Part 6 (2/2)

The black border upon a widow's cards should never be over a quarter of an inch in depth: more than this savors of ostentation rather than affliction.

Young ladies, especially if it is their first season in society, will find it the best form to have their names engraved upon the visiting card of their mother. Thus, if it is the eldest daughter:

MRS. WILFRID FERGUSON.

MISS FERGUSON.

If a younger daughter:

MRS. WILFRID FURGUSON.

MISS ETHEL FURGUSON.

And if it should chance that two daughters ”come out” in consecutive seasons both of their names are frequently engraved upon their mother's card, thus:

MRS. WILFRID FURGUSON.

MISS FURGUSON.

MISS ETHEL FURGUSON.

Though it often happens that, for convenience sake, by the time the second rosebud is ”out,” the first has established a cardcase of her own. Yet as neither custom nor etiquette sanctions young girls in having cards of their own, a mother often continues to have the name of her young daughters engraved upon her own card.

Young ladies should always prefix ”Miss” to their names, as:

MISS ALICE CREIGHTON WRIGHT,

there being a certain forwardness about announcing one's self as:

ALICE CREIGHTON WRIGHT.

Especially is this so among strangers, the prefix ”Miss” carrying with it a certain quiet reserve and dignity.

The eldest daughter of a family announces herself upon her cards as ”Miss Wright,” unless there are several of the same name in town, while the others are respectively ”Miss Alice Creighton Wright” and ”Miss Ethel May Wright.” Occasionally a card is used for sisters engraved as follows:

MISSES WRIGHT.

All pet names are to be avoided upon visiting cards and ”Nettie Cranston” very properly becomes ”Miss Annette Cranston” upon her cards.

Neither are initials good form for young ladies, though after an unmarried lady has reached a certain, or rather an ”uncertain,” age, she may, if she choose, be permitted to place upon her visiting cards:

MISS A.C. WRIGHT.

If the young lady be motherless she often has her name engraved beneath that of her father, using not the smaller card of a gentleman but the first given oblong card for ladies. In England unmarried ladies, unless they have reached a very ”uncertain” age indeed, follow the above fas.h.i.+on, and quite young ladies leave their chaperon's card as well. This fas.h.i.+on is often followed here, and when so done signifies that they will be inseparable for the season.

Address on Cards.

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