Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1921)

Advertising Section Two whole months I planned for my wedding day. It was to be an elaborate church affair, with arches, bridesmaids and sweet little flower-girls. Bob wanted a simple ceremony— but I insisted on a church wedding. "We are only married once, you know," I laughed. "And Oh. Bob," I whispered, nestling closer, "it will be the happiest day of my life." Gaily I planned for that happ\ day and proudly I fond.ed the shimmering folds of my wedding gown. There were flowers to be ordered, music to be selected and cards to be sent. Each moment was crowded with anticipations. Oh, if I could have only known then the dark cloud that overshadowed my happiness! At last the glorious day of my marriage arrived. The excitement fanned the spark of my happiness into glowing and I thrilled with a joy that I had never known before. My wedding day! The happiest day of my life! I just knew that I would remember it forever. A Day I Will Remember Forever How can I describe to 3-ou the beauty of the church scene as I found it when I arrived? Huge wreaths of flowers swung in graceful fragrance from ceiling to wall. Each pew boasted its cluster of lilies, and the altar was a mass of many-hued blossoms. The bridesmaids, in their flowing white gowns, seemed almost unreal, and the little flower-girls looked like tiny fairies as they scattered flowers along the carpeted aisle. It was superb! I firmly believed that there was nothing left in all the world to wish for. The organist received the cue, and with a low, deep chord the mellow strains of the triumphant wedding march began. Perhaps it was the beauty of the scene. Perhaps it was the strains of the wedding march. Perhaps it was my overwhelming happiness. At any rate, the days of rehearsal and planning vanished in a blur of happy forgetfulness, and before I realized what I was doing, I had made an awful blunder. I had made a mistake right at the beginning of the wedding march, despite the weeks of careful preparation and the days of strict rehearsal! One Little Mistake— and My Joy is Ended Some one giggled, I noticed that the clergyman raised his brows ever so slightly. The sudden realization of the terrible blunder I was making caused a pang of regret that I had not read up, somewhere, about the blunders to be avoided at wedding ceremonies. A hot blush of humiliation surged over me — and with crimson face and trembling lip I began the march all over again. It all happened so suddenly. In a moment it was over. And yet that blunder had spoiled my wedding day! Every one had noticed it, they couldn't help noticing it. All my rehearsing had been in vain, and the event that I had hoped would be the crowning glory of my life, proved a miserable failure. Of course, all my friends told me how pretty I looked, and the guests proclaimed my wedding a tremendoui success. But deep down in my heart I knew that they did not mean it — they could not mean it. I had broken one of the fundamental laws of wedding etiquette and they would never forget it. After the ceremony that evening I cried as though my heart would break — and, incidentally, I reproached myself for not knowing better. I Buy a Book of Etiquette After the wedding there were cards of thanks and "at home" cards to be sent. The wedding breakfast bad to be arranged and our honeymoon trip planned. I determined to avoid any further blunders in etiquette, and so I sent for the famous "Encyclopedia of Etiquette." Bob and I had always prided ourselves on being cultured and well-bred. We had always believed that we followed the conventions of society to the highest letter of its law. But oh, the serious breaches of etiquette we were making almost every day! Why, after reading only five pages I discovered that I actually did not know how to introduce people to each other correctlyl I didn't know whether to say: Mrs. Broom, meet Miss Smith: or Miss Smith, meet Mrs. Brcrjm. I didn't know whether to sav, Bobby, this is Mr. Blank: or Mr. Blank, this is Bobby. I didn't know whether it were proper for me to shake hands with a gentleman upon being introduced to him, and whether it were proper for me to stand up or remain _,| seated. I discovered, in fact, that to be able to establish an immediate and friendly understanding between two people who have never met before, to make conversation flow smoothly and pleasantly, is an art in itself. Every day people judge us by the way we make and acknowledge introductions. Blunders in Etiquette at the Dance Bob glanced over the chapter called Etiquette at the Dance. "Why, dear," he exclaimed, "I never knew how to dispose of my dancing partner and return to you without appearing rude — and here it's all explained so simply." We read the chapter together, Bob and I, and we found out the correct way to ask a lady to dance and the polite and courteous way for her to refuse it. We found out how to avoid that awkward moment after the music ceases and the gentleman must leave his partner to return to his escort. We even discovered the correct thing for a young girl to do if she is not asked to dance. "We will find invaluable aid in our 'Encyclopedia of Etiquette,'" I said to Bob. "It tells us just what to do, what to say, what to write and what to wear at all times. And there are two chapters, I see, on foreign countries that tell all about tips, dress, calling cards, correspondence, addressing royalty and addressing clergy abroad. Why, look. Bob, it even tells about the dinner etiquette in France, England and Germany. And see, here is a chapter on wedding etiquette — the very mistake I made is pointed out! Oh, Bob, if I had only had this wonderful book, I would never have made that blunder!" My Advice to Young Men and Women The world is a harsh judge. To be admitted to society, to enjoy the company of brilliant minds and to win admiration and respect for oneself, it is essential for the woman to cultivate charm, and for the man to be polished, impressive. And only by adhering to the laws of etiquette is it possible for the woman to be charming and the man to be what the world loves to call a gentleman. I would rather lose a thousand dollars than live through that awful moment of my wedding again. Even now. when I think of it, I blush. And so. my advice to young men and women who desire to be cultured rather than coarse, who desire to impress by their de icacy of taste and finesse of breeding, is — "send for the splendid two-volume set of the Encyclopedia of Etiquette." Send for it that you may know the correct thing to wear at the dinner, and the correct thing to wear at the ball. Send for it that you may know just what to do and say when you overturn a cup of coffee on your hostess' table linen. Send for it that you may know the proper way to remove fruit stones from your mouth, the cultured way to use a finger bowl and the correct way to use napkins. Send for it, in short, that you may be always, at all times, cultured, well-bred and refined; that you may do and say and write and wear only what is the best of form and utterly in accord with the art of etiquette. "Before I realized what I was doing, I had started the wed" ding march with an awful blunder in Etiquette.*' Encyclopedia of Etiquette In Two Comprehensive Volumes Sent FREE for Five Days Encyclopedia of Etiquette is excellent in quality, comprehensive in proportions, rich in illustrations. It comes to you as a guide, a revelation toward better etiquette. It dispels lingering doubts, corrects blunders, teaches you the right thing to do. For a short time only the complete two-volume set of the Encyclopedia of Etiquette is being offered at the special price of $3.50. Don't wait until your wedding, your party, your dinner is spoiled by a blunder. Don't delay — send for your set NOW before you forget. The coupon below entitles you to a S days' FREE examination of the two-volume set of Everyman's Encyclopedia of Etiquette. At the end of that time if you decide that you want to keep it, simply send us $3.50 in full payment — and the set is yours. Or, if you are not delighted, return the books to us and you won't be out a cent. Send for your set of the Encyclopedia to-day! Surprise your friends with your knowledge of the correct thing to do, say, write and wear at all times. Just mail the coupon — don't send any money. Nelson Doubleday, Inc., Dept. 404 Oyster Bay, New York. I NELSON DOUBLEDAY, INC., | Dept. 404 Oyster Bay, New York. | Gentlemen: ■ You may send me the complete two-volume ' set of the Encyclopedia of Etiquette. After a ' days I will either return the books or send you $3.50 in full payment. This places me under no ■ obligation. Name. I I | Address Picture Play 4-21