Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-10-27
HOW TO WRITE A LETTER.
Fashions Decree on the Use of No
Paner.

Fashions Decree on the Use of Note
The fashions in visiting cards and
the proper style Tor note paper and
envelopes have not among the best peo-
pie in England, changed much during
the reign of Victoria. So when the gay
neophyte, in visiting, reads that cards
and note paper change every day a
month she may calmly fill her card case
with plain, oblong or square paste
boards, neatly engraved with her name
and address, and avoid every thing &C.
centric and strange. Also with note
paper; the plain, thick cream laid, un"
adorned, folded square in a square en-
velope, is the best style.
For the country it should have the
post Office address on one corner and
the name of the country house on ans
other; or it should have all concentrat-
ed in the middle of the paper about one
inch from the top. Some very correct
letter writer's leave a margin on the
left side Of the paper, and also write
the love and truce on the foot Of
the page; but these are niceties which
may be left OF the discretion of the
reader.
Avoid deep red, bright green full blue
paper u he delicate shades or gray
or pale lilac are admissible. No ono
should fail to cultivate a neat and legl-
and the simplest elegance is the hardest
ted, the t's crossed, the capitals prop.
erly placed, very few underllnings
should be used, and no authorizations,
excepting the most obvious. The
punctuation should be carefully OBJ
served-the age is too busy a one to
read hieroglyphics. While our grand
fathers and grandmothers wrote beau
tiful, clear and careful letters, ne are
degenerating into writing scratchy
scrawls, which nobody can read, or else
into sending typewriter epistles, which
except in business matters, is a very
ill-bred proceeding.
If monograms and crests are used
they should be in one color only and
very simple. The cachet of a lady or
gentleman is to avoid all ostentaton
and the simplest elegance is the hard 9st
to acquire, but the most to DE sought
for In mourning, especially, the very
deep, exaggerated borders of black are
unbecoming and out of taste, and real
grief is always unostentatious.
The least formal of invitations is
when the lady sends her own card with
the invitation written in her own hand,
as,
MRS ASTOR.
Small dance. January 7.
These are not to be replied to; the in
vited guest goes or not, as he pleases,
leaving card next day
But when the magic letters r. S. V. P
are in one corner the invitation mus
be answered at once.
Notes of invitation of formal char
acter, such as invitations to dinners
are to be read thus:
Mrs. Wardwell requests the honor
Of Mr.. Depew's company at dinner or
Thursday, January II, at eight o'clock
The oldfashioned preliminary Of
presenting compliments is out o.
| fashion. Invitations of a formal kline
| can be sent out three weeks or month
before the party takes place. The ans
wer should be sent at once, either ac.
cepting or declining, thus: Mr.. and
| Mrs. Snodgrass have much pleasure
in accepting the kind invitation of Mr.
anG Mrs. Pringle for dinner on Marcel
12;" or, MIR. and Mrs. Snodgrass re-
gret that they must decline the pleas
ure of dining with Mr.. and Mrs. Prin
| gle ON March H." No explanations ar
needed Neither erasures, blots o
smears should ever appear on letter
still less an invitation. Negligence ir
these matters evinces a rudeness to tn
person invited.
| Great care should be taken to addres!
people by their proper names and titles
and no lady will ever sign her name
Mrs. James Brown" She is Mary J
Brown" il the letter is addressed il
the first person.