CHAPTER XIX.

LETTER WRITING.

THE man or woman who can talk well, can write a letter equally well. The thoughts that enable one to shine in conversation can be transferred to paper and win for the writer the same amount of admiration. There is only this difference – that words, as they fall from the lips, have an airy grace of their own, aided by the tone of voice, and play of feature, which written down in set phrases, is lacking. Any person can write a social, friendly letter. Indeed,, the chief charm of these epistles is, that they consist of airy nothings, which are not brought under any set rules. But letters to strangers and letters of business must partake of a more formal character; as also letters of regret and those written to congratulate a friend. For these there are certain forms which require to be observed.

INK TO USE.

Never use fancy colored inks. Though once very fashionable, they are no longer deemed elegant. A clear black ink is the accepted standard. Purchase an ink that flows freely, without sinking into the paper, and will not gum the pen. A rusty brown black is very offensive to the eye.

PAPER AND ENVELOPES.

The style and size and shape of paper changes continually. These matters are always within the province of the stationers who supply them, and who always keep the "latest." But the quality never varies. Always a fine, firm white paper is in demand. If you have a preference for tints, they should be of the most delicate cream, or gray, so faint as scarcely to be observable. Learn to write on unruled paper. It is very easy to do so. Ruled paper is only suitable for business. If you find it too difficult to write without lines, a sheet of heavily ruled paper placed underneath will serve you as a guide. A paper with your monogram is allowable, and in England, where they do many things sensibly, it is the custom to have one's address printed at the head of the sheet.

This stands in lieu of writing it in the body of the letter, an omission which many are guilty of. Envelopes are square, and. should exactly fit the paper, so that it need not be doubled but once. Ladies may use delicately perfumed paper, but gentlemen should not. Black-edged paper is in vogue with those who are in mourning. Some people do not use it, however. In writing a letter of condolence to one who is in mourning, you should not adopt a mourning paper. Make use of the stationery you have. It is rude to write to a friend or stranger on a half-sheet of paper, or on a torn sheet. In business houses, the half-sheet is always used, but it is printed for that special purpose. Crossing your pages is positively an insult. Some ladies write across the proper way, then turn and recross, until it would need the patience of the famous Job, to decipher them, The writer remembers, when a girl, of receiving such a letter from a very dear cousin. It was crossed, and criss-crossed in every conceivable direction, and in so fine a hand that it rivaled the intricacies of a spider's web. It is needless to say, that to this day the contents of that letter are unknown to the recipient. It awoke the same feelings as expressed by a hero of a novel, who says – in speaking of a similar infliction – "Give me any other torture than this, to read a woman's plaid letter." Paper that is thin or full of specks, is untidy and cheap looking. So are blots, erasures and interlining. Long letters are only welcome to friends who take deep interest in us, and even there "Brevity is the soul of wit," for few have the rare gift of writing lengthy epistles that will not weary.

USE OF FIGURES AND ABBREVIATIONS.

Business people, to save time, date their letters – "2-4-91—" meaning fourth day, second month of 1891. It is impolite in friendly correspondence. Addresses should be in figures, as "No. 21, Carpenter St.;" the day of the month also, as "Sept. 3." Numerals are not proper in letters. Were you to speak of the century, it would be "the nineteenth century." The age should be spelled out, as "He is sixty to-day." The titles of persons preceding their name, should be abbreviated — "Hon. Reverdy Johnson," "Rev. Dr. Bacon." States are abbreviated when the town precedes them, as "Boston, Mass.;" "Viz." for videlicet, meaning "namely," or "to wit;" "i. e." for id est (it is;) "e. g." for exempli gratia ("for example;") "ult" for ultimo — last month; "prox." for proximo – next month; "inst. " for instant — the present month; "etc. " for et cetera, "and the rest," or "and so on;" "v." or "vs." for versus; "vol." — volume; "chap." chapter; "A. M.," "M.," and "P. M." for forenoon, noon, and afternoon. Figures are used in denoting sums of money, or large quantities – as "$200,000;" "175,000 barrels;" per cent., "30 per cent.;" degrees of latitude longitude or temperature, unless the degree sign is used, are spelled out; also fractions, in correspondence as "three-fourths," "seven-eighths."

STYLE OF WRITING.

Directions cannot be given for the matter of which a letter should consist. That depends wholly upon the writer. The form of commencing a letter, "Dear Friend, I take my pen in hand to let you know I am well," has long ago become stereotyped and tiresome. It also argues egotism on the part of the writer. Would you have your correspondent imagine that your sole motive for writing is to inform her of the state of your health? And then an unnecessary piece of information is to state that you take your pen in hand. Of course she will suppose that you have done so, by the result. Be original in that, as in all things else. Write as you would talk were your correspondent present. Try and think over what you design writing and say it in the most natural way you can. This is the highest art – to do everything in so artistic and finished a manner, that it will hate the appearance of being a second nature.

IMPROPERLY ADDRESSED.

It is estimated that four million letters find their way to the dead letter office annually, because they are improperly addressed. This is a matter for serious consideration. It is best to give the county as well as the town, save for large cities that are so well known. There are so many names common to towns that unless this precaution is taken, the letter is often missent. We present some forms of address:

     Mr. Henry C. Martin,
                 27 Lafayette St,
                           Salem, Mass.

