St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-08-15
Gbe CALIFORNIAN.
WANTED-A COMPLETE LETTER
WRITER

which there is more ignorance than
there is on the art of polite letter
writing The old rule that there is
but one way of properly doing a
thing is set utterly at naught here,
where each one follows the bent of
his own sweet will.
Probably one reason for this wide
divergence of performance consists in
the varying standards adopted by
different classes of people. What is
the height of elegance in one rank is
mere vulgarity to those of higher
caste and more just taste, while the
severe simplicity upon which the lat
ter pride themselves appears poor
and mean to the former Unluckily
there is no established model to
which all are willing to conform.
Moreover, lack of knowledge often
stands in the way of those who are
honestly anxious to do the correct
thing For such as these a few hints
may not come amlSS.
Assuming at the start, that the
would-be elegant letter writer is the
possessor of a clear, legible chirogra-
ply. and is thoroughly conversant
with the laws regulating orthogra-
ply, punctuation, and syntax-a
wide assumption, ELECTROMAGNETIC
is there necessary for him to know
in order that his epistle may be in
accordance with the customs prac-
tised in good society? And by good
society IS not meant q collection of
wealthy, half-educated people, but
that body who are of the intellectual
kingdom of heaven, and who by vir-
tue of this inward and spiritual quail
fication, are fitted to know what is
the best, the most graceful and graci-
Gus manner of discharging the small
as we'll as the large obligations of life.
To begin with an apparently unirn
pOrtant matter, the paper on which
the letterIs to be written. The choice
of this may seem a trifling matter,
but if one lays any stress upon the
value of first impressions, one cannot
afford to disregard this point. A
plain white or tinted paper, unruled,
is to be preferred. The passing eccen-
tricities of odd shape, gilded, color
ed, or ragged edges, fiashy lettering,
or other devices of a striking kind,
are generally avoided. An engraved
address, an unpretentious mono
necessary Let perfumes, such as
patchouli, musk, or jockey-club, be
strictly avoided. Nothing more
commonizes a note and by implica-
ton it's writer-than to be reeking
with some cheap and powerful odor,
which, while agreeable to the sender,
may be the reverse to the recipient.
The prevalent mode in size and shape
of paper and envelopes may be ascer-
tanned by inquiry at any first-class
StatiOner's.
The fashion of paging letter is
optional. Some begin on the first
page, and write straight through to
the last. Others skip from the first
to the third page, or from the first to
the fourth Individual preference
must decide this.
The form of the letter is, next to
the subiect-matter, the main thing
to be considered Here there is little
latitude to be allowed. The simplest
style is the best, and what this is can
be better determined, perhaps, by a
series of negations than by any posi-
tive precepts-
In the first place, never begin let
ter simply MIR. Jones'" Mrs.
Smith; follow these titles with a
Dear Sir" or Dear Madam"
Common courtesy demands this.
Never begin letter to any one
with MIR. Tor Mrs. Brown, Kind
Friend" or Dear Friend" If one is
on sufficiently intimate terms with
another to call him friend, he knows
him we'll enough to address him in
the conventional manner, as My
dear Mr. Brown" For the same
reason do not use the phrase, Friend
Miss Mary" Friend Mr. Robin
SON" This absurd fashion is rarely
practised except by those ignorant
of the finer shades of good-breeding
and social customs.
Nothing is implied by the word
dear at the opening of a letter. 1t is
simply a form that has been adopted
for convenience sake. For a formal
note, if written in the first person,
say My dear Mr.. B." The drop
ping of the word my signifies a
greater degree of intimacy.
Nothing is meant, either, by the
wording of the signature. Yours
truly, Yours very truly" and even
Faithfully yours are simply tours
de phrase, and must be taken simply
for what they are worth. The terms
of endearment employed by those
closely bound to one another are, of
course, an entirely different matter,
and do not come within the scope of
this paper.
Never use authorizations except i'll
business correspondence, and do not
be economical of the first personal
pronOun- If one takes the time to
write a friendly letter, one should
give it its due dignity of words and
sentences at full length, instead of
obliging the person who must read
it to supply elisions. What can be
more slOven and ungraceful than
such a note from Young man to a
young woman:
''Frnd Miss Jennie,-Have heard
tn YOU will be in town this eve. Wd
like to see YOU. Shd you care to have
me call, wire me at office VIII YOU will
be disengaged. Yours, SMITH
Never use two persons in a note in
tended to be in the third person; be
consistent For instance, in decl1n-
ing an invitation do not say, Miss
B. regrets that severe cold will pre-
vent her being present at your card
party on Tuesday evening" nor, Il
regret that shall be unable to ex-
cept Mrs It's invitation to dinner
for the 3Oth, as shall be out of town
at that time"
Mustn't sign my name to 1t p
inquired a young man, na1vely, after