a dinner party, and vice versa. This is an iron-clad rule
in polite society.

For example, a gentleman and lady named Mr. and Mrs. Weems,
respectively, living at 1063 Railroad Ave., wishing to invite a
gentleman named Mr. Cleek to dinner, would send him the following
engraved invitation:

MR. AND MRS. LIONEL THONG WEEMS

request the pleasure of

MR. WALLACE TILFORD CLEEK'S

company at dinner

on Tuesday January the tenth

at half after seven o'clock

1063 Railroad Avenue.

This invitation would of course be worded differently for different
circumstances, such as, for example, if the name of the people giving
the party wasn't Weems or if they didn't live at 1063 Railroad Ave.,
or if they didn't have any intention of giving a dinner party on that
particular evening.

Many prospective hostesses prefer to send written notes instead of the
engraved invitation, especially if the dinner is to be fairly informal.
This sort of invitation should, however, be extremely simple. I think
that most well-informed hostesses would agree that the following is too
verbose:

DEAR MR. BURPEE.

It would give us great pleasure if you would dine with us on
Monday next at seven-thirty. By the way, did you know that Mr.
Sheldon died yesterday of pneumonia?
Cordially,
ESTELLE G. BESSERABO.

For receptions in honor of noted guests, word the invitation in this
manner:

MR. AND MRS. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT

request the pleasure of your company

on Friday evening February sixth

from nine to twelve

AT DELMONICO'S

to meet Asst. Fire-Chief CHARLEY SCHMIDT and

Mrs. SCHMIDT

Invitations to graduating exercises are worded thus:

THE SENIOR CLASS

of the

SOUTH ROCHESTER FEMALE DENTAL INSTITUTE

requests the honor of your presence at the

Commencement Exercises

on Tuesday evening, June the fifth

at eight o'clock

MASONIC OPERA HOUSE

"That Six- Orchestra.

ACCEPTANCES AND REGRETS

Responses to invitations usually take the form of "acceptances" or
"regrets." It is never correct, for example, to write the following sort
of note:

DEAR MRS. CRONICK:

Your invitation for the 12th inst. received and in reply would
advise that I am not at the present time in a posi