The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-12-25
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Card 80 !! Th ts oush
81 A RHAT an ordinary. unn.
"a "a A terestng item in our
~ NV social lac is the mod
w ~ crn visiting card. But
this was not always
so, though it has barely been in exist
encc $50 years. Ii owed its origin TO
the custom of writing the name or
sometimes II message ON the back of
playing card, says Il writer in the
Washington Post. Occasionally one
particular card WAS chosen with intent,
and the Duchess of Dorset received an
apt epigram in return for one she sent
to we'll known clergyman. The verses
end as follows: You sent me ten
hearts. the tithes only nine. So give me
one heart and burn tother nine"
Toward the end of the last century
the visiting cards of the upper classes
were veritable works of art and by
their means many most interesting
types of engraving survive They We're
of varying size. but the majority not
larger than about two and II half inches
by two inches, while today those used
by gentlemen are two inches by one
and Il half inches and by ladies -four
inches 10y two and half inches. There
We're many square ones used about
1880 to 100. one belonging To an Eng
llsh society leader of Il century ago
dates from Hole street, Cavendlsh
square, spot associated with Lord
Byron Her husbands card Is smaller
and has sketch of the family home In
one corner, which stlll remains in the.
possession Of their collateral descend
ants. The notion Is SO good 1t deserves
To be followed, for ii would certainly
add to the interest Of the cards we
leave Ia each other If they bore the
semblauee OF our friends homes as
we'll as their names.
Another example shows that history
repeats Itself for, although issued In
The eighteenth century. the lady was
mt home on Monday" as many mod
ish DANES nre now, Visiting en- blanc,
as II was called VIZ, by leaving n card
was novelty then, and on many
which come from Italy "in persona" Is
written. showing that they had been
left and not sent by a servant.
These are the simpler class Of cards
\ vast number Of others in use AT his
time shnw the ruling powers III deco
ration. Hundreds of the decorative
designs bear the names OF eontem-
porary duchesses or. rather, according
10 the ancient spelling. "dutehcsse"
st Albans, Bolton aud Grafton among
the number The latter according 10
Horace Walpole saved her life hy
playing loo when in Rome, instead of
going 10 party nj n palace where the
roof fell in
Many Of the '.tickets" as visiting
cards were called in those days, were
engraved With architectural buildings
in Rome. Berlin and elsewhere and
long IN fashion Thcy were sold In
packets. The names We're frequently
written upon them, and even when
they We're printed it was rare that one
particular pattern was kept for any
special person The head of II well
known MarWiclshrc family during II
visit 10 Rome In lIS3 kept and has
handed down, those left by his AZ
quaintancc. ON these figure the arch
of Titus, 81 Peters, the castle of ST
Angelo and many other lions of Rome.
Not few Of the visiting cards of lhia
period recall nothing SO much rs the
funeral monuments of those days.
Sometimes the names appear on well
engraved vases, sometimes on chin.
pcy pieces. Some are square, With
supporting columns. scrolls and eur
talns; some display fcstoons Of flow
crs and IA variety Of animals
The cognomcns of naval officers
emerge from he midst Of spikes,
anchors, ropes, flags and other naval
Insignia, while military officers mp
pear surrounded 10y helmets, cannon
tents and soldiers. Artists figure amid
paleitcs, brushes and other adjuncts
of their art. mostly accompanied by IA
graceful female form. and every Kind
of musical instrument haS been called
Into play Tyres, harps. trumpets and
harpslchords for musicians. Birds of
many kinds hold scrolls bearing the
names in their beaks, or they are
written Oh their bfcasts or oulstrctehcd
wings. Animals "ileh play double
part. me maine OF Hare Tor example
Is represented rs a feb0s by lhat niue
animal running AT I'iil speed, Whlle
goat inquired on thc lhShl"il''ble designs
OF 1853. archery. agriculture ana sport
seilefaliy let thr'f impress on me
visiting card.
About 1916 pure white cards with
embossed borders and large embossed
offerings were the prevalent mode.
History again repeats llself = the
daughters name appeared then with