It is not required that all guests at such weddings should donate
gifts. The donors on such occasions are usually only members of the
family or intimate friends. The invitations vary somewhat in their
wording, according to the fancy of the writer, but they all are similar.
They should give the date of the marriage and the anniversary. They
may or may not give the name of the husband at the right-hand side
and the maiden name of the wife at the left. What the anniversary is
should also be indicated.
The following form will serve as a model :
1849— 1S74.
The pleasure of your company is requested at the Silver Wedding Reception of
Mr. and Mrs. William Austin,
On Thursday evening, November 13, at 9 o'clock.
R. S. V. P. 909 Arch street.
A variation of the dates and the insertion, in the place of the word
"silver," of "paper," "wooden," "tin," "crystal," "china," "golden,"
or "diamond," will make this form suitable for any of the anniversary
weddings. It is not unusual to have the marriage ceremony repeated
at the silver or golden weddings. This gives them a certain impress-
iveness and solemnity, to see a husband and wife who have remained
faithful for a quarter or half a century publicly renewing their vows of
fidelity and love, which then can only mean, "till death do us part."
COFFEE OR TEA-PARTIES.
It used to be and is still the fashion in the country to give
a tea-party, where no particular fashion is followed, only all are wel-
comed with an old-fashioned cordiality and freedom. Now the city
people are following in their footsteps, only in order to give it the stamp
of foreign birth they call them " coffees " and " kettle-drums." At one
we drink coffee, the other tea, with its usual accompaniments of sand-
wiches, salads, biscuits, cakes and pickles, which are served in an infor-
mal manner. The tea-table is usually spread in the back parlor, or
room adjoining the parlor, and the ladies of the house prepare the tea,
and they (without the aid of servants) attend to the wants of their
guests. Chocolate, and sometimes beef tea, is served also. Here is a
fine opportunity to show the old-fashioned and odd pieces of china (if
5 6 ENTER TAINMENTS.
you are fortunate enough to possess any), for where every cup is of dif-
ferent style, your china, at least, will be a success. The dress should
consist of a calling costume. The apartments should be decorated withN
plants and flowers. Invitations can be written, or given verbally ; if
written, in one corner of the card should be written the hour, with the
specified date, and tea should be served shortly after the hour given.
Oftentimes dancing or card-playing follows the tea; and the guests
remain until ten o'clock, or even later. In this case the bonnets or hats
are removed when the visitors enter. The usual custom is to leave
within an hour, and you should then make your adieux to the members
of the family. Introductions are not often given, but all can feel at lib-
erty to converse with one another. Evening " tea-parties " or " coffees "
are gaining much favor, and are kept up till quite late hours. Lit-
tle tables are placed about the rooms, and all sit around them at
lunch, and are as jolly and informal as possible. After a few days a
ceremonious call should be paid by the guest, not to exceed ten min-
utes.
KETTLE-DRUMS.
Page 49
Presented as published in 1886. 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
A modernized reading is not available for this page yet. You are seeing the original text.
It is not required that all guests at such weddings should donate
gifts. The donors on such occasions are usually only members of the
family or intimate friends. The invitations vary somewhat in their
wording, according to the fancy of the writer, but they all are similar.
They should give the date of the marriage and the anniversary. They
may or may not give the name of the husband at the right-hand side
and the maiden name of the wife at the left. What the anniversary is
should also be indicated.
The following form will serve as a model :
1849— 1S74.
The pleasure of your company is requested at the Silver Wedding Reception of
Mr. and Mrs. William Austin,
On Thursday evening, November 13, at 9 o'clock.
R. S. V. P. 909 Arch street.
A variation of the dates and the insertion, in the place of the word
"silver," of "paper," "wooden," "tin," "crystal," "china," "golden,"
or "diamond," will make this form suitable for any of the anniversary
weddings. It is not unusual to have the marriage ceremony repeated
at the silver or golden weddings. This gives them a certain impress-
iveness and solemnity, to see a husband and wife who have remained
faithful for a quarter or half a century publicly renewing their vows of
fidelity and love, which then can only mean, "till death do us part."
COFFEE OR TEA-PARTIES.
It used to be and is still the fashion in the country to give
a tea-party, where no particular fashion is followed, only all are wel-
comed with an old-fashioned cordiality and freedom. Now the city
people are following in their footsteps, only in order to give it the stamp
of foreign birth they call them " coffees " and " kettle-drums." At one
we drink coffee, the other tea, with its usual accompaniments of sand-
wiches, salads, biscuits, cakes and pickles, which are served in an infor-
mal manner. The tea-table is usually spread in the back parlor, or
room adjoining the parlor, and the ladies of the house prepare the tea,
and they (without the aid of servants) attend to the wants of their
guests. Chocolate, and sometimes beef tea, is served also. Here is a
fine opportunity to show the old-fashioned and odd pieces of china (if
5 6 ENTER TAINMENTS.
you are fortunate enough to possess any), for where every cup is of dif-
ferent style, your china, at least, will be a success. The dress should
consist of a calling costume. The apartments should be decorated withN
plants and flowers. Invitations can be written, or given verbally ; if
written, in one corner of the card should be written the hour, with the
specified date, and tea should be served shortly after the hour given.
Oftentimes dancing or card-playing follows the tea; and the guests
remain until ten o'clock, or even later. In this case the bonnets or hats
are removed when the visitors enter. The usual custom is to leave
within an hour, and you should then make your adieux to the members
of the family. Introductions are not often given, but all can feel at lib-
erty to converse with one another. Evening " tea-parties " or " coffees "
are gaining much favor, and are kept up till quite late hours. Lit-
tle tables are placed about the rooms, and all sit around them at
lunch, and are as jolly and informal as possible. After a few days a
ceremonious call should be paid by the guest, not to exceed ten min-
utes.
KETTLE-DRUMS.