OVER IHE TEACUPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 69

OVER IHE TEACUPS.

My Dear Readers, — So many queries on the etiquette of leaving cards leach me front time to time that I shall 'devote a few moments this afternoon to giving you tht very latest rules in this matter. And I shall preface them with a word of encouragement to my numerous country correspondents,, who seem to feel a shame-faced conviction that their ignorance on certain little details of "the whole art of cardleaving" is confined to country residents. I assure them that such is by no means the case — many people long resident in town and in the habit of paying calls every day make the funniest mistakes about leaving cards, and many a quiet laugh I have over the contents of my card tray. Some people are so saving of their visiting cards you feel it really would be an appreciated kindness to post them back from time to time ; while others seem to revel iv leaving a perfect family calendar strewn on th€ hall taible. Let us run through the latest card customs, and do, my fair and forgetful friends, cut out the little paragraph and keep ib for future reference! On the occasion of a first call, leave ona of you? own and two of your husband's cards. Should there be a guest whose acouaintance you desire to make, you leave separate cards for her — one of 33 T our own and! one of your husband's. To provide against the mistakes of servants, you may pencil on these cards the name of the lady for whom they are intended. j After dances, dinners, luncheons, Dr "Afc Homes," a "card should be left on the hostess within a week. A rather wide margin — ten days — may be allowed if you make a call instead of mertly leaving cards. Cards of inquiry should, if distance permits, be left at the door, but if that is impossible they may be sent by post. "To inquire," or "With kind inquiries," sT.ould be written on the top of the card ; the same rule applies rt> cards of sympathy or. condolence. "P.P.C." cards should be left before leaving a neighbourhood for good, or for a lengthened absence, the letters to be written on the right hand corner of the card. These, in the case of a laree sircla of acquaintances, are usually posted. On .arriving in town after a lone; absence, cards may be left on your acnuaintances to let them know that you .ire in their vicinity, and look forward to the pleasure of meeting them. In the case of an invalid, ' o* of a very large circle of friends, or a short visit to town only being contemplated, the address of your hotel or lodgings should be clearly written on your cards, and thp cards posted Grown-up sonv. have their own visiting cards, and are supposed to attend to their .own calling. Most bachelors in town find it a more or less useful method of getting through Sunday a f tornoon. to which supper at the house of sony intimate friends provides an aerr* > enble finirh. Grown-up unmarried daughters usually have their names on their mother's cards. In making first calls, see that your address, as well as your days at home, is lpcriblv written on vonr card. Address on the rifht hand c^ner, days at home on the left. If your hostess is at home when you call, it is unnecessary to leave your cards, except on the occasion of your first call, or after any pntertainment.to which you have been asked.

j.■ . . - The 'subject of "Children's Libraries in America" was treated in » recent number of the Windsor Masrazinc by that charming writer. Miss Charlotte O'Conor Eccles. To one unacquainted with the topic, it is as wondprful ns it is pleasant to find how muph has been acomnlishpd, and with what wide and comprehpnsivp" detail tho possibilities of children's libruriee are treated in America. The movement would seem ro have originated in Mir custom th«t )a ob^rvpd in the public libraries of siip!>Vin? books to the lornl schools for the usf of tpar^er? and pup'ls. Thif 'led to the ! PstflW ; «bmpnt in most larsr town 1 - :>f a

pliildrpn's library, whifh. icoordin'.' to the siz» and imnorr ice of the dJ«tß'*t. varies ■ from n, mprp slice partitioned off from the i creneral rehdlne room to n stipe' 1 "" depar* 1- | ment, ron«i c ting usually of a sparvons readinp rr>om and a r?fpr*»nce room, with Monk

