The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-03-16
QUESTIONS ON ETIQUETTE.

l. What is the correct usage in regard to
the placing of "Mr." before the name on
visiting card, also the address?
2. When invitations are received to a
large church wedding and not the reception
or to both, what should govern the sending
OF present? 1t occurs to me that reform
is needed along the line of wedding pres
ents. In many instances it becomes a
burden to be expected to buy presents,
especially when the intimacy hardly just-
iies the presenting of such an Offering.
3. Is it proper for young lady to invite
to her home to dine or at supper a young
man living in another town, to whom she
is not engaged? There is an intimate
friendship existing between them and her
parents sanction her course.
/. To what extent should the rules of
society touching calls, the matter of cards,
chaperones, etc, be applied in the towns
and small cities? You know that the usages
of society are less formal in such places
than in the large cities from which seem to
cmanate the rules that appear in print in
newspapers and periodicals. .Eneas
|. Plain John Henry Brown" is used
upon gentleman's visiting or calling card
until he is 81 years old, when M. " 1t
preiiXed. Lads, college boys and young
men in business before that age, use simply
their whole name, or middle initial if
desired. No address is engraved, but If
one il a stranger the Office or residence
may be written in one corner OF the card
Business cards, of course, are quite another
thing, having the full address of Office or
house engraved.
=. There are no binding social laws in
the giving of wedding presents, and the fad
and fashion of sending to mere acquaint-
ances expensive gifts is absurd, extravagant
and burdensome. reform is needed in
that line, surely. The only rules among
sensible people, are intimate friendship.
obligations or a full bank account 1t is
10 breach of etiquette for one to accept
cordially wedding invitation to church or
home, without sending wedding gifts. As
"A friend of the bride or groom. or both, an
old friend Of the families. a remembrance
is pleasant and delightful souvenir for
after years whether it be silver tea set or
Il tiny book.
;. 1t is quite proper for a young lady to
invite * n ,riip
town or her own to dine o, take tea with
her family. With her mothers approval
it is no more formal to ''break bread" or
taste salt' in ones own home than to
receive evening calls or visits from gentle.
man acquaintance or warmer and more
intimate friends. 4 frank cordiaity on
both sides kindly pleasure in dining
with ones family in the home of ones
lady friends is bright social visit.
sunny spot in work-a day life.
{. The rules of society regarding calls,
cards, chaperones, etc must he essentially
different in small towns and villages from
formal, official and fashionable people
Great houses, many servants, receptions,
'mlls teas and very crowded places ard the
publicity of crowds demand social laws and
iigid rules for our young people wholly
unnecessary in more retired or quiet places
There one is better acquainted with ones
neighb0i, circumstances are widely differ
cnt, formalitics are banisbed and the simple
rules of courtesy, self-respect, grace and
kindness need not to be printed to make
the social relations of life among our boys
and girls our young men and maidens,
natural proper and charming.