With a holly and ribbon-trimmed New Year's bell and mother's starched parlor curtains as background, the dainty little miss on the 1909 post card awaits New Year's Day callers. She is dressed in her pink-sashed party best and holds high a sprig of holly in her lace-mitted hand. Ruffled petticoats can be seen above the top of her white kid slippers. The custom of calling on New Year's Day meant going by carriage or street car or walking to make the rounds to the homes of old and new acquaintances. Calling cards, usually engraved or handwritten in flourishing script and carried in card cases, were deposited by the caller in a silver tray, placed for that purpose on a stand near the door. Children were taught at an early age the niceties of social behavior and participated in many holiday events. Emily Post in her book of etiquette advocated the use of small calling cards for children and their training in manners. Friendships renewed and refreshments enjoyed the caller was soon on his way to the homes of other friends - a charming custom in a slower paced era and especially popular at the turn of the century in Kansas City, Independence, and Westport. The post card was one of a series published in Saxony by Rapheal Tuck & Sons, art publishers to their majesties the King and Queen of England. It was addressed to a little girl named Katherine Glenn of Independence, and was mailed with a green 1-cent stamp. Kansas City Star, January 1, 1972.
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