or written upon a lady's
visiting card, thus:

[Illustration:

_Mrs. George Norton._

_Breakfast, Wednesday, at ten o'clock._

_24 Euclid Avenue._]

A written invitation is usually in the first person, and should read
somewhat as follows:

DEAR MRS. GRACIE:

I should be pleased to have the company of you and your
husband at breakfast with us, Wednesday morning at ten
o'clock.

Cordially yours,

GERTRUDE HORTON.

MRS. GEORGE HORTON.

The invitations should be sent out a week or five days in advance, and
should be answered at once.

Luncheons, in this country, are very apt to possess much of the
formality of a dinner, and are written or engraved, according to the
degree of stateliness that is to mark the occasion. Very formal
invitations are sent out ten days or two weeks in advance, and are
couched in precisely the same terms as a dinner invitation, save that
the word "Luncheon" is substituted for "Dinner." Written invitations,
also, follow the same plan as those written for dinners, and are not
usually issued more than a week or five days in advance. Some ladies
use their visiting card, thus: MRS. FRANK E. WENTWORTH. Luncheon,
Wednesday, at one o'clock.

A later hour, say two o'clock, is usually adopted for a more formal
affair. Replies should be sent at once that the hostess may be enabled
to make up her table.

Teas and "Kettledrums."

Teas and "Kettledrums," High Tea and Afternoon Receptions, have come
to bear a strong resemblance one to another, in fact to infringe so
much upon the same territory that it is very difficult at times to
distinguish between them sufficiently to apply the appropriate name. A
simple affair is announced thus by those ladies who have a regular
reception day: MRS. JOHN ST. JOHN. Thursdays. Tea at five o'clock. 40
West 49th Street.

Or: MRS. JOHN ST. JOHN. Five o'clock tea. Thursday, February fifth. 40
West 49th Street.

The words "kettledrum" or "afternoon tea" are not to be used, and
these cards may be sent by mail, enclosed in a single envelope. They
require no answer. Where the lady has not a regular reception day and
wishes to give an afternoon tea, an engraved card, like the following,
is usually sent out: MRS. ARTHUR MERRILL. MISS MERRILL. Monday,
February third, from four to seven o'clock. 274 Chestnut Street.

In case of the hostess having no one to receive with her, her name
would appear alone upon the card. The name o