Evening star., 1936-11-26
Hints On
Xmas Card
Etiquette
Timely Advice Out
lines Current Usage
of Forms.
Photo BY Elvood Baker. Star STAFF.

WHILE the etiquette Of greeting
cards is generally understood,
there are certain points of current
usage which should be noted.
Christmas cards are Of two kinds,
general and individual. The first are
designed primarily to be printed or
engraved with the sender's name, and
q card should be selected which is ap-
propriate to the entire list Of recip-
tents. The individual cards, on the
other hand, give wide scope for unique
and original choice, as they are Sc
lected to fit each individual on the
sender's list and may, accordingly. be
religious, dignified, humorous or
quaint. as desired.
The majority of people now prefer
to use both kinds. The general card
is sent to the wider circle of acquaint-
ances to whom good taste dictates
an expression of seasonal sentiment
and individual cards to close friends
and relatives. In keeping with this
| growing trend to personalize the
greetings to ones intimates, the 1886
cards include o wide variety, espe-
cially designed and worded for such
special" sending. They include cards
for practically every member Of the
family circle, as well as appropriate
designs for pastor and priest, teachers.
and so on.
Many of the new cards for individ-
ual sending carry merely line OF
Greetings or Merry Christmas" on
their face, leaving the inside page
blank for the sender to write a per-
sonal note of good wishes.
Either printed or engraved sigma
lures are accepted as equally good
form for the formal cards. Which,
ever is used, the lettering style Of the
signature must match that of the
card. Stimulated by the new popu-
larity Of the modern designs is the
popularity of the card with verse and
name printed in block letters in one
Of the new colors or done in white on
. solid color card.
Script style signatures are another
smart vogue which, on occasion, Is
extended to the use Of an actual fac
simile signature in the sender's own
handwriting. This, however, entails
. special plate.
Signing" your Christmas card
with an informal snapshot is waning
IN favor this year. However. it Is
quite correct, provided that you
send these cards only to those whom
you would naturally be willing to have
receive your picture. It Is better form
to have your name appear on the card
as well rather than using simply the
snapshot.
| For younger married couples the
use Of the senders' first names In
stead Of the formal Mr.. and Mrs. Is
now sponsored. Either the husbands 8
name or the wife's name may be used
first, according to which best bal
ances" the card or sounds better.
If you are using Vour calling card
plate to have cards engraved, be sure
to select q card with a verse which
permits the name to come at the top,
as Miss Sarah Browne extends best
Christmas Wishes" since the title
such as Miss or Mrs. would not, In
strict correctness, be used In the sig
| nature.
Each year the question arises Of
| the married business woman who uses
her maiden name at her ONCE. She
has q choice Of correct procedure.
She may send the same card to her
business and personal Lists, In which
case she should include her maiden
| name In italics under her joint sigma
ture with her husband. Is "Mr. and
Mrs" on the Christmas cards. Or
she may have separate cards for her
business list, carrying simply her
maiden name, and for her personal
list carrying her name with her hus-
bands. The unmarried business
woman does not use Miss before her
name. but signs her cards, for ex-
ample, "Joen Smith" or Joan r.
Smith" omitting the middle initial
= now eonddesed . bit smarter.