French Leave Etiquette

Gilded age calling card tray with card. T ake your visiting card and write “P. P. C.” on it, which is the French for “Pour prendre congé” and means “to take leave.” 

Taking French Leave

If you are unexpectedly obliged to leave a town where you have been entertained without returning any calls, send back a card to those to whom you are indebted. Take your visiting card and write “P. P. C.” on it, which is the French for “Pour prendre congé” and means “to take leave.” Send these cards by post to all those to whom you owe calls. This will show that you are not unmindful of them and were prevented from calling.–The Morning Union, 1915

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