The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-01-20
GOOD LETTER " RI7ING.'
Fashion DEGREES That the
Simplest Notepaper
Shows the Most
Refined Taste.
ALL eCCENTRCTlES SHOULD Ne AVOIDED
The Postscript Often Contains the
Pith of Letters-H0usehOld
Hints for Women.

Letter writing is an art, the kno Wedge
or ignorance of which speaks for or
against more than most people suppose
The hand writing and the contents are
not all in ali either. The taste displayed
in the use of n~ote-paper is the first thing
which strikes one before the epistle Is
opened. Unconsciously it decides the
good sense of the sender. While fashions
change from time to time in this, as well
as other lines, the change is almost i'm
er ceptiblc, and artistic simplicity is al
ways recommended and 10 BIS sought
after. Eccentricity Of style in paper. un .
unless it be most artistic. is offensive 6.
The height of bad form Is in the use of
something startling or pronounced. The
The sort of woman favor3 it who PUSHES
to get d pair Of bright red gioves the mo-
meut she sees them because she imagines
they are fashionable.
Avoid anything conspicuous in the line
of stationery, as, for Instance, decorations
of flowers, landscapes. or the fancy head
ings now seen so much. A variety which
is III equal bad taste is a bright blue back
ground with In white. With
this white ink is supposed to be used
The etiquette of note-paper is dictated by
taste. Ladies' should use only the smaller
size of paper, requiring but one fold, aud
the envelope should be qua The sin
gle correspondence cards have gone out
of style, and are seldom seen now
adays. The paper is generally linen
or cream-laid, as best suits indi-
vidual taste, and shouli be unrnled.
White or cream paper is the best, al
though q gentle shade of blue Is per-
mitted. OJher tints are not desirable,
neither are they proper. Do not use
paper that is ragged at the edge, nor en-
yeloDes with curious flaps. The best linen
paper may be purchased at the same price
as is paid for the fancy varieties, and the
best is the cheapest; it is q guarantee of
refinement. If a monogram IL desired.
have IL engraved-never printed. In this
country coats of arms and crests are out
of place, but you. may have a neat mono
gram or your initials for IL heading with
perfect propriety. only be sure That the
work is in keeping with taste, n not
too prominent or glaring. The name of
your country place is very good, the
name of the village in which you live, or
the street number 1t you chance To reside
ia a city. In the latter case, however,
omit the name of the town, and i'll either
case the State should not be given. The
best rule to follow is to get the simplest
stationery. You can then make no mis-
take.
MOURNING STATIONARY.
IT. Is q tritie Questionable, this use of
mourning paper, especially III the new
style which, instead of the usual black
bordering has black tips at the corners.
There are certain people who must always
hesitate as to the propriety Of indicating
the existence of a heart-sorrow by 4 stripe
upon their letter paper. 1t must occur to
one. therefore, that just because this
characterization is new. IL Is TO be avoided.
IL one must do ones mourning through
fha v,annS nf aruTinnaru WA QhntlId AT
least not seek novelty in it.
Having selected the paper which should
be used, a few words about the writing
will not come amiss. l Will quote an ex-
cellent authority, the Rev. Anthony w.
Thorold, u. D., who, apropos OF the sub
ject. says:-
lit is certainly true that letter writing
is a test of character both In the qualities
of our nature, the simplicity of our mo-
tives and the amount of our self-denial.
Some people go SO far as to say that Il
mans handwriting indicates his natures;
but as handwriting is VIGOROUSLY de-
pendent on pen and ink and ape and
the weather. and even on digestion, 1t is
at best but an uncertain guide. Still 1t
is quite the case that slovenliness II
impetuousness peep out In letters; many
erasions will indicate indecisiveness, and
although incautiousness in temperament
does not invariably imply i-ncautiousness
with pen and ink. kind hearted people
throw their heart into their letters and
unfair advantage is sometimes taken of
it.
The postscript of sume persons letters
contain the pith of them, as II they never
knew what they wanted to say till the
letter was finished; while others, always
UNDERLYING whatever they feel to be of
tine most Importance, confer this benefit
on you. that if o carefully read the
underlined passages you may safely skim
A.. .aAr u