The sun., 1919-08-17


who pay their premiums ON the due
date may not be penalixed.
1.-THE whole matter, as we view It
and as we believe you will now view
1t, is really matter OF common JUS
tice and fair play to all our policy
holders"
The third matter which now pre-
sents itself for comment is the matter
OF correctness, grammatical and rhe-
torical correctness-the mechanics OF
expression. 1t Is astonishing how
widespread is the need for training
In phases Of English which we like
TO believe are adequately taught In
grammar school, to say nothing about
high school and college. Glance at
the following specimens" Of the igno-
miny to which English can be sub
iected (all on the letterheads Of
business firms of the highest stand
ing):
An automobile company, famed for
the high quality Of its product and
for the dignity Of its sales methods,
complaeently announces:
Knowing you are contempla ting
the purchase Of a new car this year
the following facts in re delivery may
be of interest to you (facts omitted),
These dates are effective only for
orders taken In the next ten days as
anti bellum labor conditions may ad-
vance all deliveries from thirty to
ninety days"
The secretary Of large coal com-
pany permits the following sentence
to 90 out over his signature:
I'VE are in receipt OF your es-
teemed favor Of the 9Th, enclosing
bill and order for coal to be delivered
at - street, and will do the best
we can to send some as soon as pos
sible and will try to deliver you two
thirds Of that quantity at the first
go-off and will do 1t moderately as we
have the coal, as buckwheat Is size
that is not coming in in great volume
and 1t may be that it will be some
time before we will be able to fill 1t
entirely, but we are hoping that by
the advent Of fall, the whole $50 tons
viii be delivered and 1t win be at the
price prevailing at the time of deliy-
cry"
The vice-president Of national
bank favorably known throughout the
country expresses himself thus in q
printed pamphlet:
81 do not think it was within the
conception of anybody who attended
that meeting. that it would be either
practicable or desirable to make any
attempt to change existing methods
in too radical or revolutionary man
ner, or except by gradual and easy
stages-affording the utmost oppor-
tunity for careful consideration OF
everything invslyed, and general
interchange Of views aud experience
and that preliminary efforts should
first be directed to general campaign
of enlightenment and thorough UNI
Outstanding of all phases of the sub
ject, and preparation of the ground
In advance, before any really impor-
tant results could be accomplished"
The sales manager of a country
wide organization that sells maya
zines to individual subscribers begins
q supposedly helpful article in one of
the issues Of the firms house organ
thus:
1.-THE moments Of care. the hours
Of worriment. and Che months of
nerve-racking uncertainty that gen.
orally accompany the ambitions and
competitions Of men would be unbear-
0ble in their depressiveness, were 1t
not for certain periods Of exaltation
and self-satisfaction that sustainingly
intervene, bringing to us necessary
encouragement. Then the clamor of
desires unattained Is stilled; and all
deprecatory concentration erased
from the page of retrospection."
The executive in charge of produe-
ton for one of the largest Eastern
jobbers in textiles sends the follwing
words of appreciation to the custom
ers of his firm:
"Writer wishes to express his APP
probation for such courtesies as you
have rendered in the past and hopes
to increase the present state Of bust
ness friendship to a noticeable degree,
so that the coming New Year may be
more prosperous and beneficial to you
as well as to himself.
"He trusts you may look back over
the past with kindly feeling In the
knowledge he has done what he could
to please you, and that on the whole
such errors or mistakes as he has
Committed may be either forgotten or
excused, and you viii consider this
an expression of his Arm resolve to
do even better by you, II possible,
during this coming year than he has
In the past"
The following sentences, every one
culled from n piece Of business writ
ing, illustrate common grammatical
errors:
"Your plan is very different than
the one ! thought you would work
out"