     Mrs. Lydia A. Farnum,
                     44 Easton Ave.,
Union Co.	         Marysville, O.

Address the Governor of a State, thus:

     His Excellency,
              Gov. Joseph Fifer,
                        Springfield, Ill.

To the President, when a personal letter is sent:

     To the President,
                Executive Mansion,
                    Washington, D. C.

A gentleman who bears an honorary title can be addressed thus:

     Rev. A. C. Hill D. D., LL.D.,
             Chancellor of University,
                              Troy, N Y.

A letter to any member of the President's cabinet will reach him thus:

Hon. T. W. Talbot,
Secretary of the Navy, (Army, Treasury, etc.)
Washington, D. C.

A letter of introduction is always left unsealed and the envelope is addressed thus:

      Col. Robert O. Ellis,
                                Zenia, O.

Introducing Mr. Fred Osmun.

Business letters are universally printed now with a line or two like the following, on the upper left-band corner:

A note intrusted to the care of another to be delivered personally, is addressed thus:

     Miss Mabel Evans,
                                  City.
Kindness of Mr. Warren Hastings.

FRENCH PHRASES.

There ace some phrases from the French which are often met in notes and invitations. We add those most commonly used:

FRENCH PHRASE.	ABBRRVIATION.	MEANING
Repondez s'ilvous plait.	R.S.V.P.	Reply if you please.
Pour prendre conge.	P. P. C.	To take leave.
Pour dire adieu.	P. D. A.	To say farewell.
En ville.	E. V.	In the town or city.
Costume de rigueur.		Costumes to be full dress
Fete champetre.		A country (or rural) entertainment.
Soiree dansante.		A dancing party.
Bal masque.		A masquerade ball.
Soiree musicale.		A musical entertainment.

ADDING POSTSCRIPTS.– UNDERSCORING.

It is charged against ladies that they will add postscripts. This is not alone a fault of the fair sex. We have seen a long, rambling letter written by one of the sterner sex which contained the pith of the whole matter in the postscript. It is in bad taste in either sex. Underscoring is still more to be deprecated. It is well called "the refuge of the feebly forcible." Where it is indulged in too lavishly it weakens the point of what the writer aims to say, and means nothing. The occasional use of an italic word sometimes conveys. an idea a little more directly, but the habit of uuderscoring is best never practiced.

A FEW HINTS.

Do not attempt a letter unless you have something to say.

Never write an anonymous letter. It is cowardly; The recipient of such a letter should quietly burn it. The man or woman who dares not sign his or her name is unworthy of notice.

Do not write a letter while in anger. You will surely say too much, which you will regret. Written words stand as living witnesses against you and cannot be recalled.

Address your superiors with respect. Do not write flippantly to any one. Even with friends you should maintain a certain reserve.

Do not commit a secret to paper. You can never tell what use may be made of it, or into whose hands it may fall.

In writing to another, making an inquiry, or on any business of your own, inclose a stamp for reply. See that any letter you write is fully prepaid. It is humiliating to one's pride to learn that another was compelled to make up his, deficiency.

HEADING FOR LETTERS.

Commence a business letter near the top; a social letter should be begun about one-third the way down.

Here are several forms:

CHICAGO, Ill., DEC. 22, 1890.

Or the county may be added:

CHICAGO, Cook Co., Ill., Dec. 22, 1890.

Full address is added sometimes:

             384 W. Congress St.,
                        Chicago, Ill.,
                        Dec. 22, 1890.

When writing from a college, or a hotel; those places may be affixed also. A more ceremonious mode is to place the date at the close of the letter:

             Yours sincerely,
                        HATTIE WHITE.
CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 1890.

The name of the person to whom the letter is addressed is placed on the next line below the heading, and if to a stranger or a business man this is the fashion:

Mr. HORATIO WINTERS,
   25 Genesee St.,
       Batavia, N. Y.
           Dear Sir: – Having received, etc.

LETTERS TO FRIENDS AND OTHERS.

If letters to familiar friends, the salutation begins the letter, and their full name and address are written at the lower left-hand corner of the last page. Many titles are sanctioned by usage. A minister is addressed as Rev. Jerome Wellington, without any additional title. He may be saluted as Reverend Sir, or Dear Sir. A doctor of medicine is C. B. Wallace, M. D., or Dr. C. B. Wallace. A lawyer is the only person entitled to the "Esq.," although many foolishly imagine that they are adding dignity to a plain citizen by addressing him as "Esq." Nothing is more absurd or uncalled for.

SALUTATIONS USED.

Business men can be addressed as "Gentlemen," or "Sirs;" others are "Dear Sir," or "Sir," or "Hon. John Brown – Dear Sir." Any of these are sanctioned by usage. To a married lady one should address himself as "My Dear Madam," or omit the "My." "My Dear Mrs. Hatch." Friends who have known each other for years will naturally adopt more familiar salutations, which are decided by themselves on the strength of their acquaintance and good sense. So, also, members of a family, schoolmates, college chums and lovers are not expected to be bound by any particular formulas, but should avoid any silly and effusive terms of endearment,

An unmarried lady may be addressed as "My Dear Miss Felton," or among friends, as "Dear Marian." It is a pity that our language does not afford us a designation for an unmarried lady similar to the French word "Mademoiselle."

