The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-07-12
Etiquette Of Letter Writing.

Hills Manuel OF Social ami Business Eorms
AZ rule every letter, unless insult
ing in liz character, requires an an
swcr. To neglect to answer a letter
when written 10, Is as uncivil as t"
neglect to reply when spoken to.
In the reply, acknowledge first the
receipt Of the letter, mentioning it,
date, aud afterward consider all tho
points requiring attention.
II the letter Is to Ike very brief, co,'-
mence sufficiently Jar from the top
Of the lssgc to give nearly equal n
mount Of blank paper ut the lrotiOnl
Of the sheet when the letter Is ended.
Should the matter in the letter con
tinue beyond the first page, it will Le
well to commence little above the
middle "f the sheet, extern ding as :ar
~ necessary on the other page.
1t is thought inapolite I" use half
sheet Of paper in formal letters. As
u matter Of economy an.l convenience
f,r business purposes, however, II l.
customary to have the card II the
business man printed ut the top ii the
sheet, and u single leaf is used.
In writing a letter the answer IL
which l. Of more benefit to yourself
than the person to whom you write,
enclose = postage stamp for the reply.
Letters should nc as free from era
surcs, intcrlincations, hl"ts and post
scripts ~ possible. 1t Is decidedly
better to copy the letter ham to have
These appear.
a letter of introduction or recon-.
n,endattOn should never b< sealed, NJ
the person to whom 1t IS given ought
to know the contents.
BUSINESS LETTERS.
a. In letters Of business use as few
words as possible.
~ Business letters should be
promptly answered.
e, Use u clear, distinct writing
avoiding all flourish IT pen,nansl'ip
or langu ;ge.
4, Come at once IL your >ulject,
and state II ~ clearly that 1t will not
lie necessary tu guess your meaning.
Is, Give town, county, state and
date explicitly. 1t is frequently Of
great iullUrtanc. to know when Il
letter was written.
Is, Read your letter carefully when
finished, to see that you, have made no
omissions and no mistakes. Al-O
carefully examine your envelope, I"
sec that 1t j. rightly directed, with pos.
tage stamp a.li x.d.
a., Copy all business lctte ., your
own. hy hand. or with the copying
press made far the purpose.
IS, SEMI money iy draft. lT'si"ffi,e
order, or express. always stating In
the letter the amount and hy what
means sent. Thus you have some
thing to show for the money, s..aran-
,ccing you again-: loss.
-. Write date aud from whom re-
ccivc,l acrs,-- the end Vt each letter,
and file for future reference, 'ssttn-
ing the letters together with rubber
hands. or Lind,iing IN letter file
adapted to the urls'sc. The r"'s'''*s-
ion Of u letter sometimes prevents III.
iyatiun AMI serious nIisuntleIstand-
ing.
In ordering g,,ods state very cxplic-
itly the amount. kind, quality, ccl"r.
shape. sizc. etc, and ON what terms
wanted.
Should the writer wish to make sug.
ycstions. ask questions, or add other
matter to the letter. which is foreign
to the subject. such words should hc
placed entirely separate from the Or
: der. OF fifty or a hundred letters r.
c~ivctl to-day by the merchant, that
one which Is mixed up with con'-
plaiuts, inquiries, etc.. will probably
lie laid over till tomorrow, or uni!
such time CAN Ike gained rs will ena-
bic the merchant to read 1t through
Had the orsler been explicitly stated.
! and the suggestions placed elsewhere.
the goods would have been forward
; ell Immediately.
! Send your ORDER, also, early enough
to give yourself pleaty Of time To wal
tor the goods to arrive