Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-03-05
Card Etiquette for Formal Calls
BY LYDIA LIE BARON WALKER,

name may be engraved, however, be-
low that of her mothers upon the
same card for their joint use, and
this is very often done. Even so,
Miss" should precede the name. For
children to have calling cards of their
own is very bad form. A mans card
Is smaller than lady's. A Mr.. and
Mrs" card is larger, however, than
either.
General Rules.
There are general rules for calling
and the use of cards which are ac-
cepted in all circles, the diplomatic
circle being an exception.
A humorous skit was written some
years ago about q woman who
wished to do the correct thing So
cially, and left As cards at one house
where there happened to be guests
and family of IA. She left two
dozen of her husbands cards and
like number of her own. so that no
one need feel sighted. Calling cards
would indeed be a considerable item
in ones expense account If dis
tributed in this wholesale manner.
Besides being eXtravagant it would
be absurd.
The well intentioned but unin-
formed caller made about as many
errors as was possible to do in one
little afternoon call. In the first
place, cards are never left for chill
dren. In the second place, she should
have left only half as many cards
of her own as of her husbands.
Calls and Cards.
A gentleman calls upon both the
men and women of household,
whereas lady calls upon the women
only. Mrs. Jones calls upon Mrs.
Smith. She leaves one of her own
cards for Mrs. Smith and two of her
husbands, whose call would be upon
both Mr. and Mrs. Smith. If there
is a. sister in the household, Mrs.
Jones leaves two of her own cards
and three of her husbands when the
courtesy of calling is to be extended
to the sister. If there was no sister,
but a brother in the household, Mrs.
Jones would leave only one OF her
own cards, but three of her hus-
bands. This, which sounds compli-
Gated in the telling, is very simple,
reduced to the principle already men
toned, which governs the leaving OF
ladies' cards for ladies only, gentle
mems for those of both sexes.
For Family Call.
When there are severa branches
of the same family under one roof,
saw for instance, the senior smiths,
the junior Smiths and some in
laws" all of the adults who are to
consider that the call was partly
upon them must have cards left them
in correct number to signify the fact
In calling upon a family where
there is a guest, cards for the guest
may or may not be left. If the guest
and the caller have been entertained
Jointly, or with the purpose of bring
ing them together, it is the part of
courtesy to include card, or cards,
for the guest. If the guest is the OBJ
iect of the call, and the host or
hostess are little better than
strangers to the caller, cards may or
may not be left for them. If the
acquaintance with the hosts Is one
that would seem to offer congenial-
ity, cards may be left, whether the
acquaintance is to be pursued In the
absence of the guest or not.
In paying a family call of ma
ture not too formal, 1t is sufficient
for the caller, who we will assume
is the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith, to leave merely Mr.. and
Mrs" card to represent her father
and mother and one of her own.
Cards are not used except when
calls are formal unless persons are
out. Then they are left to Indicate
that the call has been made.