Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
RULES FOR CALLING
LEAVING CARDS NOT A SOCIETY
FAD NOW.

The rules of card aving seem to remain
unsolved OF vexed problem to many
women. and yet little thought should do
much to clear the mystery. While there
are rules. and quite rigid ones, all are
based upon excellent reason, and once this
is understood it will aid in those circum-
stances that, arising unexpectedly, oft puz-
gle one extremely.
The first legitimate moment for leaving
cards is when those called upon not at
home. The next, when cards are left In
lieu OF calls being made. Again, when
cards are left after certain entertainments
have taken place-viZ., evening parties,
dances balls and wedding receptions. Also
when inquiries during illness are made and
after bereavements. and now and again to
notify departure by +. P. c. How many
cards to leave and for whom TO leave them,
tor breyitys sake may be included under
one head. for whom TO leave cards de-
termines what cards should be left.
When a married woman is calling upon
another and does not find her at home she
leaves one of her own cards and occasion
ally one of her husbands. Formerly it
Was the rule to leave two of a husbands
cards when calling upon a married woman.
one for the wife and one for the husband;
but this is no longer done. The husban ds
Meet too frequently to render leaving cards
for them anything but a meanIngless
waste Of pasteboard, and consequently now
only very occasionally are the hus bands
cards left for the ladies called upon This
applies more particularly TO women who
are intimate with each other, and not to
those who call perhaps but twice or three
times in year. | nder such conditions
and with such intervals the husband $ cards
are generally left by the wife when call
Ing Another exception is the ease OF first
calls. when two of the husbands cards
ht.lTl left Is .t.l. fh.,t ft,a
men are not in the HABIT, as yet, OF meet
i"s one another ON a friendly footing
A married woman leaves one OF her hus-
bands cards when calling upon a widow.
II she calls frequently II is not necessary
always to leave one of his. Doing Ii de-
notes greater Formally. The same rule
applies To calling upon an unmarried wom-
an. \ widow or unmarried woman return
ing the call of course does not leave one
al her cards for the man.
Leaving cards in lieu OF calling comes in
after entertainments have been attended.
1t IS only after dinner parties that dinner
guests make calls instead OF merely leav-
ing cards. and il is only in the event OF
n hostess not being AT home that the cards
are left By the ladies calling. a husband S
cards after a dinner are left in any case;
the wife's card only in the case above
quoted. After all functions before men,
toned a married woman leaves one of her
own and two OF her HUSBAND cards. A
widow or maiden women leaves one Of her
own cards, and bachelor leaves two Of
his cards-one for the host and one for the
hostess. Cards should be left in all in
stances within the current week OF the
function. A little longer time is allowed
to dinner guests. as calls. and not merely
leaving cards. have to be got through
Wedding guests. again. are expected to
leave cards upon the brides mother within
two or three days of the wedding reception
attended one of the wife's and two OF the
husbands cards in the case of married
women.
IL Is permissible. when a girl has made
her debut for her to have her own Wis.,
itng cards, but Ii is considered better
form for her name TO be engraved on the
same card with her mothers. The only
use she should have for her own cards
is when calling upon others her own age.
Even then, IL the acquaintance is a formal
one. II Is better that her mothers name
should accompany hers. and so the double
card Is better.
few words must be said concerning
cards OF return thanks for kind inquiries"
and cards OF sympathy. Usually a mar
ried woman leaves one OF her own cards
with ITO Inquire written upon 1t. and
only occasionally one OF her husbands also.
after the first time OF calling to inquire;