ormal
note, the acceptance or regret is sent in the same style. If the
invitation is formal, the reply also should be written in the third
person and be about as follows:

_Mr. and Mrs. Allston B. Sinclair
accept with pleasure the kind invitation of
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Emanuel Farrington
for dinner
on Thursday, the ninth of December
at half after eight o'clock_

The reply to an invitation should be sent to the person or persons who
issued it, never to any other member of the family, although such a
one may be better known.

To write the word "Regrets" on one's visiting card and send it in
declination of any invitation is bad form, even if the invitation come
in similar shape. One should always write a note of regret.

Bachelors and widowers, who entertain at their apartments or studio or
club, and army and navy officers never use the words "At Home," but
always "request the pleasure (or honour) of your presence."

If one is entertaining a guest and an invitation is received, one may
with propriety ask the hostess for an invitation for one's guest, if
the form of entertainment is so general as to make this right and
reasonable; otherwise one must decline the invitation. It would not be
right to ask for another dinner invitation, or one to a select group
of people, where the guest would be an intruder.

It is preferable and a much later form to use the words "Please
reply," or "An early reply is requested," rather than the abbreviation
"_R. s. v. p._" for "_Repondez, s'il vous plait_," meaning "Reply, if
you please."

If a son should return from college or other absence, and the parents
wish to entertain for him, their invitations would have at the bottom
the word "For" followed by his name.

In sending out invitations, one should be sent to the father and
mother jointly, one to each son separately, and one to the daughters
jointly, the latter being addressed "The Misses Estabrook."

Invitations should be sent to people in mourning, although they are
not expected to accept. They should not be slighted or forgotten
during such a period.

_Wedding Invitations and Announcements_

The following are the usual forms of wording for the wedding
invitation:

_Mr. and Mrs. Reinhard Ernst Ormond_
_request the honour of your presence_
_at the marriage of their daughter_
_Eida_