The evening world., 1891-04-27
Always Sign With Full Name--
Never the Initials.
Minor Details Which Mako Up q
Well Written Missive.


H. is doubtful II man ever wrote letter
and signed It "Mr. John b. JONES'" yet the
clerks in the Dead Letter Office and the
proprietors and secretaries Of business
houses will concur in the estimate that
three-fourths OF the letters written by
women have the title prefxed to the sigma
ture.
Tho following communication, reprinted
for consideration, VIII be recognized by all
persons in receipt Of heavy mail.
NEW YORK, April 90, 1891.
To me Editor.
SIR: I want to know n you think there 10
ANYTHING the matter with my writing. ! am
told by lady friend that don't know nothing
about letter-wrlting.
Please answer and oblige Mrs. & -.
Now comes the inquiry, why tho writer
signs herself " Mrs ?"
Is II because she does not like the name
Susan, Sarah, Salome, Sophia, Stella, Selma,
Susanna, scpbronia, Sabina or whatever
her Christian name may be; or is It because
she is q married woman and does not want
the world to mistake her for q spinsterf
Perhaps s stands for Samuel, Samson or
Sidney, in which case 1t Is her husbands
name, which she has no right to use, ex-
cept on card. But why take even the in
itial when she has name Of her own, be-
slowed by her parents,
Another curious form Ia the formidable
and Official d" sir, to which 80 many women
are addicted when they wish to express
anger, dspleasure or formality.
But to reply.
Ars. 8. -.
DEAR MADAM: There is nothing the mat
ter with your writing, but the style Of your
letter is bad. AS you do not wish the ed
itor to know your place OF residence you
arc quito right to withhold your address
from tho top Of your letter. but in 30 doing
you deprive yourself Of the personal note
he might have sent In answer to your ques-
tions.
Your address is far from being respect
full. BY common usuage the expressions
Dear Sir and d" Dear Madam" have
como to be regarded as not only proper but
polite. The tender adjective means nothing
in this connection, being mere form Of ad-
dress current among educated people.
You might have begun yonr letter with
"Dcar Editor" without incurring criticism
or making the slightest impression on that
cynical, savage individual.
In beginning your letter you make the
worst possible choice OF words In selecting
a." Carlyle would call you "little prig, u
say you were swallowed up in egotlsm, tha,
you not only love yourself first, but must
disgust the whole world by naming yourself
first.
Tho fact Is, dear Mrs. -, the fewer
times you use the capital the better will
be your reputation for modesty, worth ant
sense.
Your English In tho second sentence Il
not faultless, but there Is comfort in know
ing that It might be worse. Men ant
women who pride themselves on theil
learning object to the use Of contractons
such as don't, won't. can't, haven't anc
the like. Although permissible anc
correct, these forms are not considered
good English.
With this suggestion you will readily sc,
that the expression :" do not know nothing
is rather negative. mot and nothing
in the same sentence Is what tho Englisl
would call rather bad.
Leave out "don't" or "nothing" an,
you will be writing the Queens English.
Tho "lady-friend is another expression
tabooed by scholarly people. Take the I'D
vice of Miss McAllister, whose English
while not as broad. voweled as her socio
literary uncle's, is vastly better, and neve
use the term.
The "please answer" is superfis sous.
is an unwritten law among polite peopl
that every letter not an insult deserve
acknowledgment. When you write I
strangers for information of any sort, eithc
inclose stamp or u stamped envelope 70
a reply
Never write or say that you will b
"obliged " to any one for anything. Obi
cations are ugly things to let accumulate
Men may "be obliged" to one another
may demand things as their just rights.
In this instance an envelope addresse
and stamped would cancel all obligation
and II, after receiving the informatio
asked you wrote line OF thanks TO II
editor, you would be polite and he appr
ciativc.
And now for the Objectionable siRnatur
Do not, dear Mrs. -, as you hope to |
considered intelligent, ever sign your nan
"Mrs.n As we'll write the word woma
before your name.
The titles Miss and Mrs. are for the IL.
of the world and the convenience OF Il
strangers, as well as acquaintance an
friends, who may address you. They a
mere formalities, approved by moder
society, although still ignored in some cor
munities.
You certainly have q name-a name give
you when child. II you have had Il
misfortune OF being dubbed RosemAr
LAZY, Lu!u, Pearl, Ida, Eta, Pansy, Glsdy
Maude, or some such impertinent name,
. free agent and rational being, you are e.
titled even at this late date to give yourse
. name that will save you from ridicul
That done, use it.