The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-15


a means of communication
between friends in the mat
ter Of invitations, for the announcement
Of important events and for the sending
Of messages of congra tula ton and con-
dolence.
Those who cling to the old forms seem
to be in the minority today. The younger
generation refuses to be hampered by the
time-consuming methods Of several years
ago, when a note Of invitation, for in
stance, could not be sent through the
mail, but must be delivered by hand.
The modern youth or maiden picks up
the telephone and dispatches an invitation
to luncheon or the matinee, and even for
so serious q function as a dinner 1t is
quite common now for hostess to call
up a friend at the last moment, frankly
admitting the action that she only de-
sires to fill some place that has been left
vacant at the last moment
In fact, there is g. fad for telephoning
MESA ges of this sort nowadays. When 1t
first gained entrance to residences the
telephone was intended as a means Of
communication between a mans offce
and his home chiefly; then It began to be
used for the ordering OF cabs, for mar
keting, for hurrying up slow tradesmen.
and the various uses connected with
housekeeping.
BY degrees friends began to make use
of the quick method of communicating
with each other. and 1t was so delight
fully informal that it became g. vogue.
The informality Of the telephone method
of communication Is what appeals to the
youngers generation of society. An invi-
tat1on given or accepted or rejected In
this way has not the Importance attached
to the old method Of a note delivered by
fPoiv
and one pondered over the answer to
send, the extent Of the social obligation
involved, and other matters.
But the message over the wire is diff
ferent One does not have time to study
questions as to motives, dress, the people
one is to meet or any other Of the small
problems that frequently arise on the re-
cepton of formal invitation.
The telephone bidding reeks of the up
to-date. 1t simply states that the
casion is there waiting, and it calls for
q quick decision. There Is no reading be-
tween the lines and no time to ask why
and wherefore. 1t lacks the chilling Dig
nifty and Importance that sometimes lin
ger. quite Internationally about a note.
Mrs Smith may call up Mr.. Jones at
his office at and ask him to Join a dinner
party at 8, IL he will be so good and al
though Jones may know quite well that
he is hidden to fill up, he appreciates the
frankness of the message, and il he has
no engagement he will accept in nine
cases out of ten because the invitation
is impromptu. and people speedily know
that impromptu occasions are apt to be
the most enjoyable.
At the same time he is quite free to
decline politely il he wishes, and his dech-
nation will not have the weight Of q
written regret for a written regret Is
nearly always chilling in its effect upon
the recipient, no matter how carefully IL
may be worded.
AS to the messages that pass between
women relating to their shopping trips,
uncheons matinees, drives and visits.
the wires are kept busy in the residential
districts all day long. Soon after break
fast the calls begin, and they keep up
until luncheon time, when the feminine
world rests for a space. and enjoys It's
favorite meal Of the day.
Deaths, births and marriages, are now
announced In this way, and congratula
lions and condolences are given over the
wire Nothing seems too serious for the
telephone, and swee thearts even choose
to bill and coo many times day over
the wire, as Central can testify.