Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-07-23
CRITICISMS ON WRITING.

Few people like to be thought ignor-
ant, aud yet, almost daily, we see errors
in writing made, oftentimes, by those
who have had good advantages.
Thoughts on this subject have been
suggested by letters, signs, and auto
graph albums. a.. ..
How often do we see letter address
ed to Miss. So and So; )" the word
Miss y being written as an abbrevia-
ton. 1t may be that some write it
with the idea that it is Il shortened
form; others may do it from carelessness.
Not us often, although frequently, do
we see Mr." and "Mrs." as well as the
middle letter of u maine, guiltleSs of the
mark of abbreviation, while u persons
given name, when written in full, is
followed by Il prominent period. TAX
ing it for granted that spelling and
penmanship are good, the punctua-
ton on the envelope might have u
passing notice. Many business men,
no doubt, scorn the idea of putting
commas and periods on the numerous
envelopes sent out by them. Never
theless, there are business men who
have a large correspondence, and still
find time to insert commas or periods
as the case may require. There are two
methods of punctuating the address,
either of which is considered good. Some
place period after each line, while
| Others place comma after each line
except the last which takes a period
In regard to the letter proper, the date
should be divided into its parts by
commas over the point placed after
the term of address, there is a differ
ence of opinion. The simplest form is
q comma, but u semicolon, or colon and
dash may be used. In model letter,
each new subject should rightly be
marked by new paragraph but,
at least, periods should be used to
separate sentences. A letter written
in continuous line from the first to
the fourth page of a sheet, without even
q period to break the monotony-and
such one is sometimes received
requires little study before it can be
read intelligently.
Usually, sign painters use commas
sparingly, but that there is an excep
ton to this rule it is proved by the fol-
lowing illustrations "Cash. paid fol-
tallow." 'tMarch's, mandatory.
Autograph albums, also, frequently
| furnish OCCASION for Il little criticism
For instance, inca album, there once
appeared lines somewhat like these -
In memories casket
place one gem for me
Your friend
Mary
East concord
IT.
Surely 1t is strange use of the period
to place it before a line, and omit il
altogether where it is needed. Then
why will people persist in writing the
abbreviation of Vermont with two cap
itals? Comparatively few people write
original lines in albums, and yet many
by neglecting the marks of quotation
fail to give the poet his due. Grammar
is pronounced useless by some parents
but, if grammar will teach, as it should
how to form the possessive case ant
plural form, to spell, punctuate, anc
capitalize, it is of practical value il
those points, at least.
A few words in regard to the senti
mont expressed in autograph albums
might not be amiss just here. Tender
ness and sympathy may pervad'
the lines written to a near friend bu
the following, written in the album o
n mere acquaintance, is hardly appro
priate:-
"When yoH are sitting all alone,
And thinking of the past,
Remember you have one true friend,
Whose love will always last"
Surely with the literature of today
it is possible to have an. album filled
with choice selections and thus mad'
interesting to the reader. T. L. y.