SIGNATURES.

To prevent confusion a lady should sign herself by her title, as Mrs. Jennie Smith," or "Miss Flora Harlow," when writing to strangers or answering business correspondence. Never sign initials alone, as "F. Smith." That would lead most people to believe that the writer was a gentleman.

RECEIPTS.

Many ladies do not know exactly how a receipt should be made out. We give two as the correct forms:

NEW HAVEN, Ct., May 1, 1889.

$25.

Received from Henry Harvey twenty-five dollars to apply on account.

GREEN, STEPHENSON & CO.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 4, 1888.

$50.

Received from Charles Bliss fifty dollars in full of all demands to date.

ZEIGLER, WATERS & CO.

There are printed forms for bank checks, drafts, notes, etc., which render it superfluous to give them here.

REPLYING TO LETTERS.

A reply should promptly follow the receipt of a letter; it cannot be civilly delayed for any great length of time. It is customary to begin a reply by noticing the date of the letter to which an answer is given.

One of the following forms is generally adopted:

"I hasten to answer the letter which you did me the honor of writing on the —

"I have received the letter with which you favored me on the

"I have not been able, until this moment, to answer the letter which you did me the honor of writing on the —

"I will not burden my letter with useless apologies, but confess frankly that I have been a little dilatory, and hope that you will pardon me."

CLOSING A LETTER.

This is a matter which also depends upon the nearness of friendship or familiarity. Either of these forms are made use of – "Yours sincerely," "Ever yours," "Truly yours," "Yours respectfully," "Cordially yours," "Very respectfully," "I have the honor to be

"Your obedient servant,

"David Mack."

The proper form will naturally suggest itself.

USE OF THE THIRD PERSON.

Many people confuse the first and third persons. The custom of using the third person is confined to notes of invitation, and those who cling to old customs. But if the third person is made use of, adhere to it. Don't write "Miss Clara Lake regrets that she cannot accept Mrs. Hunt's kind invitation. I am away from the city." Or, "Mrs. Collins will call at Mr. Peck's store on Saturday to look at some rings.

        "Very truly yours,

                  "HARRIET COLLINS."

Such a note requires no signature at all. These are errors that the best informed people are apt to make, but must be guarded against.

POSTAL CARDS.

It is almost considered an insult by some people to receive a postal card. They are very useful for business purposes, or for sending orders by mail, but for social correspondence are improper. It is not good manners to send personal notes that are open to inspection.

SEALING WAX AND WAFERS.

The use of sealing wax is again coming into favor. "Fastidious people prefer wax, but it is much better to use the regular gummed envelope than to make a great slovenly seal on an envelope. Every lady should learn how to seal a letter neatly. A good impression may be obtained by covering the face of the seal with linseed oil, dusting it with rouge, and then pressing it firmly and rapidly on the soft wax. Either red or black wax is proper, but wafers should never be used."

A NEAT LETTER.

No matter whom you are writing to, no degree of intimacy excuses a slovenly, blotted letter, which is half full of erasures. Attention to neatness and legibility is of the greatest importance. Write a plain hand, free from flourishes. An ornamental hand will do for a copy-book or a writing-master, but few of your correspondents will care for gymnastics in your handwriting. Errors in grammar and spelling expose the writer to sharp criticism.

Married women are addressed by the names of their husbands. The use of the first or baptismal name signifies that the lady is single or else a widow. No letter should be sealed up until it has been read over, and any error or doubtful statement corrected.

ABBREVIATING WORDS.

Abbreviations of titles, states, offices, etc., are correct; but to abbreviate common, everyday words, as some do, such as "dr." for "dear," ans. " for "answer," "&" for "and," is in bad taste. They call it "phonetic" – it should rather be dubbed foolish. Figures are out of their place, when used in a sentence to shorten it, as "He visited 4 houses," for "four houses."

WRITING TO STRANGERS.

Young girls often thoughtlessly begin a correspondence with strangers. A romantic girl whose training has been neglected may begin this dangerous amusement. But it had best be discontinued at once. The young man who writes thus to a young girl is usually lacking in lady friends, and a young lady must be wanting in self-respect to permit such a breach of propriety. He is sure to show her letters, and boast of his conquest, and perhaps even attack her good name.

In a book devoted to the best usages prevalent in society we cannot give a "model letter-writer," and therefore we must content ourselves with the hints we have given. But a few words on what is required in the composition of a letter are not amiss: "Purity, propriety and precision, chiefly in regard to words and phrases; and perspicuity, unity and strength in regard to sentences., He who writes with purity avoids all phraseology that is foreign, uncouth, or ill-derived; he who writes with propriety selects the most appropriate, the very best expressions, and generally displays sound judgment and good taste; he who writes with precision is careful to state exactly what he means, all that he means, all that is necessary, and nothing more."

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