The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-24
WHAT TO DO AND HOW
Correctness in Cards-DOn't OverdO FormaIity-But Don't Go Calling Minus PastebOards.

- The girl or woman who wants to make a. good impression will see that she has correct visiting cards as well as visiting gowns.
 The servant who opens the door may 5 not perhaps be a personality vita-ly important to conciIiate. Yet the ser want is enough of a factor in our so- ciaI intercourse to make 1t advisable that at the portals we should create sessed of the necessary carte de Vis1te, instead of lamely apOlogizing that we haven't a card with us
 In business relations the personal card is oftentimes open Sesame which the scribbIed pastebOard sub stitute fails to be.
 Not so long ago a somewhat small and himsy card that fitted into card case or pocket book was deemed the thing But as it bent so easily that it frequently came out z okdng S'N though it had seen hard service, a heavier weight is now favored
 The fashionable card for every day social service is of medium weight, and shows a b ack lettering.
 Script is always in good taste, and has the advantage of being easily read
 I certainly am glad that it is no longer considered good form to use mourning. These certainly were a gruesome attempt at keeping up with fashions demands.
 Good taste in any line avoids the bizarre. The medium weight, me dIum sized card of cream white with Old English or script lettering IS aI- ways dependable.
 a. stenographer, had her cards engrav- ed 'SMf1Iie Anne ia Gless- She was decidedly provoked when I gently c-lt1- cised the taste of tn s inscrirtion. Be ing an only daughter, Miss Gless" would have been correct. She pooh poohed this, because she argued that she went to work, and it would look as though she were trying to put on airs.
 Feeling that way, I told her she was putting on airs to have a visiting card-at a-4., but if she did have one were. "a younger daughter, she then should use a card reading Miss Mtl- lie Amelia Gless-"
 a pity that a fond mother shou d have consented to having her christen- ed fEMiIHe' These ''ie'' n;cknameS are in bad taste, and though appro- priate during the scnoo' day period. In later life they really make their own CTS ridiculous don't blame any girl for trying 4o. convert MOllie into Mary, sAddieT into Adelaide, or Jennie into Jane.
 There is a dignity almost aristocrat- ic in some of the good old fashioned names. Mothers are more and more  mothers and christening the baby of to-day, Elizabeth, Caroline or Harriet, rather than Bessie, Carrie or Hattie. So when these girl babies grow to wo- manhood, their visiting cards will not shriek aloud some silly baby pet name, as appropriate as it would be to re- fer to Richard Occur de Lion as Dick
 Americans are not so lavishIy bound to the most formal of visiting cards that the single daughters of family English custom. The American debu- tante, however is not inclined to merge her personality in the maternal and so she carries her own visiting card, and. leaves, it with that of her mother when the two are calling to- gether.
 It always seemed to me that card etiquette was being pressed hard when cards, including that of the father at business, were left for each indtvid- uaI member of family visited. This method proved a severe strain on the card supply and was suggestive at homes where the circle was generous of starting a game in which the deal was the first, move.
 The cards of the actual visitors are enough, left on the silver tray in the hall, or handed to the maid if the family are out, without loading up a dozen or more to show that each member of the household was individ- ually remembered.
 In these days of the professional woman, her cards permit leeway in the matter of title. The lady doc tor would have her cards read ''Dr. Caro- inc Weston while her minister ial sisters cards should read Rev erend Louise Thompson"
 The matter of address is not arbi- trary. The card of strictly social character as a rule shows the at home days in the lower left hand corner.
 Even babies have their cards-these generally being mailed with the an nouncements of the ystork's visit, sent out by the proud parents.
 Of course, the litt'e piece of paste board in itself isn't much But its significance in the part it plays in the game of social life makes it a strong factor to be coped with and compre- hended. THE HOSTESS.