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THE MUSICALE is merely a formal at home where music is made a special feature of the entertainment. Throughout, the procedure is that of an at home, and the details are to be found in full in the chapter under that heading. The only formal difference is in the wording of the invitation, which makes mention of music as the feature.
The invitations are engraved, and may take either of the two usual forms, according to the choice of the hostess.
Mrs. George H. Baxterrequests the pleasure of.......................................companyat a musicaleon Friday evening, May firstat half-past nine o’clockTwenty-seven Maple Street
Or the at-home form may be used as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. George H. BaxterAt HomeFriday evening, May firstat half-past nine o’clockTwenty-seven Maple StreetMusic
Such an affair in the evening is often of the most elaborate character, and is essentially a concert. But a musicale may be given with equal propriety in the afternoon. The form for engraved invitationsis precisely the same, with the single exception of the hours named, for the afternoon entertainment specifies the time asfrom four until seven o’clock.
For a less formal occasion, a hostess may extend her invitations by sending a visiting-card, on which she writes, below her name,Friday, May first, four to seven o’clock, and underneath this the single wordMusic. Or in place of the wordMusic, she may writeTo hear.............. adding the name of a particular performer.
The obligations of the guests follow in all respects those to which attention has been already given under the title “At Homes.” Thus, in the matter of costumes, the usage resembles that explained concerning correct garb for both afternoon and evening receptions in the earlier chapter.
It might be well to emphasize the fact that no direct reply is required for an invitation announcing that the hostess will be at home on a certain date. But the case isquite otherwise when that form of invitation is employed which requests the pleasure of the guest’s company. This demands a prompt answer, whether of acceptance or of refusal, which should be couched in the third person. Thus:
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sage Beckettaccept with pleasureMrs. Baxter’s kind invitationfor May firstNineteen Wentworth SquareApril twenty-first, 1919
Or, in the event of inability to accept, or disinclination, the answer should run as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sage Beckettregret that a previous engagementprevents their acceptanceof Mrs. Baxter’s kind invitationfor May firstNineteen Wentworth SquareApril twenty-first, 1919