Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 177, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1911 — FOR THE TIME OF SORROW [ARTICLE]

FOR THE TIME OF SORROW

Proper Way to Extend Condolences to One's Friends Who Are in Grief. There are persons who never take notice of another's sorrow. They wait until the bereaved one is met. Sometimes this attitude is from fear of intrusion, again it is from fear of not saying the right thing, too often it is from procrastination. Whatever the reason it is a mistake. There are some few who dislike outside sympathy in sorrow, the majority are hurt if it is not given. They never quite feel the same toward the friend who they think was neglectful of their trouble. The visiting card with a few words of sympathy is sufficient, save among close friends. A married woman incloses the card of her husband. Never make a note of condolence stilted. It should express you, and not be an essay on grief. Also be brief. A few sincere sentences count more than pages of rambling platitudes. % It is customary to send the note to the member of the family you know best, Including the others in your expressions of sympathy. It is customary now to have engraved forms of acknowledgment on black-edged cards. These are sent out in the name of the head of the family, “and are sent tOldT Yfßd offered sympathy. They can be had in a few days on a rush order. There are many who think such a card too formal, and in any case intimate friends should have personal notes. Flowers always require a note in the first person from some member. of the family, or in case the note is written by a friend it should say: “Mrs. Blank has asked me to thank you for the flowers,” etc. When one is a Catholic, -with these acknowledgments are sometimes inclosed small, black-edged engraved cards asking for prayers for the deceased. Occasionally a small portrait of the deceased is used on the inner fold of the card, with the date of death beneath.