Fort Lauderdale News from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • 69

EFnniicfl YTdDiinn Fort Lauderdale News SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER. 1, 1968 SECTION Him ModiI IPsDiiDeri0 -1 I A- 1 i jr'J. 'J-T lV. fc AW I By SANDRA ROCKWELL (Staff Writer) The personal touch stamps our soeiety. Through everything from the cars we drive to the clothes we buy runs the great I.

I like, I don't like. I buy, I don't buy. YOU might not like.it but it's ME my personality. And that's what counts. In an age when computers threaten to rule with all the force of Olympian gods, the average man is fighting to be the human self he is.

Conservative or flashy, dour or sassy, he has asserted his right to be whatever he wants and his possessions reflect it. The battle of the individual has mushroomed to such proportions that even the paper he writes on must reflect himself. Ridiculous? Well, think back. When writing a short note 20 years ago what kind of paper did you use? White, no doubt. And maybe carefully cut from a regular piece of stationery so that you got the right size.

You could buy lhank-you notes with a gold or blue Thank-You written across the front. And that was it. Today's a different story. Designs for lhank-you'a and other miscellaneous notes flourish with all the artwork of a 19th century valentine. In a good stationery store you can find notes to suit your every mood.

Renoir copies, brightly colored Mexican "scenes," flowers," cherubic "children against sunburst hues these are 'the notepapers people are buying. "The change in stationery over the past few i years is amazing," says Mrs. Robert McGilligan, McGilligan's Stationery store. "The whole atmosphere's moved to more color and design. Even children are getting their own notepaper with "Peanuts" characters or little cartoons on them." Like clothes buyers, stationers now order their products six months in advance to be in style for the next season.

Psychedelic designs may give way to softer tones next year. And while purple seems to be an "in" shade right now, pink could outclass it by December. Along with personality plus notes are the equally important accessories. Pens in all colors, shapes and- sizes perch in holders of varying designs. Ditto for letter openers and blotters.

In recent months there's been a resurgence of the old-quill type pen. Women think it's more feminine. Another item the I's of today is a personalized seal. Dipped in wax and stamped on the paper it is the epitome of individualism and the personal touch. A 'I VV "-A -r AjA'a a "n5 iVeun Photo 6v ou Toman THANK-YOU NOTES There's more to a thank-you note than a few nice words.

Those who are up on their etiquette can take one look at that pint-sized piece of paper and tell whether the writer is well-informed or a dumb-dumb in the, world of social graces. Next to no thanks at all, the letter that reads "Dear Aunt Mary, "Thank you for the Christmas gift. Sincerely, Anne" is the worst faux pas you can commit. In the first place, anyone who takes the time to select and mail a gift deserves more than a sentence. Second, it's nice to be reminded of what you gave.

Omitting the nature of the gift could cause the sender to wonder (a) if you knew what the gift was or (b) if you've already forgotten. Social Forms," a popular guide that vides easy answers to most any question on letters. According to Miss Watson every, gift should be acknowledged with a note regardless of whether you've thanked in person or not. Above all it should express your sincerity and warmth. Dull notes could just as well be punched out by an IBM machine and defeat the whole purpose of a thank-you.

Your first task after receiving a gift is, to sit down and write. In a week or two your original enthusiasm will have worn off and appropriate "oomph" will be hard to come by. No one -can give you tire i right words. Be sincere, says the author, and the note will write itself. -The drooly thank-you note isn't cricket either.

After so much gush the sender begins to doubt your sincerity. Example "Darling! Thanks so much for the scrumptious potholder. It's just adorable, you lovely dear." A On the other side of the spectrum you have the receiver who doesn't know when to stop. This is the kind of lhank-you that rambles on around the edges of the paper and eventually winds up a full-fledged epistle. If you want to tell Aunt Gussie all the news, write her a For now, a thank-you note will do.

Naturally, most etiquette books give you the proper procedure on thank-yous. In. 1948 Lillian Eichler Watson wrote "Stand-ard Book of Letter Writing and Correct Of course, in the midst of all this goodness and light there's the possibility you don't LIKE the gift Gertrude sent. This poses a problem. How can you thank someone, for a present you can't stand? You lie a little.

'After all, Gertrude's taste might be totally, different, from yours. At least she thought enough of you to send a gift. May-be took days -to pick it out. Spent hours wrapping. Drove through a rainstorm just to mail it.

See? The thought was there. Don't be like the young mother who received a white baby dress and bonnet and wrote, "Thanks for the short, fat dress. I have a long, skinny baby." Gifts are given in thoughtfulness and generosity. They should be received th same way..