The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-08
CORRECT TN CARDS.
Proper Style Of Visiting and Dinner
Pasteboards for Men and
Women.

Among the many little matters of eti-
quette that may seem of trivial signifi-
ahce' put mat women ought to be par
ticulafiy concerned about, are those of
Calls. cards and notes, since nothing
shows more clearly whether the WAYS of
the higher world are familiar or strange.
The social laws for the paying Of calls
vary in different countries and cities. o.
pecially in regard to the initiative visit
whether it shall be paid by the new mr.
rival Or the older resident.
In many foreign cities it is rigorous
requirement that the civility should be
shown by the newcomer. and the stran-
ger who, through ignorance or obstinacy.
waits to receive it, will remain unknown
and unnOticed: it is the basis of invita-
tons, without it they will not be forth
coming.
When visiting a large city in the
United States. while it is kind and
friendly to be the first to call uoon those
we know intimately, one would never be-
GIN All acquaintance in that manner. and,
Ill any case, it is more dignifed to com
municate tho fact of being in town By
sending card. Then the responsibility
or courtesy rests with the resident, who
should call at once.
ranks the style of the visiting card
Great care should be shown in its selcc-
ton. The best authority declares that it
must not be exaggerated i'm size or of
tanclful tint. or have ornamental ink.
1t must be simple and elegant in every
reS Far ,.,,,,o,, ., .
card at present is thin, square, moder-
ately large. engraved in shaded Roman
IpffpfS or in II
| man letters may prove a passing fancy,
whereas script has the advantage of
never being out of place whatever new
Whims may prevail for awhile
Initials should not be used upon a visit
ing card: the entire name must he writ
ten. An elderly woman may have the
Mrs. only. but younger branches Of
the family are not entitled to this sim
plicity of form. Many women have
adopted it in ignorance of it's rea! sig
nificance. believing it to he Il mark of
individual taste: but it belongs solely to
the senior member Of the family-it is Il
mark of age
A girls name should be on her moth
ers card during her first season; after
wards she should have Il card of her
own. This rule should not be-but often
is-ignored.
Folding cards in corners or in half, to
vogue; the poor taste of leaving a crum-
pied card did not triumph long Again.
leaving cards in packs is now regarded
as an absurdity. One is considered suf-
ficient for the whole household. and is
politely accepted as including every mem
Der of the family that is entitled to a
visit. When there are guests. however.
cards arc left for them individually.
Invitations for almost every form of
entertainment, and the acceptance and
rcgret-except for dinner or luncheon
can be conveyed by this little medium
the visiting card. The formal reception.
as we'll as the simple weekly at home.
is invariably announced in this way.
though in the latter instance merely the
day is engraved in the lower left-hand
corner. while for a more ceremonious
event the hour is mentioned. as Il till T."
Mems cards are much smaller than
WOmenS. because no announcements are
likely to be written upon thenl-notiiiny
more than the house or club address,
Convention gives wider range in the
choice Of a cardcaSe than in the selection
of it's contents. 1t may be made of the
most remarkable saltwater snake. liz
ard from green to gray. and monkey.
which is very popular. But the most
desirable of all is elephant soft. vel
vety skin in beautiful shade of deep
yellowish brown. 1t is rare and ex-
rensive on account of the difficulty in
tanning it properly. for it must be perfect
in texture to be available for dainty use
Wedding invitations and announcement
cards are characterized by the Same sim
pie though extreme refinement that marks
the visiting card. which is contrast to
the wedding cards a la mode of fifty
years ago. Those were intended to be
very splendid things. and true lovers
knots, III blaze of silver.
Menu cards copy the quiet elegance of
visiting cards. Those used for lunch
cons are headed by the monogram of the
hostess but as dinners are considered the
mans entertainment, only the husbands
monogram or crest must appear on the
dinner menu.
The bill of fare is not written in
French as often as it used TO be. There
are certain French dishes for which tho
best available translation would be I'M
calmly. therefore they keep their fa-
miiiar French titles; but there are so
many absurd mistakes to be found in
the average Frcnchihed menu. that when
it is possible and appctizing the English
term is Observation-Disclosures Star.