POSTPONING OR CANCELING A DINNER
When it happens (and it often does!) that something unforeseen and unexpected happens to prevent one from giving the dinner for which engraved cards have been issued, the hostess must immediately dispatch, either through messenger or special delivery, short written notes canceling the engagement. The third-person formula may be used, but there must be a certain warmth in the note to avoid any semblance of indifference. And it is a mark of fine courtesy to offer the reason why the dinner has to be postponed. Here are two forms that may be used:
Because of the severe illness of their son
Mr and Mrs. John Smith
beg to cancel their dinner, arranged for
Tuesday, May the fifth
or
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith regret that the damages done to their home by a recent fire make it necessary for them to postpone the dinner arranged for May the fifth until May the thirtieth.
INVITING A STOP-GAP
When a vacancy occurs in a dinner party at the last moment, one may call upon a friend to fill the place as a
