vitations.

Forms of invitations suited to all classes of dinners, have been given
at length in the department devoted to that subject, and acceptances
and regrets for the same carefully explained, together with the
obligation upon every one to answer all such invitations at once,
either in the affirmative or negative. Since a dinner is, in all
respects, so important a social event that the least one can do is to
signify immediately one's course of action, Sidney Smith was not so
far out of the way when he burlesqued the solemnity of the occasion,
and the aversion that all dinner-givers have to an empty chair, when
he wittily wrote: "A man should, if he die after having accepted an
invitation to dinner, leave his executors a solemn charge to fill his
place."

Host and Hostess.

The hostess is expected to put her guests, as much as possible, at
their ease. She must encourage the timid, and watch the requirements
of all. No accident must ruffle her temper. In short, she must, for
the time, be that perfect woman who is--

"Mistress of herself though china fall."

She must not seem to watch her servants; she must not scold them. Her
brow must remain smooth through all embarrassing hitches, her smile be
bright and quick, her attentions close and complimentary to her
guests.

On the host devolves the duty of drawing out any of the guests with
whose particular specialties he is acquainted, and his manners, too,
must at least simulate ease, if he have it not. Let host and hostess
refrain from boasting of the price of any article of food upon the
table.

Whom to Invite.

All the tact and good breeding at the command of the hostess should be
exercised, first in choosing, then in arranging, the guests to be
present. Not too many are to be bidden to the ordinary dinner; six,
eight and twelve are desirable numbers, and four frequently forms the
cosiest party imaginable.

The reason of thus arranging for even numbers arises from the fact
that, in a mixed dinner party, it is well to have as many ladies as
gentlemen. The conversation will then be prevented from dropping into
long, or heated, discussions, both of which are destructive of
pleasure. It will also be found pleasant to invite the young, and
those of more advanced years, together for an occasion of this sort.

Large parties may be made very enjoyable, but where there are more
than eight or ten at table general conversation becomes
impracticable. Twenty-