Part 38 (1/2)
A wedding-cake occupies a prominent place on the table, and the dinner-table decorations consist of white flowers interspersed with silver.
=At the Silver Wedding dance=, the husband and wife dance the first dance together, and subsequently lead the way into the supper-room arm-in-arm, and later on their health is proposed by the princ.i.p.al guest present.
The wife should wear white and silver, or grey and silver.
In the country, when a Silver Wedding is celebrated, the festivities sometimes range over three days, but this only in the case of prominent and wealthy people; b.a.l.l.s, dinners, and school-treats being given, in which the neighbours, tenants, villagers and servants take part.
=Golden Weddings.=--The celebration of a Golden Wedding is rather an English custom, and one that from circ.u.mstances can be but seldom observed. It denotes that fifty years of married life have pa.s.sed over the heads of husband and wife, and is a solemn rather than a festive epoch. Presents on this occasion are not so generally given, and children and grandchildren rather than acquaintances make up the circle of those who offer congratulations.
CHAPTER XLV
SUBSCRIPTION DANCES
=Subscription= dances are now an established fact, but whether they will ever really become a rival to the dance proper remains to be seen; yet as they supply a want felt, and are recognised by society, the arrangements necessary for carrying them out should be duly noted.
During the winter months they are a feature in certain sets: Subscription dances, private Subscription dances and public Subscription dances, the latter got up for charitable purposes.
The moderate expenses incurred by giving private Subscription dances commend them to many, and there are other reasons to account for their popularity. They are without pretension to being considered smart or exclusive, and are essentially small and early dances. Fas.h.i.+onable ball-goers are not expected to attend them. They commence at 9 o'clock and terminate at 12, light refreshments in lieu of supper are provided, as at an afternoon ”at home.” (See p. 153.) A piano band is considered sufficient for the purpose, and floral decorations are scarcely ever attempted. The invitations are issued on ”at home” cards, with the words ”Subscription Dance” printed in one corner.
=Subscription= dances are sometimes invitation dances and sometimes not.
Tickets for these dances are charged for singly or by the series as the case may be. A certain number of ladies form a committee and agree to give a certain number of dances, and the expenses are either borne by the ladies themselves or covered by the sale of the tickets. If invitation dances, a certain number of invitations are allotted to each lady. When otherwise, the ladies dispose of the tickets among their friends. These dances are usually held in a mansion hired for the purpose, and there are several available in different parts of the West End, where s.p.a.cious rooms can be hired on very moderate terms; in some instances a piano, seats, and other accessories are also included.
=Public Subscription= dances are held in public rooms or Town Halls, and vouchers are given by ladies on the committee previous to tickets being granted.
The same etiquette holds good at Subscription dances as at other public dances. The early hour at which these dances take place recommends them to some and altogether renders them impossible to others, notably to those who dine late, and who are not inclined to dance at nine o'clock or even at ten o'clock, and who rather resent the frugal style of refreshments offered, and consider that a champagne supper is an indispensable adjunct to a dance.
It should be remembered that Subscription dances were first originated for the amus.e.m.e.nt of very young people, and it was never expected that they would compete with the fas.h.i.+onable small dances of the day; their popularity was a surprise, and if ball-goers are disposed to hold them in contempt there are others less fas.h.i.+onable and less wealthy who find them very much to their taste.
The great difficulty, however, that ladies have to contend with is the fact that very few men can be induced to attend them, and that those who do accept invitations or purchase tickets are very young men, who have their way to make in the world, and are as yet on the lower rungs of the ladder, and as young ladies are very much in the majority at these Subscription dances, to dance with partners younger than themselves is an almost inevitable result for those who are no longer in their teens.
CHAPTER XLVI
GIVING PRESENTS
As regards presents in general it should be understood that a present demands a note of thanks in all cases when the thanks cannot be verbally expressed. The notes to slight acquaintances should be written in the third person. To friends, in the first person. This applies equally to presents of game, poultry, fruit, or flowers. Some few people entertain the erroneous idea that presents of this nature do not require thanks.
This is not only ungracious but raises a doubt in the mind of the giver as to whether the present sent has been duly received.