, 1880-05-31
Fashionable Stationery.

Fashionable StatlOhefy.
Irish linen paper is no longer ex,
clusively fashionable, smooth and
rough are equally popular; filtered
and cream are the stylish tints. The
sheets are Of the standard commercial
note and letter size, and unruled-even
the French water lines are sometimes
omitted; envelopes are nearly square.
A fashionable fancy is to have the note
paper decorated in various ways.
Water-color sketches, monograms,
etchings, crests coat of arms, ciphers,
fancy initials and quaint designs, are
used in endless variety of form and
color. An odd conceit is to take q
motto or device, using it as seal and
motto on all note-paper, and oftentlmes
expressing great Individuality. Mary
Queen of Scots selected on the death
Of Francis ii. the licorice plant, the
root of which is sweet, while all above
ground is bitter, which typifying her.
self and her husband, was pretty
idea; her better-half being buried, her
self being above ground in bitterness.
The motto accompanying it was Dulce
mean terra yeSni-the earth covers
my sweet one.
Wedding invitations are engraved in
plain English script on sheet Of white
note paper. They are now generally
issued with the names of the bride
and groom on the note, instead of on
separate cards. A novelty in wedding
cards in England consists OF II double
card, and is edged with "a pale blue
and silver border, with the word MAR
riage" in the center Of the first page in
silver. The second page has the words
AT Home" after such date as the
welded pair may decide upon, together
with their address. The third puge is
appropriated to their names, the date
minister by whom and where the cere
mony is performed, the fourth page
being reserved for the plimentary
expression, With our kind regards, .
to which their initials are appended.
For receptions and parties, the invita-
tions are generally printed on heavy,
saua cards. Invitations to parties,
where outdoor sports are to be indulged
in, should bear coat of arms formed
OF bows, arrows, targets, croquet-mal-
let's, oars and other Implements Of like
description. For yachting parties the
invitation should bear the yacht flag
snd private signal crossed.
In designing monogram the letters
may be of any. type the writer shall
select. They may be either elaborateiy or
plainly designed, and of any shape to
suit the fancy-round, square or long.
Their colors are of gold, silver,
bronze. red and other single colors, or
some bright color is prettily blended
with gold, liver or black. Too much
ornament IS open to criticism. When
the eye cannot trace the text, much of
the beauty and value are lost.
Shakespearean cards have bust of
the great bard on the upper left cor
ner, an architectural design OF the
Eilzabethan period, and familiar quo
tation with appropriate flowers. Some
of the prettIest cards have Japanese
figures stamped on gold or fancy
ground, which are easily transposed
or turned into English by turning or
slanting the sheet. Ferns are also
used III a corner of the note paper
with the same on the flaps of the en-
velope. The cards of married ladies
are white and oblong in shape, being
three and seven-eighths inches long and
two and one half inches wide. The cards
of Mr.. and Mrs. are little larger
that of Miss little smaller than the
one of Mrs. Gentlemen's are the small
est. Note cards are large and quite
thick; square or oblong in shape, with
gilt or colored edges. For accepting
invitations, formal correspondence and
short notes. these are in great request.
Steel-engraved pictures are also placed
in the corners of note sheets and cor
respondence cards. The designs are
usually landscapes, but there are some
groups of flowers on pallettes and a few
birds among them.-DetroitF Free Press