The announcement is invariably made by the parents of the bride-elect.  It is a breach of etiquette for a member of the young man’s family to tell of the engagement until the formal announcement has been arranged for.

=ANNOUNCEMENT OF ENGAGEMENT=

On the evening before the day of the announcement, the bride’s mother either sends a note, or has some one call the various daily papers by telephone, and says:  “I am speaking for Mrs. John Huntington Smith.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith are announcing the engagement of their daughter, Mary, to Mr. James Smartlington, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brown Smartlington, of 2000 Arcade Avenue.”

If either the Huntington Smiths or the Arthur Smartlingtons are socially prominent, reporters will be sent to get further information.  Photographs and details, such as entertainments to be given, or plans for the wedding, will probably be asked for.  The prejudices of old-fashioned people against giving personal news to papers is rapidly being overcome and not even the most conservative any longer object to a dignified statement of facts, such as Mrs. Smith’s telephone message.

It is now considered entirely good form to give photographs to magazines and newspapers, but one should never send them unless specially requested.

On the eve of the announcement, a dinner is sometimes given by the young girl’s parents, and the news is told by her father, who at about salad course or dessert, proposes the health of his daughter and future son-in-law.

=HOW A HEALTH IS PROPOSED=

The host after directing that all glasses at the table be filled, rises, lifts his own glass and says:  “I propose we drink to the health of my daughter Mary and the young man she has decided to add permanently to our family, James Smartlington.”

Or: 

    “A standing toast:  To my Mary and to her—­Jim!”

Or: 

“I want you to drink the happiness of a young pair whose future welfare is close to the hearts of all of us:  Mary (holding up his glass and looking at her) and Jim!” (holding it up again and looking at him).  Every one except Mary and Jim rises and drinks a swallow or two (of whatever the champagne substitute may be).  Every one then congratulates the young couple, and Jim is called upon for a “speech”!

Generally rather “fussed,” Jim rises and says something like:  “I—­er—­we—­thank you all very much indeed for all your good wishes,” and sits down.  Or if he is an earnest rather than a shy youth, perhaps he continues:  “I don’t have to tell you how lucky I am, the thing for me to do is to prove, if I can, that Mary has not made the mistake of her life in choosing me, and I hope that it won’t be very long before we see you all at our own table with Mary at the head of it and I, where I belong, at the foot.”

Or: 

    “I can’t make a speech and you know it.  But I certainly am lucky
    and I know it.”