The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-16
CARDS AND CALLS
Rules Governing the Return
of Formal Visits Def
nite1y Laid Down.
yExED QUESTIONS SETTLED
Nora creina, Not Lesbia, the
Latest Idol-Plan for a
Stylish "Tam."
YEXED QUESTIONS SETTLED

The question of calling or leaving cards
on the return home is rather a perplex-
ing one in many instances, says the Phil
adelphia Press. What Is the received
rule on the subject between those who
are strictly IN a calling footing only, and
also between more intimate a~cquaint-
ances? Does the same rule hold good for
both, or do notifications and exceptions
influence 1t more or less?
This is exactly what might be termed
the correct solution of the problem, for
there are a thousand and one reasons
that would render it expedlenL Tor. a call
to De made alter the return nome regard
less OF the pnnctfiio as to whether II was
strictly ana actually due in the one IN
stance, While in The first category little
or nc excuse exists for not following the
strictesI routine OF calling, tnat is 10 say,
consulting the visiting list ana ascertain
ing whether before leaving town a eau
was received which should now be re-
turned. On these lines calling shoufa be
taken up at the point 1t had reacneQ pre-
vious to departure from town, and no
hesitation need be felt as to the proper
course to take; the only doubt that oc-
ours to the caller is whether 1t Is too soon
to pay the call on the ground of a still
prolonged absence from own; but, as a
rule, 1t is wiser to take the chance of this
being the case rather than being behind
hand in fulfilling this social obligation.
Calling between more intimate acQuaint-
ances Is a less delicate matter, and would
not be m~isconstrued. 1t wouid be taken
to mean hat something of mutual inter-
est induced the call, apart from the pleas
ure a congenial interview always affords
those who have much in common. A
call under such conditions is regarded as
a compliment on both sides after an alb
UNNECESSARY FORMALITY.
P. P. C. cards are seldom left in town,
as departures are so general and so sim
ultaneous, and consequently the reason
for leaving them ceases to be in force;
but, when left they take the place of
calls, In the country, on the other hand,
quent, and those who thus make this an
nouncement should also notify their re-
turn home to their neighbors by calling
or leaving cards.
1t is worth considering when leaving
cards whether they are likely to reach
those for whom they are intended; and
ea nod ran on lr'9 are ene le 9ana af o. . + ho Sassig let
furnished for the winter months, the
etiquette of card leaving not admitting
Of cards being again left until a return
anceship has foundered on this rock.
Servants are often responsible for mis-
chief in this direction BY heedlessiy put
left weeks, and even months, previously.
Leaving cards has p~aradoxical mean
ings apart from the primary one-that
Of sfgnifying a call has been made. They
are also left in place of a CALL, to signify
the slightest amount of civihty COM
patible with courtesy is intended.
1t is not usual to leave separate cards
on the daughters of a family unless
they are of that independent age which
admits of their having cards of their
own. What that age is it is not easy to
define. Some women remain longer
young than do others, and, again, some
mothers go out into society with their
Than do others, and although emanci-
patton has touched upon many phases
In the lives of the girls Of today, it
has srs up Ieay y9 now wb fespe obiiges tne the eu, nsm Of
of daughters to be upon their mother
cards. 50 long as the mothers continue
YOUNG sGIR1S CARDS.
The fact of a daughter having cards of
her own means either that her mother is
too old. or too much of an invalid to
accompany her in her calls, or that she
is motherless. 1t would be an incon-
gruity for young girls to have cards of
their own while their mothers are com
from society. Doubtless in the future
even this rule will give way to the
clamor and fashion of the day and girls
cards at one house while their mothers
the one .biking,. in the other driving,
down q corner of a visiting card to de-
note hat the daughters are not for
gotten in the call made Upon their
mother.
Young men, on the contrary. have
cards of their own at a very early age,
as soon as they have ceased to be boys
and almost before that epoch, and have
them even while at private tutors, and
at college. In large families of sons and
daughters the mothers frequently leave
the young mems cards with their own
and their husbands, more particularly
at those houses where there is any
chance of gaieties forthcoming, as
it is an advantage to sisters to be ac-
companied by. their brothers to dances
and so-forth; but as time goes on young
men prefer to take their card-leaving in
to their hands, and perform this
irkSnmn duty Themselves