VISITING CARDS. The use of cards of identification for social purposes is generally supposed to have had its origin at the court of Louis XIV. of France. But in a ruder form, this mark of intercourse dates from much earlier times; the Chinese in bygone ages employed such mediums of communication on calling at the houses of absent friends. They were used in Germany as early as the 16th century. Strips of paper were first employed for the purpose ; but gradually they attained a more elaborate finish. Ladies seem to have been the pioneers in this direction, and
to have embellished their cards with hand drawings. Under Louis XV. visiting cards were furnished with delicate engravings, show ing some fanciful landscape, or a view of the town or place where the person resided.