West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-10-02
STATIONERY.
rhe styles That Obtain in Epl.toiar,
writing.

The styles That Obtain in Eplatolary
writing.
Perhaps you think the headline ia .
misnomcr but IL is not in one sense.
and ought not to bc in another. We
are gradually approaching in these en-
| lightcncd days that millennium i'm fash
ions when every one will adopt that
custom and habit In dress and all sim
liar things which seem best in thcir
eyes, and refuse to bo sworvcd from il
10y any one else. II has not quite come
rs yet and meanwhile each can do
something TO help il along.
In the matter of ones stationery, the
very best 'styl Is to have style of
ones own. Select carefully the size.
grade. tint and general fashion of pa.
per aud envelopes which you prefer.
| and adopt II rs your own, using 10 con
stantly until IL becomes distinctive
This Is always possible IL you choose "A
good standard style and grade. rs such
are kept constantly in stock by station
ors' and can always he found, while the
| scnselcss and vulgar whims of the hour.
the "homstitched" borders. the rag
gcd edges. the "craZy.quilt" papers.
Mchdi' which is the latest caprice. arc
mushroom fancics which disappear
after q month aud are known no more.
The palmer and simpler the paper
chosen the more elegant A linen pa-
per, creamy white in tint and "A little
roughcncd in finish Is very good. So
is perfectly smooth. satinv. plate
finish, which some prefer as easier To
write upon. The heaviest qualities of
these papers should retail nj less than
fifty cents per quirc, while lighter
weights and the smooth finish. which Is
not plate finished. but looks nearly ms
well, can be bought as low as fifteen
cents per quiro.
That Is, provided one purchases i'm
quantities of not less than live quircs a,
time. This is at once the most con
veniont and cheapest way TO do; vel
old stationcrs say that the avcrag,
woman buys her paper 10y the singl,
quire ninety times out of hundred
and changes her style with every quirc
Nothing should vary the plainness o
tho paper except the address, which
may be printed or engraved mt the tol
OF the sheet, or the crest and arms
one has them. These are allowable
but monograms and fancy designs o
all sorts should be frowned down.
The fashion of using sealing wax
which has recently been revived il M
exceedingly pretty and sensible custom
| The seal used should bo small anC
| may be ones crest, arms, MONOGRAM
or INITIAL but never a pet name or any.
thing of that sort As 20 the wax. il
is we'll 10 select some favorite color and
use ~ habituaily, though many. people
prefer variety in this, and II is perfect
ly allowable. A paragraph which won't
the rounds OF tho papers last spring
gave the sentiments denoted bv the va
rious colors of wax, but this is pure
nonsense. except that people i'm mourn
ing should use black The common
color is red, though for a young lady
pale green. gray or blue is very pretty.
Don't use the waters made i'm imitn-
ton of seals which one sometimes
sees. They are not what they pretend
to be, and shams should always be
discouraged. The directions for using
wax are sometimes elaborate and com
plicatcd, but IL is really very simple
matter Hold the stick Of wax over
the ilamc OF n lamp or gas-ict, as a
candle is apt TO smoke and burn the
wax. When soft, touch To the enycl-
ope, and If enough does not come on
repeat the process Make tho spot Of
wax as round as possible if your seal
is round, and TO do this gentle pres.
sure with the fingers does not harm IL.
Then hold the letter over the lamp,
wax downward, till you soc il is soft:
lay the letter down, take up the seal.
breathe upon il, and press il firmly
upon the wax, letting IL stand mo-
ment TO cool. IL is well TO clean the
seal occasionally, and oil il with some
fine clear oil TO prevent IL from sticking
70 the wax. A dull impression can
be made by dusting little powder,
vcrmilion, of the same hue as the wax.
which can be bought at any paint
shop, over the seal before using. II il
has fine lines, however, this is apt to
fill them up and give an unsatisfactory
impression. boston Herdid