Savouries, when possible, should be eaten with a fork, but occasionally a knife also is of imperative use.

=As regards sweets=, _compotes_ of fruit and fruit tarts should be eaten with a dessert-spoon and fork, as should those dishes where juice or syrup prevails to the extent of rendering a dessert-spoon necessary. But whenever it is possible to use a fork in preference to a spoon it is always better to do so.

Jellies, creams, blancmanges, ice puddings, etc., should be eaten with a fork.

As a matter of course, young ladies do not eat cheese at dinner-parties.

CHAPTER XV

EVENING PARTIES

=Evening Parties= are styled receptions or "at homes" according to the number of guests invited. In official and political circles they are invariably styled "Receptions," but when given on a smaller scale in general society they are styled "At Homes."

=Invitations= to evening parties should be issued on "at home" cards.

The name of the person invited should be written at the top of the card at the right-hand corner, the words "at home" being printed beneath the name of the lady issuing the invitation, the day and date beneath the words "at home," the hour beneath the date. The address should be printed at the bottom of the card.

When music is to be given it should be mentioned on the "at home" card, thus, "Music."

The hour varies from 10 to 11 o'clock; in private circles 10 or 10.30 is the usual hour; in official circles 10.30 or 11 o'clock.

When a foreign royal personage is expected, or a foreigner of distinction, or a personage possessing public interest, the words "To meet Her Serene Highness Princess D.," or "To meet Count C." should be written at the top of the invitation cards.

When a reception or "at home" follows a dinner-party given by the hostess, it is not usual to provide any special amus.e.m.e.nt for the guests. But when an "at home" does not follow a dinner-party, it is usual to provide some sort of amus.e.m.e.nt for the guests, such as professional vocal or instrumental music.

The guests are expected to arrive from half an hour to an hour of the time mentioned on the invitation card, although it is optional when they do so.

=Receiving the Guests.=--The hostess should receive her guests at the head of the staircase, where she usually remains until the princ.i.p.al of her guests have arrived; while the host welcomes the guests in the drawing-room itself.

Receptions or "at homes" usually terminate shortly before one o'clock, save on Sat.u.r.days, when the hour of departure is 12 o'clock precisely.

=Making Introductions.=--A hostess should use her own discretion as regards making introductions.

When a royal personage is present the most distinguished of the guests should be presented by the host or hostess. When a celebrity is present introductions should also be made; and as regards general introductions they should be made whenever the hostess judges it expedient to do so, and the princ.i.p.al guests when unacquainted should be introduced to each other when the opportunity occurs.

=Going in to Supper.=--The host should take the lady of highest rank in to supper.

When a royal princess is present the host should take her in to supper.

When a royal prince is present he should take the hostess in to supper.

(See Chapter V.)

It is optional whether the hostess follows with the gentleman of highest rank present, unless a foreign prince is present, when she should follow the host, and in the case of a royal prince being present she should precede the host.

When a royal prince or princess or a serene highness is present a table should be set apart for the host and hostess and royal party, and any among the guests whom the royal visitors may desire should join them at supper.

When the supper-room is not sufficiently large to accommodate the whole of the guests at the same time, the most distinguished guests should go in first.

When the host is informed that supper is served he should tell the princ.i.p.al gentlemen present which of the ladies he wishes them to take into supper, and should himself lead the way with the lady of highest rank present.

The hostess should also a.s.sist in sending the princ.i.p.al guests in to supper, and when the general company observe the move towards the supper-room, they should follow in the same direction.

When the general company are apparently not aware that the supper-room is open, the hostess should ask the various gentlemen to take the ladies in to supper, and should herself lead the way with one of the gentlemen.

When the general company find the supper-room crowded they should return to the drawing-room for a quarter of an hour or so; but the hostess should arrange for some instrumental or vocal performance to commence when supper is first served, so as to occupy the attention of the guests who remain in the drawing-room.

The guests frequently do not return to the drawing-room after supper, but go to the cloak-room for their cloaks and wraps, and thence to their carriages.

It is not usual to take leave of the host and hostess at receptions.

=Royal Guests present.=--When a royal personage is present the host should conduct her to her carriage.

When a foreign prince is present the host should accompany him to the hall door.

=Tea and Light Refreshments= should be served during the evening in the library, or in an adjacent apartment.

Supper should be served at twelve o'clock, in the dining-room, and should be similar in character to a ball supper.

=Invitations to Bridge Parties= are issued on "at home" cards when the guests number upwards of forty, and on visiting cards when a lesser number is invited.

=The Invitation Form= is, "Mrs. A---- At Home" in both instances. The day, date, and hour are put beneath the words "at home," and "Bridge" in the corner of the cards opposite the address. The usual hour for holding these evening receptions is 9 o'clock p.m., which allows of three hours'

play before midnight. The guests arrive very punctually, rather before than after the hour named on the invitation cards. The guests comprise an equal number of both s.e.xes, as husbands and wives are invited together when both are known to be bridge players, and bachelors who do not disdain playing for small stakes are in great request. Also unmarried ladies of a certain age; not girls in their teens.

Prizes are given in some houses to the conquering players. One for the ladies and one for the gentlemen, and occasionally a second prize for the second best player of either s.e.x. This is done when playing for money does not commend itself to a host and hostess. The prizes consist for the most part of useful articles. For instance, a box of gloves, a box of bon-bons, a case of eau d'Cologne, a card-case, a bag purse, and so on, all of which are acceptable to ladies; and a box of cigars or cigarettes, a silver pocket-flask, a silver-mounted stick or umbrella, are prizes the men winners are pleased to accept.

=The Bridge Tables= at which the guests are to sit are numbered, and the hostess arranges by whom they are to be occupied. The names--four in number for each table--are written or printed with the number of the table upon small cards and given to the guests by the hostess on arrival. This is done that good players may be placed together, and to save confusion and loss of time in seating them at the various tables.

=The Refreshments= provided consist in the first instance of "coffee,"

which is brought into the card-room or drawing-room and handed to the guests. No eatables are given with this after-dinner coffee. A supper is given either at the conclusion of the play at 12 o'clock--this being the more usual plan--or at 10.30, after which play is resumed for another hour or so; but the latter is more of a provincial custom than a town one, and is intended for those whose dinner hour is an early one--6.30, perhaps.

When a supper is not given, very good light refreshments are subst.i.tuted for it, including cups of hot soup in the winter months.