Answers to Invitations are of two kinds, an affirmative answer, and a non-acceptance.

Wedding and reception invitations do not require an acceptance unless they contain the letters R. S. V. P. or their equivalent, and the same can be said of all other invitations, except dinner.  A failure to answer is understood as a tacit acceptance.  A regret must invariably be sent in case of inability to attend.

Dinner invitations should be promptly accepted or declined, that the entertainer should know for how many and whom to provide.  An answer should generally be addressed to the person named within it, but the answer to a joint note from a husband and wife, while it should contain within it some recognition of both, should be addressed on the envelope, to the lady alone.  If the invitation is declined it is more courteous and friendly to state a reason for non-attendance that to decline without an assigned cause, and if a cause is assigned it is better, socially and morally considered, to state a real and specific reason, rather than a feigned and general one.

After having accepted a dinner invitation a person should not absent himself except for the strongest reasons; and if there should be such reasons, they should by all means be stated in a regret.  An "At Home" reception card of invitation does not require an answer.

All other invitations must be answered, if an answer is required, not later than the third day.  If anything occurs to prevent attendance, a regret should be sent the day after the party.

Answers should correspond somewhat in style to the invitations, each being varied to suit the circumstances of the case.

A few illustrations and models are given.  They should be written; blank acceptances and regrets should not be used.

Acceptance of a Dinner Invitation.

Mr. Walter W. Walker has much pleasure in accepting Mr. James H. Winter's kind invitation for Wednesday evening, May 26th.

St. Nicholas Hotel,

Monday, May 24th, 1880.

Regret.  (Answer to same, reason stated.)

Mr. Walter W. Walker regrets that, owing to a previous engagement, he is unable to accept Mr. James H. Winter's kind invitation for Wednesday evening, the 26th instant.

St. Nicholas Hotel,

Monday, May 24th, 1880.

Regret.  (Reason not stated.)

Mr. Walter W. Walker regrets that he cannot accept Mr. James H. Winter's polite invitation for Wednesday evening.

St. Nicholas Hotel,

Monday, May 26th, 1880.

Regret.  (After Invitation has been Accepted.)

Mr. and Mrs. F. C. White regret that on account of the sudden illness of one of their

children, they are compelled to revoke the acceptance of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kindlen's kind invitation for to-morrow evening.

No. 270 Warren Ave.

Acceptance.

Mrs. Stephens accepts the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, for Monday evening, May 16th, and is happy to have the opportunity to congratulate them on the arrival of their son's twenty-first birthday.

No 125 W. 34th Street.

Regret.

Miss Bradley declines Mr. Swinson's kind invitation, with thanks.  She is already engaged for to-morrow evening.

Wednesday morning.

Acceptance (familiar style) to Picnic Party.

MY DEAR MOLLIE:

I shall be delighted to go with you this afternoon.  It is just such an opportunity as I have been wishing for.

LIZZIE.

The following letter of regret was written on behalf of his Royal Highness Prince Leopold, by his private secretary, in answer to an invitation from the Mayor of Cincinnati, inviting the Prince and Princess Louise to visit that city:

MONTREAL, June 10, 1880.

SIR:—I am desired by Prince Leopold to thank you very much for the kind thought of him that has prompted you to invite him and his sister, the Princess Louise, to visit you at Cincinnati.  The Prince begs me to assure you that it would have given him great pleasure to accept you offer had the time at his disposal been longer.  He is, however, only able to be absent a short time from England, and must therefore forego with great reluctance much of the pleasure which he had promised himself in visiting some of the principal cities of your country.  I remain very faithfully yours,

R. H. COLLINS.

Note of Regret.

Mr. Littlejohn regrets that he was absent when Mr. Abbott called, and hopes that Mr. Abbott will mention a time when it will be convenient for him to meet Mr. Littlejohn.
   Baltimore, June 15.

Accepting an Invitation to a Croquet Party.

DEAR WILL:—I shall be delighted to join your croquet party.  Pray offer my best respects to Miss Mollie, and tell her I will do all I can to prove myself her obedient servant.

Believe me, sincerely yours,

GEORGE H. DAVIS.

W. FREEMAN, ESQ.

Declining an Invitation to a Croquet Party.

RIDGEWAY, May 18, 1881.

DEAR WILL:—I regret extremely that I cannot accept your invitation,and put myself at Miss Mollie's disposal for a game of croquet; but unluckily, I am obliged to go to Chicago to-morrow and shall not return until 28^th inst.

Yours sincerely,

GEORGE H. DAVIS.

Declining an Invitation to the Opera.

Miss Gibson presents her compliments to Mr. Eaton and regrets that a previous engagement will prevent her attendance on the evening designated.

No. 346 Morris Ave., Jan. 27, 1881.

From a Gentleman, Accepting an Invitation, though Suffering From Illness (Temporary).

AIKEN, May 25, 1881.

DEAR MRS. FULLERTON:—I have been laid up with rheumatism for some days, and have not recovered from it. I will, however, accept your kind invitation for Wednesday next, and hope to be able to come.

With kind regards to yourself and sister, I remain,

Yours very truly,

MARTIN GARRISON.

Postponing a Visit.

TRENTON, May 16, 1881.

MY DEAR FRED:—I regret extremely that we are obliged to ask you to postpone your visit till next month.

We cannot get the house at Newport for which we were in treaty [sic], till that time, and our present abode is so small that we are unable to offer a bed-room to a friend.

I trust this delay will not inconvenience you. It is a great disappointment to us, as we longed equally for the sea and your company.

My wife unites with me in kind remembrances.

I am ever, yours very truly,

HARRY OSGOOD.

FREDERICK ALLEN, ESQ.

Accepting an Invitation to a Ball.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer's compliments to Mrs. Ellington: They accept with pleasure her polite invitation for Wednesday, 30th inst.

No. 372 Warren Ave., Jan. 23, 1881.

Declining an Invitation to a Ball.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer's compliments to Mrs. Ellington: They regret that absence from the city will prevent their accepting her polite invitation for Wednesday, 30th inst.

No. 372 Warren Ave., Jan. 23, 1881.

1. The Prince Leopold George Duncan, Duke of Albany (1853-1884), youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the first royal to die (at Cannes, from a burst blood vessel in his head) of hæmophilia. A brief biography is here. (By the way, Prince Leopold wasn't created Duke of Albany until May of 1881.)

2. The Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939) was Queen Victoria's sixth child. Her husband, Sir John D. S. Campbell, Marquess of Lorne & later 9th Duke of Argyll (1845-1914) became Governor-General of Canada in November 1878. This biography of Louise mentions that she and her brother, Prince Leopold, toured the U.S. and Canada for ten days while he was visiting her in the spring of 1881. Princess Louise was a talented artist, and Alberta's Lake Louise was named after her.

3. Sir Robert Hawthorn Collins (1841-1908) was in fact Prince Leopold's private secretary, having been his private tutor since August 1867 and later his Comptroller until the Prince's death in 1884.

4. The German-born Charles Jacob, Jr. (1834-1913) was Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio 1879-1881. See his Political Graveyard entry.