as follows, is
enclosed in the same envelope: To meet MR. ----. Another form would
be:

[Illustration:

_Mr. and Mrs. Jackson_

_Request the pleasure of_

_Mr. and Mrs. Brown's_

_Company at dinner,_

_To meet Robert Browning,_

_Thursday, October 8th at seven o'clock._

_692 Arch Street._

_R.S.V.P._]

It is well, if the party is given in honor of some celebrated person,
to give them the choice of several dates before issuing the general
invitation, thus assuring yourself that no conflicting engagement will
rob the entertainment of its bright, particular star. An invitation to
a dinner is the highest social compliment that can be offered. It
should be sent out about ten days in advance, and requires an
immediate and positive answer, for it is to be supposed that the
hostess wishes to make up her table at once. Both invitation and
answer should be sent by messenger; all other invitations, and replies
to the same, may be sent by mail. In London, however, where distances
are so great, all invitations, without exception, are sent by post.

In case of an informal dinner, a verbal invitation is sometimes sent,
one or two days beforehand, by a servant, and a verbal answer is given
at the time. The principal objection against this method is that the
date, having no written reminder, may be confounded with some other
engagement. Where the affair is not too stately, an informal
invitation, written in the first person, may be pleasantly exchanged
between friend and friend. For instance:

MY DEAR MRS. ROE:

My aunt, Mrs. LeFevre, of New York City, is here with me for
a short stay, and Mr. Doe and I hope that you and Mr. Roe
can give us the pleasure of your company at dinner, on
Tuesday, October ninth, at seven o'clock, when, with a few
other friends, we hope to pass a pleasant hour in your
society.

Cordially yours,

MARIAN DOE

_Mrs. Marian Doe, St. Caroline's Court._

Asking for Invitations.

Asking for invitations for one's visiting friends, while permissible
on some occasions, such as requesting the favor of bringing a
gentleman to a ball where dancing men are always at a premium, or an
unexpected guest of your family to a reception or evening party,
should never be resorted to when a dinner party is in question, for,
to gratify the request would, in all probability, throw the whole of a
carefully arranged table into disorder. This rule is only to