CHAPTER XIII

TEAS AND OTHER AFTERNOON PARTIES

=TEAS=

Except at a wedding, the function strictly understood by the word “reception” went out of fashion, in New York at least, during the reign of Queen Victoria, and its survivor is a public or semi-public affair presided over by a committee, and is a serious, rather than a merely social event.

The very word “reception” brings to mind an aggregation of personages, very formal, very dressed up, very pompous, and very learned, among whom the ordinary mortal can not do other than wander helplessly in the labyrinth of the specialist’s jargon.  Art critics on a varnishing day reception, are sure to dwell on the effect of a new technique, and the comment of most of us, to whom a painting ought to look like a “picture,” is fatal.  Equally fatal to meet an explorer and not know where or what he explored; or to meet a celebrated author and not have the least idea whether he wrote detective stories or expounded Taoism.  On the other hand it is certainly discouraging after studying up on the latest Cretan excavations in order to talk intelligently to Professor Diggs, to be pigeon-holed for the afternoon beside Mrs. Newmother whose interest in discovery is limited to “a new tooth in baby’s head.”

Yet the difference between a reception and a tea is one of atmosphere only, like the difference in furnishing twin houses.  One is enveloped in the heavy gloom of the mid-Victorian period, the other is light and alluring in the fashion of to-day.

A “tea,” even though it be formal, is nevertheless friendly and inviting.  One does not go in “church” clothes nor with ceremonious manner; but in an informal and every-day spirit, to see one’s friends and be seen by them.

=THE AFTERNOON TEA WITH DANCING=

The afternoon tea with dancing is usually given to “bring out” a daughter, or to present a new daughter-in-law.  The invitations are the same whether one hundred or two thousand are sent out.  For instance: 

Mrs. Grantham Jones

Miss Muriel Jones

will be at home

on Tuesday, the third of December

from four until seven o’clock

The Fitz-Cherry

Dancing

As invitations to formal teas of this sort are sent to the hostess’ “general” visiting list, and very big houses are comparatively few, a ballroom is nearly always engaged at a hotel.  Many hotels have a big and a small ballroom, and unless one’s acquaintance is enormous the smaller room is preferable.

Too much space for too few people gives an effect of emptiness which always is suggestive of failure; also one must not forget that an undecorated room needs more people to make it look “trimmed” than one in which the floral decoration is lavish.  On the other hand, a “crush” is very disagreeable, even though it always gives the effect of “success.”