The Washington times., 1935-12-12
NOW
Christmas Cards
Approach
METHODS
By HELEN ESSARY

ADOuC JNlS IlIne VI year IAio
Christmas card pierces the pre-
Yuletide fog.
The first question that twists
the already confused mind is how
many Christmas cards you will
send. Have you kept last years
cards? And made for yourself a
list for this years mailing?
Or have you, according to Gus
tom, left the 1884 cards lying
about in the attic where the chill
dren and the neighbours children
have found them on rainy days?
Or has the cook poked the cards
on the top pantry shelf behind
the candle nubS and used them
one by one in making her market
ing lists?
The first of these eventuali-
ties is the worst, though it
seems the happieSt. For this
reason, the names on last years
cards do not include the names
of those to whom you send cards
but who sent no cards to you.
These persons will be certain to
send you cards this year. You
will of course have overlooked
them. Therefore, every other
Red Cross sealed envelope Of
Christmas week will send you
in a rush for cards to hurry to
the forgotten.
In addition, you will be sure
to receive cards from some you
haven't seen for the last 10
years, or from those you have
seen practically every day. Both
offerings will surprise you.
You hadn't expected to be re-
membered through the mails by
those you wouldn't recognize be-
cause of the new rinse on the
hair or the new bulge of the
waist line, or by those you talk
to on the phone every "a hours.
Thus it would seem that the
best way to regulate the number
of cards-if you are deter
mined Christmas card Sender-lS
to order a hundred more than
you know you are going to need.
And then multiply by eight.
Which brings me to the problem
OF what type of card to send.
Is the emhlazoned card that
shows wealth or big charge ac-
counts in better taste than the
dear little card bought at the
five cent table with a tender
thought and a clutching hand?
Does the simple faith Of an un.
lined envelope express a sweeter
Christmas feeling than the Nor
man blooded parchment with
Yuletide greetings at $50 a
hundred. plus the salary OF the
secretary with the spencerlan
hand?
This may be decided on the
basis of the income tax scale.
In the Personal Letter School
of Holiday Greeting you will find
many Bright Spirits, some OF
whom may be met in a SanI-
tarium a week after Christmas.
In this group Kind Hearts and
Penmanship Are More Than
Coronets and the outlay in cash
Is small.
If you believe in this variety
of Christmas madness, provide
yourself with dozens Of white
cards, six pots of coffee, four pen
holders and two or three dozen
blotters to mop up the red ink
which best expresses the joyous
season.
You may not go entirely insane
penning such little misSives to
several hundreds of assorted
persons. Missives that aren't too
cozy or too remote. Personal,
but not intimate. Sincere but not
sappy. But, remember, in writ
ing original sentiments, it's best
to put each card in an envelope
and address it at once. Other
wise, you may say to bachelor
Senator, Has that precious baby
his mothers big blue eyes? How
ard and hope that you and yours
find your stockings crammed with
Santa's jolly gifts"
The sentiments which should
have gone to the Senator might
reach the parents of the dear
little stranger like this: The ma
tion needs such integrity and in
dustry as yours"
A few dirty digs could be in
cluded in the Christmas thoughts.
To the Boss one might say, May
you get what you deserve and
more"
To the friend back from her
third trip to Reno intimate,
Maybe Santa's the man for you"
One woman know waited one
year until all of her Christmas
cards had arrived. Then she sat
down and wrote to the Senders
pleasant little New Years Greet
ings. This was as hard as the
dickens to do. Having just fin,
ished with Christmas she had
few sweet emotions left for any,
body at any time of the year.
Henry L. Mencken sends no
Christmas or New Years cards
He writes in longhand a gay lit
tie THANK You" note for every
card he receives.
He is the only man I ever knew
who did anything at all about
Christmas cards unless I mention
the man who advised: TRY not
sending any cards. I bet you
will get just as many as if you