| OCR Text |
Show FASHIONABLE STATIONERY Irish linen paper is no longer exclusively fashionable, smooth and rough are equally popular; ? and cream are the stylish tints. The sheets are of the standard commercial note and letter size, and unruled-even the French water hues are sometimes omitted; envelopes are nearly square. A fashionable fancy is to have the notepaper decorated in various ways. Water-color sketches, monograms, etchings, crest, coat of arms, ciphers, fancy initials and quaint designs, are used in endless variety of form and color. An odd conceit is to take a motto or device, using it as a seal and motto on all notepaper, and oftentimes expressing great individuality. Mary Queen of Scots selected on the death of Francis ?, the licorice plant, the root of which is sweet, while all above ground is bitter, which typifying herself and her husband, was a pretty idea; her better-half being buried, herself being above ground in bitterness. The motto accompanying it was Dulce Meam terra regits-the earth covers my sweet one. Wedding invitations are engraved in plain English script on a sheet of white note paper. They are now generally issued with the names of the bride and groom on the note, instead of on separate cards. A novelty in wedding cards in England consists of a double card, and is edged with a pale blue and silver border, with the word "Marriage" in the center of the first page in silver. The second page has the words "At Home," after such a date as the wedded pair may decide upon, together with their address. The third page is appropriated to their names, the date of marriage, and the church and the minister by whom and where the ceremony is performed, the fourth page being reserved for the complimentary expression, "With our kind regards," to which their initials are appended. For receptions and parties, the invitations are generally printed on heavy, square cards. Invitations to parties where outdoor sports are to be indulged in, should bear a coat of arms formed of bows, arrows, targets, croquet-mallets, oars and other implements of like description. For yachting parties the invitation should bear the yacht flag and private signal crossed. In designing a monogram the letters may be of any type the writer shall select. They may be either elaborately or plainly designed, and of any shape to suit the fancy-round, square or long. Their colors are of gold, silver, bronze, red and other single colors, or some bright color is prettily blended with gold, silver or black. Too much ornament is open to criticism. When the eye cannot trace the text, much of the beauty and value are lost. Shakespearean cards have a bust of the great bard on the upper left corner, an architectural design of the Elizabethan period, and a familiar quotation with appropriate flowers. Some of the prettiest cards have Japanese figures stamped on gold or fancy ground, which are easily transposed or turned into English by turning or slanting the sheet. Ferns are also used in a corner of the note paper with the same on the flaps of the envelope. The cards of married ladies are white and oblong in shape, being three and seven-eighths inches long and two and on half inches wide. The cards of Mr. and Mrs.(unreadable) larger, that of Miss a little smaller than the one of Mrs. Gentlemen's are the smallest. Note cards are large and quite thick; square or oblong in shape, with gilt or colored edges. For accepting invitations, formal correspondence and short notes, these are in great request. Steel-engraved pictures are also placed in the corners of note sheets and correspondence cards. The designs are usually landscapes, but there are some groups of flowers on ? and a few birds among them.-Detroit Free Press. |
