Perfect Behavior; a guide for ladies and gentlemen in all social crises by Donald Ogden Stewart
page 26 of 153 (16%)
page 26 of 153 (16%)
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in carrying out this tradition. On the invitations, for example,
should be written some misleading phrase, such as "To meet General Pershing" or "Not to Announce the Engagement of our Daughter." The announcement itself which should be made soon after the guests are seated, offers a splendid opportunity for the display of originality and should aim to afford the guest a surprise and perhaps a laugh, for laughter of a certain quiet kind is often welcome at social functions. One of the most favored methods of announcing an engagement is by the use of symbolic figures embodying the names of the affianced pair. Thus, for example, in the case of the present engagement of Richard Roe to Dorothy Doe it would be "unique" to have the first course at luncheon consist of a diminutive candy or paper-mache doe seated amorously upon a heart shaped order of a shad roe. The guests will at first be mystified, but soon cries of "Oh, how sweet!" will arise and congratulations are then in order. Great care should be taken, however, that the symbolic figures are not misunderstood; it would be extremely embarrassing, for example, if in the above instance, a young man named "Shad" or "Aquarium" were to receive the congratulations instead of the proper person. Other suggestions for symbolistic announcements of some of the more common names are as follows: "Cohan-O'Brien"--ice cream cones on a plate of O'Brien potatoes. "Ames-Green--green ice cream in the shape of a man aiming at something. |
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