Etiquette Rules

Invitations should be sent by messenger, and not mailed, unless to persons out of town.

Guests should arrive about fifteen minutes before the hour named for the dinner. A delay beyond the hour is unpardonable.

Wear gloves to the table, and remove them when seated.

Do not use the edge of the table cloth for a napkin.

If you have children, never introduce them after dinner, unless particularly asked for, and then avoid it if possible.

When you are helped to anything, do not wait until the rest of the company are provided. This is very common in the country, but shows a want of good breeding.

Without a perfect knowledge of the art of carving, it is impossible to perform the honors of the table with propriety; and nothing can be more disagreeable to one of a sensitive disposition than to behold a person, at the head of a well-furnished board hacking the finest joints, and giving them the appearance of having been gnawed by the dogs

Soup being removed, the gentleman who supports the lady of the house on her right, should request the honor of taking wine with her; this movement will be the signal for the rest. Should he neglect to do this, you must challenge some lady.

To dine out, it is usually understood that you must have been invited; there are, however, some GENTLEMEN, who have attained to that high degree of refinement which enables them to dispense with such a stupid ceremony. They drop in as dinner is being served up, when it is impossible that the party on whom they intrude can do no other than request them to stay and dine, though we suspect he has a much stronger inclination to kick the unwelcome guest into the street.

We would recommend you to eschew such practices; when invited, return an answer in plain terms, accepting or declinging. If you accept, be there at the appointed hour.

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