When she travels, she buys 10 thank you notes for a few dollars and slips them into her carry-on luggage. She gives them to the bell hop, the man who carries the bags through the airport, or the ...

The thank-you note was de rigueur, both for friends and family, as well as business. A formality of tone and proper etiquette were necessary, as were a careful selection of paper, envelope, and ink.