Page:Book of Etiquette, Volume 1, by Lilian Eichler.djvu/260

 the hostess's house while the entertainment is in progress, or shortly beforehand.

For private theatricals, invitations follow very much the same form as those used for musicales. The hostess may either add the phrase, "Theatricals at nine o'clock," to her invitation, or she may issue engraved cards requesting the pleasure of a friend's company at Private Theatricals. The word "dancing" may be engraved in the left-hand corner of the card, if dancing is to follow the theatricals. It is courteous to send a reply to these invitations.

The invitation to the child's party is the one exception to the rule of simplicity. Children love color and decoration, and so etiquette very graciously permits them to have cards and invitations that boast colorful designs. For instance, in a well-known stationer's shop in New York, there are little sheets of pink note paper, in the upper corner of which is a little girl courtesying and smiling. Beneath the picture the words "Won't you please come to my party?" are printed in fine italics. It makes most attractive stationery for the youngsters.

On stationery like that described above, mother might write in the following strain, providing the little host (or hostess) is not old enough to do the writing himself:

16 Blake Hall, June 14, 19—

My dear Mrs. Blank:

''Harold will be seven years old on Thursday, the eighteenth of June. We are planning to give a little party for his friends on the Sunday fol-''