Evening star., 1935-12-01

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from
William and Susan Jones.
The question as to whether the husbands
or the wifes name should be written Susan
and William" or whether it should be the
other way around would seem to be confusing
to many people But perhaps if list all his
name-frst situations and then list hers it may
help to make the problem clear:
The husbands name comes first in four
cases:
l. The rule is MIR and Mrs" and MAN
and Wife" Not Mrs and Mr." or Woman
and Husband
The more formal impersonaD the intention
the more certainly should the mans name
come first If names are printed - Or possibly
engraved in full - the order would be Viii
liam and Susan Jones'
3. If there are children, fathers name
comes first, because the mothers is more
naturally grouped with that of the children
Sue, Bill and the children gives much too
therefore only when their names are used
alone. Bill, Sue. Billy and Susie, is right if the
boy Billy is older than his sister. If she is
older, then her name comes first. Children are
always listed according to age
4. When names are signed by hand, "Wil.
liam and Susan or Bill and Sue is the usual
form because the names are usually written by
the wife. Of they were written by the husband
he would of course put his wife's name first }
When names are on very informal cards
without surname, then the wifes name is
usually first. kilograms of Christmas greet
ngs are usually signed "Sue and Bill"
The most difficult card to find is one that is
suitable for a friend in deep mourning. On the
one hand, any suggestion of merry day and
happy coming year, is cruelty to emphasize
the ache of loneliness. Those who believe that
they are helping to cheer brokenhearted per-
son by such unthinking means - know not
what they do. On the other hand, funereal
picture. such as one of wreath-hung grave
stone, is almost as hard for most people to
bear.
A card expressing the tender consideration
of the sender, a card neither oversentimental
nor heartless but a tranquil picture perhaps
that brings with it message of truly loving
and thoughtful sympathy, is sometimes of
great comfort
To one who is in physical pain one might
very well send the gayest of Christmas cards,
if it be sent with the hope that the sufferer will
be ready for the merriest of Christmases be-
forenext year. But do NOT choose sentiment
for one who knows the future holds no promise
Among the intimate cards, of course the
very incest and most welcome ones that your
friends can possibly receive are photographs
of you and yours against your own home back
ground. If you have any snapshots, why not
go at once and have the best of them enlarged2
A picture of your front door best of all
family group taken by the fire in the living
room or wherever the most attractive back
ground may be found, and the family not in
an arranged group but informally following
their characteristic pursuits. Possibly pic
ture at the dinner table with vacant chair
and message written beneath it to say that
it is meant for the friend to whom the picture
is sent.
Suitable messages to have printed under
any picture of family at home might be
something such as: To the three Joneses from
the four Browns. Or Merry Christmas to you
all from us all. Or All of us at our house, send
all of you at your house, our very best wishes
for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Copyright, 1885, by Emily Post