om. The hostess
leads the way with the honored guest, if there be one, on her right.
The ladies go down together, talking as they go. If there are
gentlemen present, they follow. Once there, they seat themselves at
random, with the exception of the host and hostess, who seat
themselves at the head and foot of the table.

Again, it may happen that the guests, when they reach the table, find
name cards at each plate to designate the place to occupy. These often
are simple bits of pasteboard with a gilded edge which the hostess
buys and writes thereon her guests' names. This is especially the case
if other favors are given.

Where the luncheon is very informal the entire menu frequently
consists of cold dishes, such as boned turkey, boned ham, raw
oysters, salads of all kinds, chickens, fruits, fruit salad, Bavarian
cream, or other creams, fancy cakes, _pate de foie gras_, etc. The
coffee is hot. Let the hand of the caterer be kept as much as possible
out of luncheon.

Lunch or Luncheon.

There has been much questioning as to the distinction between the
words "lunch" and "luncheon," which are often used interchangeably.
The latest and best definition would be, that a lunch is a meal to be
partaken of informally by the members of a household, at midday or
before going on some pleasure excursion. Luncheon, on the contrary,
signifies a form of entertainment given after breakfast and before the
evening dinner hour. It is a meal of compliment and more frequently
extended to ladies alone.

The invitations given for a luncheon are issued on the same principle
as those for a breakfast. A young performer, vocalist or elocutionist,
is often introduced at a luncheon.

Luncheon Favors.

Favors for a luncheon may be very elegant, or only simple and pretty.
A single rose laid at each plate is frequently all that is given. Name
cards are often made to serve as souvenirs. A very new and pretty
design for a name card is made of a plain white or cream square
envelope, painted with a dainty design of violets.

Where the name is to be seen, an opening like that of a picture frame
is cut through the face of the envelope, a line of narrow gilding
finishing the edge. The name of the guest is written on a plain card
and put inside the envelope so as to show through the opening.

Some other small graceful flower in place of the violet is sometimes
painted on it with good effect; and if one color, as yellow, for
instance, predomina