, 1876-12-03
GOSSIP.
STATIQNEKT.
EAa EAsA TfktIMH

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The present styles in stationery follow En-
glish models. The paper and envelopes used
for letters and notes arc thick and substantial
in preference to limsy thin papers; if any orna-
meptatton is used it is very slight, and the
formula OF invitation is simple English, instead
Of those wordy protestations interlardcd with
French phrases formerly in vogue. The heavy
English and American papers may be either
rough finished or have a smooth surface; the
former kind is called by dealers cold pressed
and the latter "hotrprcssed." Crcam~white
and grayish tints just of white are
preferred to chalk-white or blue-tinted
papers, The shapes are medium aud
long sheets smaller than commercial note
paper, and are known as ladies' letter-sizcs and
note-sncets. They open in the old-fashioned
way, as the leaves OF i book open, instead Of
being turned back from the end, and are much
longer than their width, SO that when folded
once they fit the envelopes, which are Of
medium-size and square shape, or else longer
than they are broad, The fancy for purple and
blue ink has passed away, and black is used
again. The small, round handwriting Of copy
book and the indistinct running hand have had
their day; the caprice DOW is for initiating the
large, angular writing Of Englishwomen, and
this, it is said, is taught in fashionable board
ing-schools. A simple and artistic monogram,
or else single initial, is placed in the 1eft-hand
corner at the top OF the page. The newest
menograms arc In blended colors, such
as silver, gold, or bronze, Illuminated
with cardinal 'or dark Pompeiian red, Or
Serres blue, or perhaps violet The oldest
combinations are made up of graceful script
letters OF the stately old English capitals, Of
grotesoue dragon letters, Of Japanese charac-
ters, and various others, some Of winch are as
puzzling as Sanskrit. Dragon letters OF silver,
caught in meshes or cobwcbs aud tied with blue
or gold ribbon, make artistic monograms. A
pale-blue disk, with silver script letter in the
centre and silver rim, is very pretty orna-
ment at the head OF note~paper The quaint
Japanese monogram is narrow and at least two
inches long, aud looks well in gold with scarlet,
another design is band half all inch wide
placed diagonally in the left-haud corner, and
On it is the name Of the writer in Japanese
characters. There are cardinal bands with
the japanese characters in black, or gold,
Or silver, very quaint indeed and
the hieroglyphics Oh fire-cracher packages and
tea-caddies. Violet or silver bands with letters
Of the same color, but OF different shade, are
considered to be in good taste. Some young
scarlet, facsimile Of their own handwriting,
PLACED obliquely near the top. Another orpa-
ment is q small cluster OF smaller flowers
mignonnctte, violcts or myos0tts-done IN
coIOrs. tied with a gold ribbon on which the
name is inscribed. These look like water colors
painted By hand, but they are done BY presses
In the right corner the address is sometimes
used, giving the number and street OF CITY
homes or the name OF the country seat. Only
the initial, or the monogram, sr the family
crest, is used On the envelope Ladles IN
mourning use thick English paper tinted dark
gray and bordered with black.
Fashionable visiting cards are made Of glazed
Bristol board, and are small or OF medium SIZE
The name is engraved in small round ssript.
Old English text Is very little Hseal, and tew
fac-simi}es Of handwriting are seen On cards.
The charge for engraving the plate for ea5ds IL Is
nrinted from the plate for S1.50. Large octave
cards and square envelopes are s the new s Sta .,
tionery for short notes. regrets and IL, notes & q
acceptance. They are cream or gray tinted, and
have the day Of the week engraved diagonal1y
tn colored 1ettz. on ths left unper corner. A