Evening star., 1943-03-01
Avoid Repeating
An Incorrect
Phrase
Best Not to Employ
Word That Person
MiSbronOMnces
Bv Emily Post

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A very nice question Is that of the
discourtesy Of correcting any ones
pronunciation. As, for example, in
the following question: IF an indi-
vidual uses an improper pronuncia-
ton when in conversation with some
one. Is this some one expected to re-
peat the error should it be necessary
to use the word again?"
The best answer to this is to try
to avoid the word-at least for a
while. But when you do use it, say
1t correctly and with as little en-
phasis as possible. This is the only
way, In fact, that you can call the
mistake to the attention OF the one
who made it. BY copying the mis-
take you only fix the wrong pronun-
citation more firmly in mind, whereas 8
If you say 1t in the right way, one
who would really like to know how
to pronounce it is given a chance to
get 1t right.
Dear Mrs. Post: My fiance was
killed lately. He has no relatives
near here; none anywhere whom
know personally. He was an only
child and his parents are gone. Is
there any one to whom the ring
should be given or may keep it?
Answer-You may keep 1t, Of
course. Even If he had a family, 1t
belongs to you.
Dear Mrs. Post: Are yesterdays
rules for leaving visiting cards also
today's? mean, do they still hold
good for Mr.. and Mrs. Private Citi-
zen who feel that they should pay
several visits on strangers? re-
member that under similar circum-
stances mother used to leave q Mr..
and Mrs. card and one other card Of
fathers. This extra card Is the one
which seems an unnecessary for
mality in this day, when leaving
cards at all has almost become iden-
titled with an older generation. At
least, we here encounter 1t seldom.
Answer-While the formality of
leaving the extra card is still proper,
the fact that you encounter it very
seldom is sufiicient reason for omit
ting 1t.
Dear Mrs. Post: When a woman
applies for a position as secretary to
a man and sits in his Office waiting
for him to return for the interview,
is she supposed to rise when he en-
ters the room? And does she re-
main standing until he motions her
to sit down?
Answer think that the natural
gesture of any well-bred person
would be to rise, as visitor does
when the person she has come to see
enters the room. She should not,
however, wait to be told to sit down
again-unless, Of course, they are
both in uniform and he is her su-
perior in rank. In this case, she
should remain standing, not only
until after he Is seated but until he
directs her to sit.
Dear Mrs. Post: My boy friend is
overseas. Before he went he gave
money to his sister for a present
for me when my birthday came
around. She bought me a very beau
tiful pair Of pajamas and gave them
to me in her brothers name. Now,
am puzzled about this gift. I
know it would not have been correct
for the brother to have given me the
pajamas, and I'm sure he would not
have done so. But since his sister
made the selection, what am I to do
about this gift?
Answer-Taking it for granted
that you and she are good friends
and that you know she selected
something she thought lovely and
you think so, too, then keep them
of course and write an enthusiastic
letter of thanks. There is certainly
no improperly in accepting her
choice of gift-at least it would
take quite lot of looking for.
Dear Mrs. Post: May stranger
send gift to man In the services?
1 have been writing to this man
because his name was handed to
me at the Office with a reminder
that l write him news of home and
Office He writes very interesting
letters in return and urges me each
time to keep writing to him. If I
may sometimes send him a gift, will
you make some suitable sugges-
tions?
Answer Cigarettes are always
proper and usually welcome pres
ent. If he is the one man in a
hundred who does not smoke land
you should ask him to tell you II
this is the case), then ask him
further what he likes instead
chewing gum or hard candies for
example.
Mrs. Post is sorry she can no
longer answer personal letters.
She is glad, however, to have
many printed slips on a variety
Of subjects TO offer To her read
erS Tnday'S slim is oAnrouo,