The record-union., 1898-10-30


identifies herself as widow rather
than as a divorcee or a wife separated
from her husband. She also preserves
the title by which she has become
known among her friends Many wild
ows, too, favor the custom from sense
of loyalty to the husbands memory,
and also because it seems to continue
better the protection of his name. 1t
is very probable that the majority of
widows assume their given names
under misapprehenson. They find
that all papers and legal documents
which they sign in assuming control of
their husbands estate need their bap-
tismal names upon them, and draw the
inference that society, also, demands
them.
An inquiry concerning the coming
seasons fashions in cards and sta
tiOnery develops the fact that there is
nothing strikingly new. The Roman
letters for cards remain popular. AT
the same time, the unfourished Eng
lish script is still used. A few per-
sons who like some exclusive and dis
tlnctiVe touch in the inscription of
their cards select the old English text.
For weight, a thin card known to
manufacturers as the twO-ply card, is
still most used. The change materially
lightened the card-case, and was liked
for that if for no other reason. Addi-
tional degrees of thinneSs were demand
ed until what was merely thick paper
was used at one time. This did not
prove altogether satisfactory, however,
and the medium thin, as exemplified in
the two-ply card, is the kind common
ly selected. An inspection of the SAM
pie card book shows many ways of Civ
ing ones name, address and at-hOme
hour. The period following the name,
address and day is often omitted,
| though its use, of course, in indicating
authorizations is preserved. Some dis
cussion has arisen as to which is cor
rect, Thursdays, afternoon or Thurs
day afternoons" Both forms are
used, however, the distinction being
fine one. A study of the limitations Of
| at-home times, possible in looking over
a large number of model cards, sug-
gests the busy life of the modern wom-
an. First and third Mondays until
Lent" Thursdays iE January and
February" Thursdays, three until five
o'clock; these and more curtailments
Of periods when callers are expected in
dicate the scant leisure, even socially,
Of the time The visiting-card Of
professional woman, physician, read
Tuesdays, after four o'clock" For
young unchaperoned woman TO send out
her card IN this way would be a social
error as it would Indicate that she was
at home also during the evening. A
married woman may send out cards in
her own name for an afternoon at
home but for the evening it usually
reads Mr.. and Mrs. Blank" In Eng
land the wife is socially the head of
the house, and issues her invitations
independently. This custom has not
yet obtained any strong fOothold in
New York society, although it is occa-
sionally practiced. 1t may be said,
however, that professional women are
a law unto themselves, and busy doc
tors, editors, teachers and other work
ers may with propriety select what
hour is convenient to them in which to
receive their friends.
A recent article in the American
Kitchen Ma gaZine" gives as the opin-
ion of a dentist that the poor teeth of
| children is often due to lack of exer-
else. Much of the modern food given
to children is in the form of soups,
| purees and mush made from cereals,
and not enough work is given to the
| teeth in mastication to draw the blood
| in large quantities to them. 1t does
| not, therefore, give up its strengthen
! ing qualities in sufficient quantity to
| make strong teeth. The dentist rec
| commended that things hard to chew be
! given to the children.
The lettering of a card should of
| course, be in the same text for all the
announcements. Numerals are to be
omitted as much as possible. The use
of the sign & is not to be recommend
ed. Where the numeral of the address
is small, this, too, is preferably spelled
out 1t is obviously difficult, however,
to write out Four hundred and fifty
| Blank Avenue without crowding the
| text. In all social observances, how
ever. the commercial touch is to be
| eliminated as much as possible.
|
A particularly neat and stylish card
has the name Mrs John Henry Blank"
In clear. fine Roman text; the day,
| Thursdays second and fourth until
April at the left-hand corner in three
lines, and the address, -Four Blank
! Street" written out. Although on one
! of the new and somewhat smaller cards,
this elaborate inscription does not
crowd the card, and the effect is good.
Now that it is no longer against the
law in this country for private firms to
print postal cards embellished with pic
lures or other advertisements that with
| an additional stamp may go through
| 81, 70