The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-19
LETTER WRITING Is NOT
 LEAST or THE ART

To know all the ins and outs of Ist- ter-writing is one of the most delight full gifts which can be bestowed on man or woman. The art sublime to point our scribbled pages with living thoughts. put down in just the right incumbent upon thoee who aspire to po- lite recognition 10 cultivate . style of writing which will at least indicate good breeding and a fair education. Many an aspirant for ia position mas been disappointed by uniformed hand writing alone. Says The New Or leans Times Democrat
 The social or business aspirant then must look first to forming the hand. but what is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander tn this case. The angular English hand with letters of absolutely enormous sixe, is the one affected by women of smart preten- ton, but for . man to use this would be thought feminine in tue extreme.
 Masculine hapdwritins must be with out affection, with rounded letters and bold shading. and all letters should be free from blots and knife erasures. and show only snch punctuation as is ah- sclutely needed for sense. To get letter fairly peppered with commas. colons and semicolons is . positive fatigue to the reader. yor the mind halts with every stop and in the end the let : ter has lost the vigor 1t might other wise reveal. For ordinary letter and note writing only the comma and period are used. the first marking the pause which would naturally come in with the spoken word. and the last terminat- ing the sentencs.
 Good black ink is essential for all correspondence. plain white paper of good style is required, every must be properly dotted, every crossed. words must be properly spelled and ali num- erals and words written out and not put in numbers or abbreviattons.
 Also you must eschew the lead pencil. whose use is not common to persons who have not given much thought to the polite side Of mere implements: for e letter or social note written in lead pencil is atrociousiy bad form. remarks a ietter-writers The use of ruled paper shows equal ignorance and to cross . Letter Is . crime punishable by the en. tore absence of the postman.
 For polite correspondence one sort of paper Ia used. and for business let ters--especislly those of men--another. The social letter or note is written on thick note paper of pure or creamy this. into which the double sheet fold ed only once. slips with ease. A bus- ness letter may be on single large sheet of paper or one letter paper Of sensible size: but though. 1t may be type-written the signature must be put in by hand. and in no case must this civiiity and business precaution be omitted. The business letter is also short. respectful and to the point never more than a page, except in very important cases. and preferably far less. 1t begins with the name Of the firm to which 1t is addressed, this being followed by Dear Sirs" or Gentle men," and the letter ending Very tru- ly yours" before the signature.
 The signature in polite circles never show the prefix of Mir. Mrs. or Miss. but is written thus, Kate Lewis" or William J. Jones'" the address of the where. containing the MT. Mrs. or Miss But though it Is the proper thing for man to put Mir. on his visiting cara 1t is neither uncommon nor improper for him to write hisFaddress without 1t. 1aa,
 For the letters of true friendship and tender kinship, sentiment plays great part, and suCA a letter cannot be too fond in its expressions of love and ap- preciation.
 Life is all too short and hard for us to emphasize the burden by a pas sionless page of hard, cold words. Each human soul needs the sympathy of the brother soul and many q tender page from somebody held dear has helped fainting heart to weather the gales of earth.
 any time In polite letter writing, and since the written word Is in 6 way eternal remember at all times, and to all persons, to put down enly the senti ments a person of good breeding and fine feeling would naturally write. Leave the enemy alone when 1t comes to the point of the written page.
 Popularity comes high for every body, except the few who are born wifh auunv Iova hIa natures t