INVITATIONS TO LUNCHEON.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 161, 13 October 1883, Page 11

INVITATIONS TO LUNCHEON.

Invitations to luncheon arc very much the order of the day in fashionable society ; those who look back some few years remark the importance now accorded to this mid-day meal, and contrast it with the past. The lateness of the dinner hour in a measure accounts for the position now taken i by luncheon in the clay's programme, joined to the fact that it offers another opportunity for social gatherings ; and, as the prevailing idea seems to be to crowd into one day as much amusement and variety and change as possible, I invitations to luncheon have become one of the features of social life. Invitations to public luncheons are not now confined to the celebration of local and civic events, but take a far wider range, and are given on every available opportunity when the occasion can be made for assembling i a large company of ladies and gentlemen, as this 3'ear's luncheons given at the Fisheries Pxhibition go to prove, these fish luncheons having been voted a novelty and a success, worthy of all imitation. . Again, the luncheon giving at the I Inner Temple during the reign of the two popular treasurers met with the greatest appreciation on all sides ; and it is hoped that ere long that these pleasant gatherings will be resumed when another popular treasurer holds sway in that far-famed banqueting hall. The members of the Coaching Olab and the Four-in-Hand Club dispense great hospitality in the way of luncheon parties, which are given at, Richmond, at the Star and Garter, and at the Orleans Club, Twickenham, at the Alexandra Palace, at the Crystal Palace, and at other favourite spots within easy reach of town. Luncheon is by some considered to be rather a lady's meal than not, although in reality invitations are given as gensrally to the one sex as to the other, yet the predominance of ladies at luncheon is' due to the fact that the majority of gentlemen are too much occupied at this hour to be at liberty to accept invitations to luncheon, while others more idle breakfast at so late an hour that to them a two o'clock luncheon is a farce as far as eating is concerned ; outside of those who are busy men and those who are idle men, and consequently late risers, there is another semi - occupied class of men who are always amenable to an invitation to luncheon. This j institution of luncheon is invaluable to people | who have many friends, acquaintances, and relations to entertain, as invitations to this meal are given for every day in the week with or without ceremony, with long notice or short notice, or on the spur of the moment. Ladies enjoy the society of their hostess at iuncheon far more than at ati ordinary dinner party ; at the former nieal she makes general conversation with her guests on both sides of the luncheon table ; at the latter she is monopolised by her immediate neighbours, by the gentleman who takes her down to dinner, and by the one who sits at her right hand, while she leaves her guests to be entertained by the gentlemen who take them into dinner. But at luncheon things are different ; there is no going into luncneon conventionally speaking, save, on official and; public occasions. The ladies go down together chatting the while, the gentlemen follow, and not seldom the hostess entei^ th.c dining-r ; o,om after the guests are seated:* * When gentlemen are present **they nat.uraJly..Beat.:j/hgmsel f Ye8 r : beside, the ladies,' "but all "formality is dispensed with, the meal being of so short a duration, and the conversation general; The host and hostess, however, always retain their places at the top and bottom of the table, as at dinner. It is not the rule to wait luncheon for. guests as for dinner, with the

only exception in the case of a very favoured guest, and the patience of a hostess is rarely tried, people being proverbially punctual at this mid-day meal, and if invited for two o'clock contrive to arrive ten minutes before that hour. When guests are late they are ushered at once into the dining - room, and take their places at table, making their apologies the while, feeling that their want of punctuality is their own loss, and has occasioned no inconvenience to their hostess or annoyance to the cook. In some houses the servants remain in the dining-room and wait on the guests during luncheon ; in others a sort of compromise is made, and the servants remain a part of the time only, while in certain houses the guests help themselves and each other, and, after making the announcement that luncheon is served, the servants withdraw. Ladies who are intimate with their hostess, arrive twenty minutes or a quarter of an hour before the luncheon hour to enjoy a little chat with her, and this a much pleasanter one than that which precedes the dinner.