THE AFTERNOON TEA is perhaps the most popular of social functions, and deservedly so, since it is essentially of the utmost simplicity, yet may be expanded into a most elaborate social affair. In the original simple form, the hostess merely welcomes her guests as they come to her on her regular day at home, in the drawing-room, and there offers them a cup of tea served by herself and light refreshments of sandwiches and cakes and the like.

The next development in the tea is in the nature of a small afternoon reception, or at home. For this occasion, the hostess issues invitations a week in advance. A visiting-card serves the purpose, with a line written below the name:

Wednesday, June fourth
from four until seven o’clock

If there is to be a guest of honor, an additional line may indicate the fact:

To meet........................

The procedure for the hostess at a function of this sort is more formal. It is usual to have the refreshments in the dining-room, though they should not be of an elaborate character. The teapot is placed at one end of the table, and presided over by some friend, since the obligations of the hostess prevent her rendering this hospitable service in person.

The third stage of the afternoon tea has come to take the place of the old-time reception, though it bears merely the designation “At Home.”

The requisite invitations must be sent out any time from a week to a fortnight before the date set. For these, an engraved form is essential. They are printed on heavy white bristol board, of the quality described for dinner-invitations, and inclosed in a single envelope. They may be issued in the name of the hostess alone, or in the names of a hostess and her daughter or daughters, or in the names of husband and wife—though this last is a very modern innovation. The following will serve as a model:

Mrs. James French Putnam
At Home
April the seventh
From four until seven o’clock
208 Flagg Avenue

If the husband joins with the wife in issuing the invitations, the only change is in the first line:

Mr. and Mrs. James French Putnam

Where a daughter is to receive with her mother, the girl’s name appears just below that of the matron:

Mrs. James French Putnam
Miss Putnam

Where there are two or more daughters thus associated with the mother, they are included under one title. Thus:

Mrs. James French Putnam
The Misses Putnam

When a younger sister is to appear at her dÉbut, her name in full is given a line after those of her mother and elder sister:

Mrs. James French Putnam
Miss Putnam
Miss Helen Louise Putnam

In the event of a guest of honor, the invitation may emphasize the presence of this personage by a special engraved announcement at the head of the invitation:

To meet
......................................

The remainder of the invitation will follow any of the forms indicated above.

Or the announcement may appear in one engraved line at the foot of the invitation:

To meet................................

At a reception of this character, the hostess is obliged to remain on duty near the door of the drawing-room throughout the hours set. But a husband or daughter receiving with her, though expected to join her in receiving the guests at the outset and for a considerable time afterward, is not so rigidly held to the one place, but after a time may properly move about among the guests with hospitable intent.

But a dÉbutante must remain at the post of duty with her mother throughout the whole time.

In recent years, there has developed a pleasant custom by which the dÉbutante invites a number of her young friends to join her in receiving the other guests. It is usual to entertain these at dinner after the reception.

The refreshments for an occasion of this sort are served in the dining-room with servants in attendance. Tea is poured at one end of the table, and perhaps chocolate at the other, while a bowl of punch is commonly at hand. The refreshments are of the buffet variety, but they may be as rich and varied as the hostess chooses. At such functions in the city, it is usual to lay a strip of carpet from the house door to the curb, and an awning raised over this offers protection to the guests in inclement weather. Where the list of guests is long, a liveried servant at the curb not only opens the doors of the motors, but also issues checks by which the cars may be summoned for the departure of the guests.

A butler opens the house door as the guest approaches, and gives directions as to the dressing-rooms. Another liveried servant at the door of the drawing-room announces each guest by name to the hostess.

At such affairs, both hostess and women guests wear what is properly termed a reception-gown—that is to say, one of elegance and richness, with a train if the prevailing mode permits, but not decolletÉ or sleeveless. Hats of a character harmonious with the gown are worn throughout the function, as are gloves.

The men wear black frock coats and gray striped trousers, with either a black waistcoat or a fancy one according to choice. While he leaves his coat and hat in the dressing-room at such formal affairs, a man retains his gloves, either keeping the left glove on the hand, and carrying the other, or carrying both. The right hand must be bare.

Each woman guest leaves on a tray provided for that purpose in the hall a card for her hostess and one for each of any other women receiving. She may also leave similarly the cards of any other woman member of her family who has been invited, but does not attend.

The man leaves a card for his host if there is one, in addition to those for the ladies.

No reply is necessary from one invited to such a reception, either of acceptance or of refusal. The presence of the guests is deemed a sufficient answer. In the event of non-attendance, the guest must be at pains to send cards, and these should be so timed in the sending that they will reach their address on the day of the at home, preferably in the afternoon.

At crowded affairs, the guest displays good manners as well as good sense by making the stay short. Twenty minutes is a sufficient time, and departure should not be delayed much beyond a half-hour. It is better not to say farewell to the hostess, unless the going should be at a time when few guests remain, and she is obviously at leisure.

The punctilious guest will make a point of arriving neither too early nor too late. Between half-past four and six is recommended.

The formal evening reception is less popular than in former days, but it still prevails to a limited extent. The procedure throughout is substantially the same as for that of the afternoon reception. The wording of the invitation is identical, with the single exception of the time specified.

The line that indicated the hours from four until seven o’clock must be changed to read:

From nine until eleven o’clock

Or, it may be properly stated, if one’s taste so dictates:

After nine o’clock

While for the evening reception all other formal details are the same as for an afternoon affair, the costumes of the guests, both men and women, are changed as befits the change in hours. The men are scrupulous in the exactitude of their evening garb—swallow tail, white linen and white cravat and white waistcoat, and patent-leather shoes; while the women array themselves in their handsomest evening gowns, decolletÉ and sleeveless, and display the richest of their jewels.