Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-06

iarity and real spirit of friendship. If
you wish to be absolutely formal begin
your letter as follows:
Edward Shipper, ESQ,
Dear Sir"
In writing to the clergy begin;
Reverend and Dear Sir"
TO the mother superior or sister of a
religious order: .
Reverend and Dear Mother Cor Sis
teri:
Letters to gentlemen are always adj
dressed, Edward Shipper, Esq.," but
notes of invitation or regret may be ad-
dressed to MIR. Edward Shippen."
Sign every communication with your
entire name. 1t is supposed your name
was given you for just such purposes.
1t makes no difference to whom you are
addressing your communication. Ed
ward Shipper you are and must sign
your name, to your butcher or the pres
ident of our glorious republic, as the
case may be, and by that same token the
highest authorities now declare one must
in writing ones butcher and grocer be-
gin with Mr. Jones-Dear Sir" and must
address the envelope to
"MR. CHARLES JONES"
Never attempt nicknames or abbreVa-
tons with any but relatives. Think
twice before writing a letter of sentiment
to the other sex. Alas and alasi for
the sentimental letters we have all writ
very much at our leisure Is there any
thing capable of making one feel more
fiat and Improbable and miserable than
the foolish words we have written and
cannot recall. Once in a way some of
these silly effusions get into the news
papers, and of the thousands that do
not they are fair examples. Dear girls,
take the advice of a woman who loves
you ALL and never write a letter to
living man you would not wish your
mother or your far-away-in
granddaughter to read You will bless
Diane de Morny fornthis counsel if you
will be wise enough to follow it,
Married women sign all communica-
tons written in the first person with
their full names. thus Mrs. Edward
Blake Gardner will sign her name
HARRIET HUNTER GARDNER"
1t will not do for her to sign
III. H. GARDNER"
In case Mrs. Gardner is writing to
stranger she may sign her name
HARRIET HUNTER GARDNER"
And In order to further Identify herself
she may add in brackets:
MRS. EDWARD BLAKE GARD
NER)"
The custom of writing to servants and
trades-people in the third person is OBJ
solete. 1t seems unnecessary to say that
no one should sign any communication
written in the third person, yet 1 have
seen it done frequently. 1t is quite as
wonderful that many women who must
certainly know better if they will but
stop to think, persist in beginning let
ter in the first person and terminating
| 1t In the third. 1 have in my possession
today a letter from a woman who has
| lived and learned and is now an acknowl-
edged leader of fashion and a very
charming one. but who had, fifteen years
ago, little besides boundless ambition
and millions of money in the way of So
| rial pOJIinmpnt I have frapuantlV
dered over this letter and wondered what
this now very accomplished and much
| to-be-admlred lady would give to re-
| possess 1t. 1t reads as follows:
1.-THE Fortnightly club will meet for
| discussion on Decorative Art as applied
| to interiors on Thursday, the 21st. at 3
| p. M. at the house of Mrs. Hunter.
hope you will be here and will attend.
with kind regards believe
Cordially yours,
MRS. LEO HUNTER"
have not amended the spelling of the
''fourtnightly" club.
If you wish to write in the third per-
son you should under the same circum-
stances say:
Mrs. Leo Hunter begs to inform
Nine. de Morny that the Fortnightly club
will meet at Mrs. Hunters home, No. 3S
West End avenue, on Thursday, the 21st
of January, at O'Clock, for a discussion
on Decorative Art, as Applied to Int
riors, and Mrs. Hunter sincerely hopes
Nine. de Morny will be in town and
will attend
Monday, the 14th.'
IT, however, you choose, it is correct
to be much more simple and to write:
Dear Nine. de Morny:
1.-THE Fortnightly club is to meet, etc.
Very truly yours,
HELEN HUNTER"
In palmer language, note or letter
written in third person must never be
signed note written in the third per-
son must continue SO. For example, you
cannot say Mrs. Edward Blake Gardner
accepts your polite invitation" You
must say accepts Mrs. Alfred James
Moore's polite invitation"
Addresses and Signatures.
In addressing letters to young ladies,
recollect that the eldest daughter is
Miss Brown" If she has a right to that
distinction, and never take the liberty of
addressing an envelope to girl old or
young. by a pet or nickname. Should
the family and entire neighborhood unite
on the diminutive Mamie" you must
address your notes to Miss Mary
Brown"
The signature to a letter should. of
course, accord with the tone of the COM
munca ton itSelf-if it be formal bus
mess letter, Yours truly" or Very truly
yours is good form. Your obedient
servant" is also correct in formal and
very ceremonious letters and is dis
tinctly dignified and courteous. Person
ally I dislike the signature Yours cor
daily I do not know just why it al
ways seems to be insincere. Notwith-
standing this grave fact it is considered
good form and is popular.
1t is well to consider the closing words
of letter as really invested with mean
ing and never to sign oneself yours
faithfully" or Sincerely yours" without
the intention of being really faithful or