

She may accept invitations in which the hostess is not included, but never
without due consultation with her hostess.

She should show herself pleased with the efforts made to entertain her and
enter into them readily.

She should leave promptly at the expiration of the time set for her visit.
It is almost invariably a mistake to outstay the limit. If no limit was
named in the invitation, she should, within a day or two of her arrival,
state the date on which she will leave.

On her return home, her first duty is to write her hostess, announcing her
arrival and expressing her pleasure in the visit. To omit this is a grave
discourtesy. A hostess once said