Evening star., 1941-02-03
Select Your
Notepaper
Carefully
Consider Suitability
AS Well as Quality
In Making Choice
By Betsy CaSaceH,


Although the telephone, the type
writer and the speed of modern ex-
istence has reduced to a minimum
the number of personal notes and
letters flying back and forth among
friends and acquaintances today,
there are still rules of good taste
that govern the selection of papers
for those remaining epiStleS. An
attractiVely written note on digni-
fed, beautifully finished paper, is
always q welcome sight when en-
countered among the mornings
grist Of ads" bills, post cards and
dry business documents.
It is well, therefore. to bear this
~presentability" in mind when pur-
chasing new stationery for your per-
sonal use. Emily Post says concern
ing the choice of writing paper:
Suitability should be considered
in choosing note paper, as well as in
choosing a piece of furniture for
house. For a handwriting that is
habitually large, a larger sized paper
should be chosen than that for writ
ing which is small. The shape of
the paper should also depend some
what upon the spacing of the lines
which is typical of the writer, and
whether a wide or narrow margin is
used. Low, spread out writing looks
better on a square sheet of paper;
tall pointed writing looks better on
paper that is high and narrow. Sc
lection of paper, whether rough or
smooth. is entirely a matter of per-
sonal choice-So that the quality be
good. and the shape and color con-
servative.
Paper should never be ruled, or
highly scented, or odd in shape or
have elaborate or striking orna-
mentation. - The flap of the en-
velope should be plain, and the
point neither Skimpy nor unduly
long. If the flap is square instead
of being pointed it may be allowed
greater length without being eccen-
tric. ''' Oblong envelopes are ex-
cellent for business, but those more
nearly square are SmarteSt for per-
sonal use.
Metal edged paper is not good
form. Ragged edged paper is always
suggestive of a studio and for that
reason appropriate for artists but
not as good as cut edges for most Of
us"
You will notice that Mrs. Post
puts emphasis on the good quality
of note paper. Fortunately for most
of us, nowadays, high quality paper
is not prohibitive in price, and we
can indulge ourselves in few boxes
of it from time to time without
guilty conscience. Fine papers are
to be found in Washington shops,
and many concerns have complete
guides for stamping or engraving
them that are the best accepted
taste. They have great books full
of the --latest thing" in stationery,
from which you may make your
selection, and they will also show
you specimens of monogramS, COM
plete names in smart lettering, ad-
dresses, phone numbers, and so on,
from which you can make the
selection most suitable to your needs
and the paper you have chosen. AS
q general rule, it is well to have
the lettering or monogrammlng
done in a color corresponding to that
used in the border and lining of
the envelopes; otherwise, if your
paper is plain, you may use any
smart contrasting tone, or have the
marking embossed in white. Silver,
either alone or in conjunction with
a color, is used only on the most
formal note papers.
A year or so ago, strong colors were |
high fashion in stationery. Scream |
ing sheets of chartreuSe, bOrdered |
in crimson, were just about the top
in ugliness-but were, for a time, |
welcomed with glee by the more
youthful of the fashion minded. |
This craze disappeared so rapidly, |
however. that in a short time the |
vicious color combinations were
placed on the bargin tables, and |
every ones eyes felt much better.
This year the trend seems to be |
toward the palest of pastels. Many |
papers are unbordered, and fewer /
lined envelopes are seen. Heavy |
papers are in the minority-one |
firm boasts that all of its lightweight |
papers are suitable for airmail use.
OF course, there are special air mail |
papers, too. that have a red, white |
and blue glamour about them, but |
with letters taking to the Strato- |
sphere in ever mounting numbers, |
there is definite place for all light !
papers in every field.
Rejecting the military influence
is new paper that comes in several |
soft colors, and is watermarked in
an "echelon" design that is remi-
niscent of planes in fight formation.
This is extremely smart, and should
also help you keep your lines straight |
and properly spaced! Another out
standing group comes boxed i'll five
of the palest pastel sunrise" shades,
with white borders, Lovely, with
q monogram in white.
But whatever paper you choose,
bear Mrs. Posts warning about
quality and suitability in mind. If
you're in doubt, go to one of the
best stores, and let them advise you
Good stationery goes hand in hand
with good breeding.