Occasionally they preserve this custom throughout the entire first
season. But this is all; from thenceforth husband and wife have their
own separate cards. They may, however, be used at times throughout the
married life to convey messages of sympathy, congratulation, or to
accompany gifts.
Widows have always hesitated about exchanging the beloved and
accustomed name upon their cards for their own signature. This,
however, in many cases, is a necessity, especially where there is a
son bearing the father’s name. This is sometimes thought to be avoided
by the use of the distinctive “Senior” or “Junior,” a custom obviously
wrong, since after the death of Francis Brown, Senior, Francis Brown,
Junior, becomes at once Francis Brown, and his wife, Mrs. Francis
Brown. Hence, while we have no such convenient title as “Dowager,”
the widowed Mrs. Francis Brown will be obliged to drop her husband’s
name in favor of her son’s wife and thenceforth appear before the
world as Mrs. Mary E. Brown. Where there are no children, or immediate
relatives, change of title on the part of the widow is a mere matter of
sentiment.
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: