Morris tribune., 1914-06-26
The Card-of.Thanks Habit

docs the sCard of Thanks express that for which
it is intended We do not think So Should personal
preciation entirely private matter. be made through
the public press? This matter handled in thorough
the following article by Gunnar B. BjOrnaon
in the Mnneota Mascot and fully expresses views
the subject.
One seldom picks up a local paper that does not
contain "card of thanks for kindness, sympathy,
assistance and on signed by sorrowng relative
of some deceased
We have published hundreds of them
With or three exceptions, have written all of
them.
Consequently they have all been more or less the
ordersort of stereoyped in spite Of anything that
could do We have noticed also that the other
are running good deal in the same ruts
What we are getting at is that this card- of thanks
habit is and has long been meaningless formof ques-
tionable taste.
Ninety-nne of every hundred of these cards are
written by the editor of paper in which they
and be tries his best make each individual gner feel
grateful and thankful in just little different way
than the other bereaved survivors who have requested
him convey their appreciation in whatever way best
suits the and complies with what they think is
per- We do want be understood dscouragng the
virtue of appreciation for favors granted-far from it.
What trying to get at is that people use his
common public form of expressing their appreciation and
instead of personally and privately doing by word of
mouth personal letter what they should do what good
taste and courtesy dictate that they ought to do
they go to newspaper and stick in general card
of thanks and think thereby they have discharged OBJ
legation.
If your gratitude is as heartfelt and sincere
have the editor say then good taste should dictate
you that you should go and tell the friends who have
been kind to you, this thing by word of mouth.
You should make it personal matter.
But" you say, 81 can not see them ALL haven't
the time
Listen The friends whom you have the editor thank
for their kindness, sympathy and great assistance DUR
ing your trouble and Sorrow had the time you
to assist you, to help you.
But you haven't got time to go and say. ''thank
you, . to them
You are so busy that you must rush to a newspaper
office and have the editor fill out blanket form that will
the whole and everybody connected with it.
The chances that those you want to thank the
most see your card
And if they do and if they are the kind of friends
who be continually thanked for all theydo then the
chances that they will say: $50 that's all he (or
she thinks Of what is done for him Tor her) Thanks
through newspaper
You get credit for appreciation spread out in
public print.
is such cheap, careless, unconcerned way of say
ing that you grateful that you don't get much credit
for it.
If thing is worth saying thank you'' for, then
that ''thank you' should be personal
Besides. people always know that the one who meets
with great loss great sorrow, thankful for the
Kindness sympathy and assistance of frends-human ma
ture the from generation generation from cline
to cline, tell you that.
You don't have 10 nail up poster telling the world
that you feel thankful.
This is not matter of any great concern to us and
we shall gladly and freely wrte set up and run cards
thanks in the future as in the past.
But we have thought good deal about this custom
and have to the conclusion that in spite of
usage, which speaks against view the cardof-
thanks habit is bad taste and
~ not the one it is intended to serve.
Just stop to think and then if you don't agree
with US.
The fact that everybody'is doing it, doesn't make
rghmuch rather does that fact constitute the greater
indictment against the custom.
Sam Gordon, of Browns Valley, is being recognized
leading candidate for speaker of the next House
will Sam has mot announced himself card