if not a necessity. A few illustrations will show the difference: It is no longer considered necessary for the guests to say that they have had a good time when taking leave of a hostess after a dinner-party or other entertainment; it is no longer customary for the hostess to accompany her lady callers to the front door; it is no longer even proper to say "Sir" or "Madam," except, perhaps, in addressing a stranger in a public place. Elaborate entertainments and a certain degree of formality may be necessary occasionally; but one can invite one's friends and have pleasant times without a great deal of preparation and expense. Hospitality is the prime necessity, and even a twelve- course dinner is unpalatable, lacking that golden sauce. THE DINNER PARTY The dinner takes first rank among entertainments and usually involves more or less formality. Invitations are sent out at least two weeks in advance of the entertainment and should be an- swersd immediately. The formal invitation is engraved; the gij-e? it's name, hour and date written in by hand. Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Anderson ^ request the pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown^s company at dinner on Wednesday, April the fourteenth at eight o'clock ■L I West Burton Place Msrsh the thirty-first For a less formal entertainment a note in the first person may be sent: My dear Mrs. Broicn: Will you and Mr. Brown dine with us informally on Thursday evening, January the eighteenth, at eight o'clock ? Sincerely yours, Elizabeth Smith Anderson. 14 West Burton Place, January the fourth. 12 JKWTERTAIRmG The dinner in this case may be quite as formal as that for which the third-person invitation was sent, and evening dress is required. For a very informal little dinner an unconventional note is sent a week or less before the date set; and dinner dress is not required. For the formal dinner, guests are expected to arrive at the hour appointed and courtesy does not demand that the hostess wait more than fifteen minutes for a tardy guest. At large dinners each gentleman finds on a tray in the dressing-room a small addressed envelope containing a card on which is written the name of the lady whom he is to escort to dinner and "R" or "L" in one corner to indicate on which side of the table they are to sit. If he does not know the lady, the hostess should see that he is presented to her. Introductions The hostess stands near the door and receives the guests, making such introductions as are convenient. In general, the "roof introduction" is considered sufficient — especially at large dinners. Introductions, however, should be given wherever possible, for they make intercourse among one's guests easier. Where one knows to whom one is speaking one can sometimes more readily find subjects of interest. On the other hand, it is not considered good form for a hostess to interrupt a conversation between guests for the purpose of making an introduction, or to introduce a guest upon his entrance to more than one other at a time.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

if not a necessity. A few illustrations will show the difference: It is no longer considered necessary for the guests to say that they have had a good time when taking leave of a hostess after a dinner-party or other entertainment; it is no longer customary for the hostess to accompany her lady callers to the front door; it is no longer even proper to say "Sir" or "Madam," except, perhaps, in addressing a stranger in a public place. Elaborate entertainments and a certain degree of formality may be necessary occasionally; but one can invite one's friends and have pleasant times without a great deal of preparation and expense. Hospitality is the prime necessity, and even a twelvecourse dinner is unpalatable, lacking that golden sauce. THE DINNER PARTY The dinner takes first rank among entertainments and usually involves more or less formality. Invitations are sent out at least two weeks in advance of the entertainment and should be answersd immediately. The formal invitation is engraved; the gives its name, hour and date written in by hand. Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Anderson request the pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown's company at dinner on Wednesday, April the fourteenth at eight o'clock 1140 West Burton Place March the thirty-first For a less formal entertainment a note in the first person may be sent: My dear Mrs. Broicn: Will you and Mr. Brown dine with us informally on Thursday evening, January the eighteenth, at eight o'clock ? Sincerely yours, Elizabeth Smith Anderson. 14 West Burton Place, January the fourth. ENTERTAINING The dinner in this case may be quite as formal as that for which the third-person invitation was sent, and evening dress is required. For a very informal little dinner an unconventional note is sent a week or less before the date set; and dinner dress is not required. For the formal dinner, guests are expected to arrive at the hour appointed and courtesy does not demand that the hostess wait more than fifteen minutes for a tardy guest. At large dinners each gentleman finds on a tray in the dressing-room a small addressed envelope containing a card on which is written the name of the lady whom he is to escort to dinner and "R" or "L" in one corner to indicate on which side of the table they are to sit. If he does not know the lady, the hostess should see that he is presented to her. Introductions The hostess stands near the door and receives the guests, making such introductions as are convenient. In general, the "roof introduction" is considered sufficient — especially at large dinners. Introductions, however, should be given wherever possible, for they make intercourse among one's guests easier. Where one knows to whom one is speaking one can sometimes more readily find subjects of interest. On the other hand, it is not considered good form for a hostess to interrupt a conversation between guests for the purpose of making an introduction, or to introduce a guest upon his entrance to more than one other at a time.

The Institute cook book