Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-06
IF YOU'RE ASKED OUT
Observances That Should Be
Followed.
PAYING THE SOCIAL DEBTS
Formal Uses Of the Calling
Card.
THE UNEXPECTED NOTE
Bread and Butter Letters Should Be
Written Within Three
Days.
THE UNEXPECTED NOTE


week and we haven't sent any present yet.
We must get something for him, and some
| thing that Is really worth while for he
gave us those beautiful cups when we were
married.
But. Mary, the last installment on our
furniture comes due next week and /
thought surely I could get 1t out of the
way for good and all. This will mean that
1t has to wait over for another month. and
III have to lose the discount for prompt
payment. Hang weddings. anyway, 1 wish
we'd gone off and been married and told
our friends afterward. Well be paying for
all the presents they gave us twice over be-
fore we get through
The family Of moderate income usually
has just this sort of a problem to face two
or three times year Wedding presents.
like pew rent. have to be figured in the an
nual expenditures. It Is all very well for
the wise heads to sit by and say it isn't
necessary to give them If the household
funds are rather low or the extra money
Happens to be needed at that time. But
the fact remains. social debts have to have
their interest paid quite as regularly as
any other debt, and the wedding present
which brought so much pleasure when you
were married cannot be forgotten when
your friends wedding invitation comes
round.
entertainment This invitation to dinner,
that invitation to the theater a visit at
friends house in the country all have OBJ
ligations attached to them which cannot be
overlooked. How best to meet these obli-
cations and still keep within an income is
an important question with every person of
moderate means who enjoys social inter-
course.
One of the first essentials in paying social
debts is the calling card. These little pieces
OF pasteboard can wipe out a multitude of
small obligations. and one should be
without supply always on hand. The
card, however, must be extremely neat,
and engraved rather than printed.
Small Cards for Men.
For man an oblong of pure white bris-
toll board an inch and half wide and
| three or four inches long holds his name in
full across the center of the card. with Mr..
before it. Should he have the same name
as his father or an older relative Jr. follows
his name. The proper card for a girl is as
| nearly square as possible and at least two
inches wide. For matron a still larger
size card carries her husbands name. pre-
ceded by Mrs. A widow has her cards en-
grayed with her maiden name preceding
her husbands surname.
Aside from the cards themselves each
person should have 4 package of small en-
velopes that exactly fit the size of the
pasteboard. The uses of these apparently
trivial little messengers are multiple, In
the first place they should always be left
when an invitation is accepted to any for
NAL function such as a tea, coming out
or a wedding. They are dropped
plate which stands near the door upon en-
tering, and they serve to inform the hostess
Just who has accepted her hospitality and
also to aid her in making out any future
lists for invitations.
When making call the card is always
handed to the person who opens the door
11ac- Lot alNet TF
At a hotel apartment house the card is
given to the clerk at the desk to be sent
to the rooms by bell boy.
Sending Cards.
On the other hand. the invitation which
is not accepted is acknowledged most sat
isfactorily by sending a card in an en-
velope of the same size on the day of the
function. Letters of coincidence or of con-
graduation are answered in the same way
inscribed in ones own handwriting with
MANY thanks" In sending a present of
any kind either by mail, express mes
senger the card Is inclosed, and, If the per-
son to whom the gift is sent is an intimate
friend, all but the Christian name is crossed
out by two straight lines run through the
other words. Another important use of
cards is when q man or woman suddenly
leaves town and has not time to mail part
ing calls in which case the calling card, in
scribed with the new address and a few
words such as SORRY not to have seen you
before 1 left" or simply the letters p. P. G.
in one corner, will keep one in touch with
acquaintance that are left behind
The second great help in paying social
debts is the letter. To give an impression
of sincerity and correctness this should be
inscribed always on a very good quality of
note paper with careful and neat handwrit-
ing and with an attentive consideration for
what is said Never write social note in
haste. Take plenty of time and make sure
that it can be interpreted in one way only.
Your Friends Salt
The most essential of the social notes is
the bread and butter letter. After spending
a night at a friends home courtesy de-
mands that a note shall be written to the
mother of the family at least three days
within the time of departure a second let
ter of appreciation addressed to the par
ticular member of whom you were the
guest is always In good form. though not
absolutely necessary. One or the other of
these notes, however should under no con-
dition be neglected. Especially If written
in a happy and grateful spirit, they con-
vey a thanks to your hostess or host which
well repays either of them for their hos
pitality, while to omit the bread and outer
letter means decided breach of etiquette