Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-19

|
ladies forget to append. 1t should always he writ
ten II not printed, at the head OF letter. 1t gives
stylish finish to the appearances Of the note pa
use black Ink IL is the only fashionable medium;
avoid all the cOOred fluids, which also being
legated to the kitchen, Every lady, and indeed
| every man, should acquire good hand writing.
1t used TO be much more indispensable than now.
Our ancestors Qook at John Hancock's signature;
some one said 1t was written so 1t could be read
| across the Atlantic,) wrote better than we do. A
| cramped, poor, slovenly, uneducated uniformed
handwriting Is sure to produce bad impression
! full, long, sweeping, leglble hand, which we call
| the English hand. This hand ornaments note
that we keep specimens OF it long after the note
| has done It's service. A neat, flowing, graceful
| hand, sheet free from blots and eraSures; this
letter is always agreeable TO the eye. The writer
| OF notes must carefully discriminate between the
familiar note and the ceremOniOuS note, and should
study how to write both.
| ANSWERING AN INVITATION.
| custom demands that an answer to an invita-
ton be written in the third person. If the invita-
ton Is IN the third person. No authorizations, no
| hurry, no mutilated poiteness, but an elaborate
and finished note with the names Of both parties
occupying line OF their own, as for instance the
| answer TO a dinner is written thus:
| Mr.. and Mrs. Paget
have great pleasure In accepting the polite invita-
ton OF
| Mr.. and Mrs. Leslie
| for dinner, on the eighteenth or April at eight
| O'Clock,
:So LOrendes square,
| March sixth.
This reiteration OF date and hour saves any pos
Sibility OF mistake.
| that we begin note with "Daar Mr.. Smith," and
| sign 1t "YOurs cordially" or "Yours truly" or
be- wt 7aIsa in ps THIS
The use Of numerals or abOreviations is
| will come on the 9th Of the month";" but
81 will come on the sixth OF the MONTH" IL would
| be impossible to give any uneducated person
M r. directions - no nf q nptn
| is the result OF years OF training and good
| mental powers. II is also gift. good epistoary
style. II Is, however, well TO know what to avoid
| Bad spelling and bad grammar are much more
common in good society than is supposed; coniu-
sion OF the first and third persons is most Ignorant
and ought TO be avoided. and yet often meets
| with this mistake A person should arrange his
| ideas and know exactly what he wants 10 say be-
fore he begins to write note. 1t is business to
| be approached with a certain thoughtrUlness
Remember that a blurred, blOtted, slOvenly, ILL.,
spelled, ungrammatical note may be kept Tor years,
and that II will call up certain prejudice in the
mind OF the recipient forever Oldfashioned letter
writer's lert margin around the edge OF the paper
and Bulwer defined the printing OF an Edition de
Luxe" as a r1vuleJ or print In an ocean or margin
That might have described the notes OF the past
Some notes are scrubbed all over the paper, and
have said, crossed
AVOID RULED PAPER;
that is the resource OF schoobOys 1t Is inelepant
and unfashionable. All people should be taught
TO write straight without lines. square card
with the ladys address on It, is much used for
short and nasty note writing, and is proper aud
convenient. Square envelopes have driven the
long shapes from the table OF the elegant note
writer. and they are often gumned and sealed
with the tongue. IL Is FAR more elegant though
| less convenient however, to seal THEM with WY
and ady's writing-table should have all the con-
veniences for sealing a letter. The modern per-
TUNED wax Is by far the most agreeable OF the
many preparations and should be the only perfume
| about the letter. Strongly-scented note paper is
very vulgar, ana the Sardanapalus OF modern
comedy gives good lesson when he opens q note
on the stan, smelling OF 1t, ana says
at Is not perfulneu; therefore 1t Is from lady,"
To get good Impression from an engraved stone
seal, anoint II lightly with linseed OIL put on with
cameis hair pencil; dust 1t with rouge powder
10 take on the gloss press 1t quickly but firmly on
the melted wax. and let IL remain until the wax
cooled. Dates and numerical designations, such
! as the number OF house, &C., may be written In
Arabic figures, but quantities should be expressed
in words, you world say the Eighteenth Century.
rather than the 18th Century, In carefully writ
ten note.
married lady should be addressed on the en-.
| velope Mrs John AstOr. Mrs. Alfred COslat TO
| avoid mistake. We should give every man his
| title. Never address General Mcclure as CAPTAIN
Mcclure. Never omit the Honorable before The
names OF Ambassadors, Members OF Congress or Of
In Europe the plan Of addressing letters Is the
business OF one clerk In every diplomatic Office It
| Is considered OF the first Importance. 10 writing
lency. This title also holds good in writing to the
| Governor OF state In addressing the Roman
Catholic Clergy, learn their proper titles, as "His
Ike salutation, Infused with respect. It honors
| alike the writer and the recipient
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY
Perhaps the hardest letter to write is one of
sympathy. The language OF coincidence has been
always terribly inadequate. Perhaps the simplest
form Is the best; kind and prompt letter, saying
from the heart that your trends sorrow Is your
own, Is all that one can expect. Avoid the for
m !a OF the past Those letters which began
| "Belleve me, could / adequately express" &c
| have gone into that waste-basket OF the past
where they always belonged. People who write
i ara OF
| you knew what 1t cost me to write this letter ;,
one Is disposed to say: swell, who cares what it
cost! Wny qua ySq write III" The writing OF beg
Is nothing 80 terribly wearing to a busy person as
this iniilction- The morning post filled with beg
| answered? Doubtless some are or they could not
| be 50 constantly intruded on busy lives Letter
WI should snare with all other things care
| rather undersfdte than Overstate your emotions.
Inc profoundest contempt can be conveyed by a
our friend Smith," &C.
Do not be too profuse Of words in writing an
apology. Remember always that 'QI s'ercuse,
| sdecuse." such phrase as ~ regret exceedingly
| 10 have 1ntruded upon you" is far more befJtino
the etiquette OF pen and ink and paper than ~ am
zoo awigliy sorry, am terribly grieved, am IN
MISTAKES IN GRAMMAR
| we Americans are too exaggerated; we are care
less OF language: we do not study our phrases as
we ought Those common friends of ours .thar
| enA "hace SCt mASpidCcu. we are not Suff1clelt-
| ly acquainted with our prOnouns
=. 40 say "fou ods there" was once proper, now
| II DetOkens an excess OF ignorance. "YOu Were
| there, " Is now the recognized form Some neOnle
get mixed and say II were there" which is ten
Times worse, as .you" being o plural pronOun ex.
| cuseS the irregularity.
These mistakes can only be corrected by study
and reading. They are not so bad, however, as
the adoption Of slang, which many educated people
AZ the English language, and many critics say il
az present the most irregular and least under
| OF good models one may learn it.
| women are gifted with SO much tact and with
the INITIATIVE faculty 10 so high a degree thai
they need fewer hints than men. To them Is dele
gated the business Of writing nearly all the notes
all that they have to say executing when the,
are 10 love. To women we may advise sBe care
.ui Wnat you WRITE" What Is written remains
answer your notes In exactly the tense and In Thu
| epnit IN Wnlch they are written. Answer then
promptly This etiquette b universal
II. 4 w. SHERWOOD.
Il