Q Dear Miss Abigail: What can you tell me about the proper way to serve tea? If this is too general, would you kindly address afternoon tea service in the home? Still too general? Perhaps you might look at the question of accompanying food service (e.g., pickled jellyfish, toast points, hot buttered brioche &c.). With […]
Tag: parties
Fingers ~ Chicken ~ Good?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: Can I eat chicken with my fingers? Signed, Cat A Dear Cat: I’m glad you brought up this important topic. It’s about time for a little review on dinner etiquette and the proper use of forks, knives, and other utensils. Shall we dig in? 1897: Dinner-Parties As little noise as possible. […]
Répondez s’il vous Pretty Please
Q Dear Miss Abigail: I recently sent invitations for a birthday party and indicated R.S.V.P., but no one has replied. Do they think it means regrets only? I thought R.S.V.P. meant to please reply. Can you tell me what it really means? Signed, Cindy A Dear Cindy: You are correct, my dear. Your so-called friends, […]
Partygoing
The gals and I just happened to attend a wickedly fun party last weekend. So to celebrate, here is a bit of advice from Ellen Peck’s long-titled How to Get a Boy and What to Do With Him When You Get Him. The topic: flirting at parties. Not that we would know anything about that. 1969: […]
1923: Entertainment (part 2)
Last time, in preparation for my Miss Abigail book launch party, I brought you some tips for the party hostess. Now, some additional excerpts from Everyday Manners, for the guests: ~~When you are invited, come at the time set by your host or hostess. If you are asked to come at eight, that is when […]
1923: Entertainment (part 1)
Since I’m throwing myself a book launch party (see previous post) I thought I’d look up some advice on entertaining a group. The following, geared toward me, the hostess, is from a book authored by the “Faculty of the South Philadelphia High School for Girls” (according to my permission research for the book, no longer […]