In case an officer desires to invite his personal friends, he encloses his own card in the invitation, but these must all be issued in the form already given, the card explaining to which officer the compliment is to be attributed. Invitations to a Naval ball are issued in the name of the "Captain and officers of the U. S. Ship ---," or simply in the name of "The Officers of the U. S. Ship ---." On the corner of the card the name of the officer to whom the answers are to be sent, should be written. An officer of higher rank, or a public official of high position, will signify on his card what aide-de-camp or clerk is to receive the answers to his invitations, and will issue them in the joint name of himself and wife, thus: "General and Mrs. E--- request the pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. D---'s company, on Thursday, the 6th of November, at 8 o'clock. "Direct answers to Capt. E. C---." Verbal invitations are given only when the occasion is a very informal one, and imply plain dress, early hours and a small company. Invitations to concerts, theatre or opera, should be sent in time to secure good seats, if accepted, The usual style is: "Mr. G would be much pleased to have Mrs. and Miss Hunt's company at the opera, on Wednesday evening, when La Trovatore will be performed by the Italian troupe at the Academy of Music." Such an invitation calls for an immediate answer from the elder lady, and should be as follows: "Mrs. and Miss Hunt accept with pleasure Mr. G---'s polite invitation to listen to a favorite opera on Wednesday evening." Or if declined: "Mrs. Hunt regrets that a prior engagement will prevent her own and Miss Hunt's acceptance of Mr. G---'s polite invitation for Wednesday evening." For a general reception, invitations are printed upon cards, thus: "Wednesday Evening, January 14th, No. 348 --- STREET." Such cards do not require any answer. DINNER COMPANY. ON no occasion is a want of punctuality more ill-bred than at a dinner party, whether it is the guests who are late, or the hostess who allows dinner to be later than the time appointed. Belie remarks, with as much truth as sarcasm: "I have always been punctual to the hour of dinner, for I know that those whom I kept waiting would employ those unpleasant moments to sum up all my faults." To arrive too early is to annoy the lady of the house by disturbing her at her toilet. To arrive too late is injurious to the dinner, to the temper of your host, of the other guests and of the servants. It is really a sad breach of etiquette to be later than the hour named in your invitation for dinner, and from ten to fifteen minutes before it is quite soon enough for your arrival.