Evening star., 1936-11-22

my iucS - CdIeIuiiy preserved -
are all imaginable questions about
the friendly custom OF sending
Christmas cards. which | have been
wanting to answer ever since last
November. because these questions
were sent to me too late.
The first question on my list is the
oft repeated one as to whether the
inclusion of MIR. and Mrs as part of
the signature is proper under the fol-
lowing circumstances: When the names
are engraved or printed like engrav-
ing; when they are informally printed
in irregular letters as though done by
hand; or when written by hand.
In the first case, although it is not in
best taste to prefix titles to signatures.
the fact that the names are engraved
naturally classifies them with those on
visiting cards, rather than with writ
ten signatures. But even so it is in
better taste to put the name at the
top of the message. For example,
"Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Holly
send you their best wishes for a
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year" is better form than Best
Wishes for Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year, from Mr.. and Mrs.
Christopher Holly"
Sending a card as bought, without
-any signature, and then enclosing a
visiting card is suitable for an ex-
tremely impersonal greeting sent to
clients or customers or business ac-
quaintances. When sent to friends it
rather suggests evidence Of having
been ordered too late to be properly
engraved.
An important point to be made is
that the engraving of names on Christ
mas cards naturally follows the rules
for the engraving of names on visiting
cards. For example, woman's name
should never be engraved without the
prefix Mrs. or Miss. A mans card is,
of course, on many occasions left
without a prefix. 1t is sensible, there
fore, if one can. to order two varieties
of cards: one that is formal in subject
and either engraved or formally printed
in the style of engraving; the other an
informal card with informal printing.
and the signature printed to match
and without title, these to be sent to
intimate friends.
1t is always proper to buy cards
as they come. for every one. and to
write on them by hand. When the
cards are sent by husband and wife,
the one who writes the names cour-
teously writes his or her own name
last. But when cards are printed there
is no rule as to whether the husbands
or the wife's name shall be first.
MARY and John" seems more polite
to Mary. but John and Mary" does
of course follow the conventional MIR.
and Mrs. form.
Moreover. when children's names
are included, the fathers name comes
first - always. For example: John
and Mary and the Baby" is better
than MARY and John and the Baby"
/ Sometimes, by the way, a baby's
arrival at any time during the year is
announced by adding his name on the
Christmas cards - John and Mary
Smith and their new son Timothy"
Cards to intimate friends, which in
clude several children. might be from
"The John Smiths - all Five"
On the formal cards sent by a widow
and her grown son together, or widower
and his grown daughter, the name of
the parent would be engraved on one
line and the son or daughters name
on the line below. Or if written by
hand, the parents name would come
first, Aunt Jane and Tim" or Henry
Green and Mary Green" or to those
who call the parent by first name.
Henry and Mary"
/ Engaged people often send cards
| torathar RI their intimate friends with