THE DINNER-PARTY. 04;) 



can always find some clever neighbour to assist tin -in in the moment of 

 need. 



Impromptu charades are frequently organized at friendly parties. Un- 

 less you have really some talent for acting and some readiness of speech, 

 you should remember that you only put others out and expose your own 

 inability by taking part in these entertainments. Of course, if your help 

 is really needed, and you would disoblige by refusing, you must do your 

 best, and by doing it as quietly and coolly as possible, avoid being awk- 

 ward or ridiculous. 



11 though you may take no pleasure in cards, some knowledge of 

 the etiquette and rules belonging to the games most in vogue is necessary 

 to you in society. If a fourth hand is wanted at euchre, or if the rest of 

 the company sit down to a round game, you would be deemed guilty of an 

 impoliteness if you refused to join. 



The games most commonly played in society are euchre, draw-poker, 

 and whist. 



THE DINNER-PARTY. 



To be acquainted with every detail of the etiquette pertaining to this 



i'-ct is of the highest importance to every lady. Ease, </'>/'/-/' 

 and good- breeding are nowhere more indispensable than at the dinner- 



table, and the absence of them is nowhere more apparent. How to 



p and what to do with a cherry-stone are weighty consideration* when 

 taken as tin- index of social status ; and it is not too much to say, that a 

 young woman who elected to take claret with her fish, or ate peas with 

 her knife, would justly risk the punishment of being banished from g 

 soci' 



An invitation to dinner should be replied to immediately, and unequiv- 

 dy accepted or deelined. Once accepted, nothing but an event of the 

 la^t importance should cause you to fail in vour - :. ut. 



To I- y punctual is the stricte>t politeness on the^.- occasions. It' 



you an- too early you are in the way ; it' too late you spoil the dinner, 

 annoy the hoflteSS, and an- hated liy tin- rest of the ^u- author- 



!i of (.pinion that in the question of a dinner party " ne\ 81 



better than "late;" and one author has gone so far as to say, "if you 



reach the QOUS till dinner i> served, you had better retire, and s-nd 



:iii apology, and not interrupt the harmony of t 1 >y awkward 



md cold acceptai 



When tie- party U a^-nibled. the inistre^ or master of the house will 

 point out to Mtlniia.li the lady \vlioiu : mduct to the taMe. 



