don't
think, even at the time when it was published, that well-bred people
used a signature like that. It may not be 'awfully vulgar,' but it
certainly is not correct; nothing but the Christian name should ever be
used as a signature."

"But suppose the person you were writing to did not know whether you
were married or not," said Candace.

"Then you can add your address below, like this;" and she wrote on the
edge of her drawing-paper,--

"Yours truly,
"CATHERINE V. GRAY.
"MRS. COURTENAY GRAY,
"Newport, R. I.

That is what I should do if I were writing to a stranger."

"Then there is this about the addresses of letters," went on Candace:--

"'In addressing a married lady, use her maiden as
well as her married name; for example, in writing
to Miss Sarah J. Beebe, who is married to George
Gordon, the proper direction would be

Mrs. Sarah B. Gordon,
Care of George Gordon,
Oshkosh,
Michigan.'

Is that right, Cousin Kate?"

"No; that is decidedly _wrong_. When Miss Beebe married, she became not
only Mrs. Gordon, but Mrs. George Gordon, to distinguish her from any
other Mrs. Gordons who might happen to exist. She should _sign_ herself
'Sarah B. Gordon,' but her letters and cards should bear her married
name, 'Mrs. George Gordon.'"

"But people do write to widows in that way, don't they?" asked Gertrude.
"I recollect, when I went to the post-office with Berry Joy one day,
there was a letter for her mother, directed to Mrs. Louisa Bailey Joy."

"Yes; people do, but not the people who know the right way," her mother
replied dryly. "A man's Christian name doesn't die with him any more
than his surname. I often see letters addressed to Mrs. Jane this and
Mrs. Maria that, but it never seems to me either correct or elegant. It
is a purely American custom. English people have never adopted it, and
it seems very odd to them."

"Well, about cards," continued Marian, who was turning over the leaves
of the "Manual of Gentility." "See what a funny little card this is;
and the writer of the book says it is the kind we ought to have." She
pointed to a page on which appeared a little oblong enclosure bearing
the name

+------------