room, and lovntorirs." Only the snlpndid ijPlpotioTi of rtbotopraphic reproductions whi^h ill»i«srr,ii«»s the article, can trive any idea n f rh.p briphr oompl»t^ness nnd comfort o* thp«e oh'Mr-nn's 'innries, with their amnlp nnd wll-filled shelves. llipu oheerv windows and pl«no a nt re'vsos, thpir picprints, nnd flowers ; nnd. prominent I in the ppntre «f rhp room or wnll. thf big 'bulletin ho-ird." with its silwivs interesting and ipinortnnt ipnonnppmpnfa. Til* w^rk "f first ohoo-in'' Hip book *or i thp children's libvnripf is wi«elv and effij cipntlv nrrnn?pd. selfot rommittees of hdies and cpntlomen of rliFrr"n< rplicious ' cTinTntVitions. sl"''s l "'' ouite itnronnpderl with j iV»o lihrnrv. woi-kins in confer* with U»o I Linrarv CommiHpp. to whom helwiTs the j rr^'mtr vntp. Tb-«s i»n«ttrf.« f Mtoroucrblv vioo wleotion of W'ks. md •'How the I rbildvpn t-o- chnn«r frppi'- for- tbpmselves j fro?T> nil Hint is stored on th» shelve*. I Fii'r^- s*-orip« "T am "Itcl to not". re jir mront d<"nind : bur thp ld*r childron, ! wb»n interested in an^ l'^for s '."*! "harartor. or whr-n frudvinp 1 for an examination, , we often find In snpplf>mpnr loMcm ''iveti ' in ppTinol by rpidimr nitW'n the *'ibjprr. Youn? PMpl* nndcr .«ixlflen are allovea tr we. thp rniMren'n room ; twit -;ome an of<pn n"> Ou'v like, frfe ti' rnn«»e nlonp rhe , rliplvp". tnkinv down what hof»*»q the** like. • fit lonrr ;i!5 i!lf»r riir< e r,vtv - *]\f. rulf pf v/-<.forin« onch volnw <'• nmnr, T> 1 .-if. +n tnk<» our 'rpnflrr*' < ; 'lf't".*' adrr'ttir>them to the usual privilcce of » submTifar-!

io any publu library, subject to the usual rules, hiies, etc. But this we may dismiss is the mere shell, the routine work of these childien's hbraiies : the real kernel — Ihe broad, wise, and liberal developments of culture, hell), and cheer which flow from them— constitutes at oner the object lesson md the delightful t'.iemo In the Boston ClulJien's Libiary he iralls r.re hung with beautiful prints of famous building:-, ihioaghou* the world, such as the Cathedral of Nutie Dame, the

Palace of the Doges, St Mark*, etc , etc. In other libraiit* topie 1 - of world r.-nowned pictures and sculpture, such as the Laotoon and the Apollo Belvedere, form permanent exhibits. In others, again, the plan of permanent decoration is forsaken for that of variety, obtained by from time to time changing"' the pictures and photographs. Again, an excellent method or rendering the rooms attractive and interesting to the young habitues at the same time is found in the plan of exhibiting paintings and sketches of

familiar wild flowers, native bird«. and wild animals, concerning which the children are •encouraged to ask questions by the kindly l.branans. The pleasant est. most friendly relations grow up between the boys and girlb who use these rooms and the librarians, so much so that it frequently happens when the age limit obliges the young people to "move on"' to the general reading room they still come back to the N kindly ladies or gentlemen who have so helped and sympathised with them for advice as to their reading, 01 guidince in some difficult passage. , Nor is this all : the tale of helpfulness and tho kindly pl.ms for the children embrace yet more. Publi" holidays or festival*, as they diaw near, are posted on the black boaid. togeth e r with a list, of .books relating to their origin, etc., and pictures or photographs of the great 'venls they coramemniiite. Cojld there be a moie charming way of learning history? Similarly we read that "The birthdays of great men — Shakespeare, , Milton, Xewton, Laplace, Wa*hington — furnish an occasion for showing their portraits, referring to thenplays, poem«, di«toveries. virtue*, or con("liiests, and familiarising young readers with their works or their deed-;."' Among the many illustrations which accompany the article I was most attracted by ihe pictures of the rooms in the children's library at Mcdfoid, a suburb of Boston, for here, in addition to all the attractions of picture*, photographs, and all the equipment of the pleasant rooms, there is midget furniture to suit tin midget members! Now I hope I have not wearied you — and I wish I could reprod ice for you the illustrations which add so much to the charm of the article. I have a number of pleasant little frivolities noted for you for next jO'hat, and so bid you good-bye for to-day. Always your attached EMMELINE.