The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-14
I0AANS' v ORLD

49, social customs of the day is no dis
HI, to him or TO her. Ones instincts
. Nv he ever so gentle and refined: if one
,.s lived an isolated life or has been a
,,dent or devoted to a profession one
q naturally ignorant of the little courte-
.ss and marks of savoir faire that are
..ouired only by association. A gentle
conan is always gentle, gentleman al
navs chivalrous, and each may be trust
| - on the whole to follow Unborn guides
in his relations to others. But it is I'M
d4niably true that customs and manners
like fashions, change with the times
Some of the horrors of the first half of
,be century, says the Chicago Herald, are
PERFECTLY good form to-day and vice versa.
4 In Europe a visitor from one country to
another inquiries at once what are the To-
cal customs that he may not blunder.
There is certainly no reason why an
American should hesitate to ask for in
formation upon any question of etiquette.
Barring the eccentricities of genius or
strange Compartments, only the truly ar
istocratc dares ignore the rules and
regulations of good form, and he is least
\ likely TO because of inheritance and habit.
Correst form is not necessarily "a chron-
h icle of the doings of the "swagg.er'' set,
3who stand to society in the same relation
a that art posters do to painting. The idea
is not to tell what you dare do, but what
YOU should do and the way to do it. A
81 large journal has, of course, among its
resources the best obtainable authorities
#upon that which distinguishes good So
ciety from the raw material of the hui
nan race.
l am constantly being asked about the
etiquette of visiting cards, of which 1 am
glad, because it is possible to display in
bust that little matter of card, leaving the
Greatest dignity and elegance or the re-
Verse If people would but remember that
VISITING cards and wedding invitations
fannot be improved upon fewer mistakes
would be made. Perhaps the safest ad-
Nice is that which points out the incor-
rect use of cards, for nothing more quick
~ betrays ones ignorance or lack of con-
fdence. Never send d card by post to
represent a visit. In calling upon one
who has guest, card must be left for
Der as well as one for the hostess.
EE receiving in her drawing room the SER
"a ant should not be given your card to, take
~ her, but should announce you by name
IN older countries the card is not taken to
Der at all, but this rule is not adhered to
IN America, because, perhaps of our I'M
drained servants, who could not, as a rule
'te trusted with the pronuncia ton of a
Game. On leaving the house you should
Fave your card and with it your hu islands
EEard, if the lady of the house is single or
Ia widow. If she is not two of your hus-
fand's cards should be left. If you are I'M
Eharried and reside with your father or
brother his card should be left with your
Rwn. If your call is made on ana afternoon
home for which you have received an
Nhvitaton no card should be left, as the
reception day is made the occasion of an
entertainment and an ordinary call should
ne made afterward in acknowledgement
NJ There are many occasions upon which
gard may be left as mark of delicate at
stention or consideration, as in the case of
Nlness or death or misfortune These are
determined upon by the circumstances and
the relations existing between acquant-
fnces visiting card may be the silent
fearer of sympathy and loyalty and can
POI intrude, as spoken words might do
In the case of death the words sincere
Eympathy" may be written on the card
but upon any other occasion of misfortune
such as Illness or accident, the message
fhould read simply kind inquiries" Flow
ms are always a graceful Offering unless
4hey are sent in too lavish profusion. There
Pc few circumstances however delicate
nat justify friends in neglecting TO send
card TO one who is in any trouble 1t
conveys the fact of kindly thought, even
Fhen service may not be rendered These
Rnean much to the one in distress and cost
4he sender little.
An occasion on which woman leaves
Per card without even asking for the lady
the house is when for diplomatic or
Plher reasons she wishes not TO continue
R'her than formal acquaintance. When
YOU have letter of introduction it should
rs left with your cards or cards.
In the matter of the size and style of
yards there can be little variation from
<ear TO year. An acknowledged authority
says The size of lady's visiting card
Sl2 by nearly 21a inches; that of a gem
&einan inches by l12, and the pasteboard
nould be thin and smooth, though not
fiossy. 1t seems scarcely necessary TO
4od that it is bad taste to have the card
Engraved in other than the customary
crlpt' though many people of excellent
hste digress in favor of the Roman capt.
ancy borders, tinting, ornamental writ
rs old English, or any other eccentricity
utterly tabooed. Mrs or Miss
houid never be omitted on visiting card
IRENE modesty is very well if it is not
warned to the point at which dignity IS
aerifced, but visiting card that bears
Nc Christian rame without the prefix is
Aot an evidence of it.
IN bor married folk the newest wrinkle is
~ nave on your card only your last name,
|as Mrs. Beauvais,' and your husbands
fard must also read "Mr. Beauvais." That
n all very wen when you have as unusual
lame and enjoy unusual prestige, but if
FOUR name be "Simth" or Brown" and
<ol are just plain lady and gentleman,
|{ou may not indulge in the newest
wrinkle, and must be happy in the con-
seriousness of dignity and good sense
should say to the debutante who ask
~ about her cards that for the first sea-
|fon her name should be engraved on her
notner's card, or on that of the person
|fho acts as her chaperon.
-Four million women in the United States,
#ys the Courier-Journal. earn their own