While guests are being seated, person from outside brings up soup; Footman receives soup at door; Butler serves it out; Footman hands it; Both change plates. Footman takes out soup, and receives fish at door; while butler hands wine; Butler serves out fish; Footman hands it (plate in one hand, and sauce in the other); Both change plates. Footman brings in _entrée_, while butler hands wine; Butler hands _entrée_; Footman hands vegetables; Both change plates, Etc., etc.
“The carving of the joint seems the only difficulty. However, it will not take long for an expert carver to cut eight pieces.”
It is very essential, in giving a dinner party, to know precisely how many guests one is to entertain. It is a serious inconvenience to have any doubt on this subject. Consequently, it is well to send an invitation, which may be in the following form:
+--------------------------------------------------------+ | | | _Mrs. Smith requests the pleasure of Mr. Jones’s | | company at dinner, on Thursday, January 5th, at | | seven o’clock._ | | | | R. S. V. P. | | | | _12 New York Avenue, January 2d, 1875._ | | | +--------------------------------------------------------+
The capital letters constitute the initials of four French words, meaning, “Answer, if you please” (_Répondez s’il vous plait_). The person thus invited must not fail to reply at once, sending a messenger to the door with the note. It is considered impolite to send it by post.
If the person invited has any doubt about being able to attend the dinner at the time stated, he should decline the invitation at once. He should be positive one way or the other, not delaying the question for consideration more than a day at the utmost. If Mr. Jones should then decline, he might reply as follows:
+------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | _Mr. Jones regrets that he is unable to accept | | Mrs. Smith’s polite invitation for Thursday evening._ | | | | _8 Thirty-seventh Street, January 3d._ | | | +------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | _Mr. Jones regrets that a previous engagement | | prevents his acceptance of Mrs. Smith’s polite invitation | | for Thursday evening._ | | | | _Thirty-seventh Street, January 3d._ | | | +------------------------------------------------------------+