The receipt of a card bearing a date like this is an invita-
tion to the recipient ; if the hour named is in daylight, the
costume called for is a quietly elegant carriage-toilet or
walking-dress, with an appropriate bonnet and wrap. Cards
are not left by the callers unless there is a cardrreceiver in
the entrance- hall ; in that case the card is left there when
the guest departs. As the servant opens the door, the visit-
ors pass at once into the drawing-room, where the hostess
receives : her dress should be a fresh but not too elaborate
home toilette. Callers are not necessarily introduced, but
ISO PRACTICAL AMERICAN COOKERY.
they are at liberty to chat with each other, because discrimi-
nation in the distribution of cards is taken for granted ; and
the hostess must manage to entertain all with equal atten-
tion ; in order to assist the hostess in this rather difficult
position, the call should be short. If it is impossible to call
upon set days, the visitor should be content to leave her card,
as only decided intimacy warrants the request to see a lady
except upon her " days." When refreshments are served at
these afternoon receptions, they should be quite simple ; a
few fancy biscuit ox petit-fours, with wine or cordial, may be
upon a side-table where one of the ladies of the family pre-
sides, or they may be passed upon a small salver by a maid-
servant. Cake and lemonade, or very dainty sandwiches
and tea, may be used at discretion ; in any case the refresh-
ment must be light, otherwise the reception takes on the
appearance of a kettle-drum.
AFTERNOON TEAS.
The pleasantest of all informal social gatherings are those
, known as teas, high teas, and kettle-drums ; sometimes they
take their name from some special characteristic, such as the
color of the tea-equipage or of the napery or the flowers,
lovely effects being possible. The hostess invites a few
friends, either verbally or by an informal note ; or, when
these entertainments are to be frequent, she may save her-
self trouble by having a card engraved in script, with blanks
for dates : —
Mrs. George Morris,
Wednesday,
No. s West 23d Si. Tea at Five o'clock.
THE ETIQUETTE OF ENTERTAINMENTS. 151
When young ladies receive, their names appear on their
mother's card; if the mother is dead, upon the father's
card, and the card of the chaperone who is to assist them
is sent at the same time. The invitations are given about
three days in advance, and should receive the courtesy of a
written answer ; after the tea, a card should be left within
two or three days by those invited as well as by the guests,
unless the latter are intimate, when the call may be omitted,
but the tea must be returned in due season. The hostess
usually invites friends, or those whom she knows wish to
become acquainted. The proper toilet is the same as for
afternoon-receptions. If the tea-table is large, it may be
laid with an embroidered cloth with napkins to match ;
ornamented china and flowers may be used. Where the
large table is used, and there are several ladies to assist in
entertaining the guests, they may be seated at it ; but when
the hostess presides alone, it is more convenient and pleas-
ant to have the tea served from a side-table by the servants,
to little tables placed near groups of guests in different parts
of the room.
Page 87
Presented as published in 1885. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The receipt of a card bearing a date like this is an invitation to the recipient ; if the hour named is in daylight, the costume called for is a quietly elegant carriage-toilet or walking-dress, with an appropriate bonnet and wrap. Cards are not left by the callers unless there is a card-receiver in the entrance- hall ; in that case the card is left there when the guest departs. As the servant opens the door, the visitors pass at once into the drawing-room, where the hostess receives : her dress should be a fresh but not too elaborate home toilette. Callers are not necessarily introduced, but
they are at liberty to chat with each other, because discrimination in the distribution of cards is taken for granted ; and the hostess must manage to entertain all with equal attention ; in order to assist the hostess in this rather difficult position, the call should be short. If it is impossible to call upon set days, the visitor should be content to leave her card, as only decided intimacy warrants the request to see a lady except upon her " days." When refreshments are served at these afternoon receptions, they should be quite simple ; a few fancy biscuit or petit-fours, with wine or cordial, may be upon a side-table where one of the ladies of the family presides, or they may be passed upon a small salver by a maidservant. Cake and lemonade, or very dainty sandwiches and tea, may be used at discretion ; in any case the refreshment must be light, otherwise the reception takes on the appearance of a kettle-drum.
AFTERNOON TEAS.
The pleasantest of all informal social gatherings are those , known as teas, high teas, and kettle-drums ; sometimes they take their name from some special characteristic, such as the color of the tea-equipage or of the napery or the flowers, lovely effects being possible. The hostess invites a few friends, either verbally or by an informal note ; or, when these entertainments are to be frequent, she may save herself trouble by having a card engraved in script, with blanks for dates : —
Mrs. George Morris,
Wednesday,
No. s West 23d Si. Tea at Five o'clock.
When young ladies receive, their names appear on their mother's card; if the mother is dead, upon the father's card, and the card of the chaperone who is to assist them is sent at the same time. The invitations are given about three days in advance, and should receive the courtesy of a written answer ; after the tea, a card should be left within two or three days by those invited as well as by the guests, unless the latter are intimate, when the call may be omitted, but the tea must be returned in due season. The hostess usually invites friends, or those whom she knows wish to become acquainted. The proper toilet is the same as for afternoon-receptions. If the tea-table is large, it may be laid with an embroidered cloth with napkins to match ; ornamented china and flowers may be used. Where the large table is used, and there are several ladies to assist in entertaining the guests, they may be seated at it ; but when the hostess presides alone, it is more convenient and pleasant to have the tea served from a side-table by the servants, to little tables placed near groups of guests in different parts of the room.