Oll'

PENMANSHI. P;.-.
OONTJ.l!Ull'G .A.LL THI!:

'

I

ESTABLISHED RULES AND PRINCIPLES. <?F THE-ART,
•

. '

I,\

-(,

WITH

~ules

for l}undnation,

DIRIOTIONS .A.ND J'OllKS J'Oll

LETTER WRITING:
~"":"!-O

WillCI! ll\1

~DID

A BRIEF HISTORY OF WRITING~ AND HINTS ON ·
WRITING MATERIALS, ETC., ~TO .: .~·
.
.
'1, -: .+:,-;.' L;~;
·AND PUPJI&•
~
·
;1· .•
l .,··.: :'
.ADAPTED

roa

USJ: · 1N SCHOOLS, .ACJ.DJ:IUJ:S, .Ll(D OOKKJ:BOl.LL COLJ.BGU,',u( OOK-

MICTlOM WITH .LMT WELL illWIOlD

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.

,

ll!:ll~-. Of d~~~ ~o,oU: :

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·._; ;·.;~: ·i'..::.~:;:~::,,i1~;~~'.f,;<:>
·

BY , '

H. w. ~Ls~omrli, ...,... ,,...

T•.a.oua o• nlfM.&.1'1RtP"' 'l"H• PU•LJO IOJlOOLI 01' KEW Tt>•K OrTT, .A."'1> ro• ••ftll.A.L
ft.LOB• or aoG'll llllPl!CO, PEIOU.!CIKJP, .LICO OOMMUOl.lL ooaRUPO!Cll&llOS,
Ill UT.&Jn', ITJl.L'l'TOll •

00.'I 011.&.llf

or

lll&AC ... !fTIL& OOLLSG&L

NEW YORK:

D. A P P L E T 0 N & C 0 M P A N Y,
1862.

~

I

!!! .

.:-"j • •

~

prej udiees of -age.a,
which so completely envelop and int'est the subject, that it is
necessary to go constantly armed with ·a broadside of wi_t,
ltlllllfr, patience, and philosophy.
Punctuation and Letter Writing.-No one can doubt the propriety of pre.senting the subjects of Punctuation and Letter
1.Vriting in connecticn with Pcu~1anship . . .A. general Luwl,

.

~ {Jge

'

·1

ot t11e u:1

\ . .

1 -.:

' .

.-.

.

i.

EHuu 1u Ot: 1~i 1n 111ar

'

to e.Ycr,y pcr2o n a5

E{10n

•

When a teacher_ pretends to ir.cpa~t ~~ ~: now1e<lge of e.~y
art. 0r scienc.c 1 v.; irJ1 li ttle or no 1al;ur on ti1c }i8.rt c f :.~ -'--· 1\n1 1 ~ 1 ,

U3

1

h-e caD '.Hite. The.r are at present contai ned. only in aunmcecl ·works coming too late to produce the most desirable
r esults, and likciy to be uen:r rc,tch cd at all by n, maj ority
T .
F. . .
.
'
ut' pup1'!s. cJ-1ue. par ~., on .LDttor
1Yntrng lil
eon:"lderc-d
mc>re
comp1dc and pnt<..:tical tb.n a!lything which h:l.S yet r.})11e2.red
u.po11 that subject.

he pretends to do that which DO system ean accomplish.
When h e attempts to mctho<lize and simplify the communication of k]](nvledge, and rcmon~ the olJ~taclcs 1,-liich irnpc lc
-, -progr(6i3S o f -.1. us
· 1n11)1"j,~ , h£1-,-,- n1i +1_.u.a.
. •.> +l · P 1 , , ... f '" '~ ;,.., , ,
tne
~..:. u ...! u·--~
l.
.L_. ,_..: ., .::J ... ---- ~
er-;. effect:· Nono can fintl their way tJ,Y a sh<:Jrt<;r ro:1.d foo.il
'
d n. . is
. mere J erns1on w t-)1" f +J,:, O" 1" -'"
the right
c~2 , an
. l n. u1
cw::
1
" ' '"
system being easier than one which has truth for its o1ljcct
1

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<(!.

1

Writing Ma.aters.-There is no subject in the whole ranae
b
· of study taught in our schools involved in such a veil of mystery and superstition as Penmanship ; and, next to the medical, no profession in which humbuggery and quackery so
"flourish" in the shape of itinerant and conceited mounte. ba.nks, who frequently cause the earnest, faithful teacher to
"~!rish for his profession." It is granted, at once, that he
who can "execute" the great flying dragon in red, black,
and blue, "and exhibit s~ch 1m imposing array of" specimens
written entirely with a common pen and ink,'' can instruct
yonrig and old in the mysteries of letter making, forgetting
t~~~ he m~y ha~e expended his wonderful talents .in preparing
hls _temptmg bait, to the neglect of so simple a thing~s plain
writing, "which will be thoroughly taught in a course of six
· easy lessons."

. ..-

_.

1

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l,.. ..!.. ....,

• -

and sound principles for its basis.
. Let this ~seful art ~efore, be no longer considered a
mystery, confiried iflh.e gifted few, but tak: its proper place
with its sister arts, in our systems of education. The young
and tender capacity is early prepared for it; its first impulses
are harmonious. with it, and by proper direction its practice
may be made t~ shed gladness and _sunshine upo~ the we~ry
hours of school confinement-and, apart from its practical
utility; lay the foundation and create a relish for higher attainments in the vast field of art which invites the young

1

mind onward.
Nxw YoRX, N<YD. 11 1862.

' . The ~medy.-W e must look for au improved state. of pub- _~c sentimen: to correct such impositions. Good penmanship
18 the combme<l result of a cultivated eye to perceive the
:·..:..

·.proper :form and :relations of letters·, a cultiv~t:;t} taste in Eelectillg ·and arranging them, and a careful and long continued
training of the hand, in order to bring it under the direction
of the will. It is no well devised scheme-no newly invented .
system~no successful teacher that can accomplish this end.
The labor must be done by the pupil.
·
' ·

' ·~ ~

~, { -~:- ·L;,:f ., ~··:.,'.: t,~k~Uk~1;.£~~~~('.±~~~~~E~~~,1:~iit~i~~~:;

H. W. ELLSW ORT IL

...
ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS.
PAE.TL

INTRODUCTION.

c::·

7.A.DI.

1
OHA.PrER -Osiicrs ·un TllRIB QuA.LITUS ••••••••••• • •••••
.... _
1-8
LKSsoN I.-Of.<{}_llj,!fu in. General •••••••••••••••••••••••••
)'

i: >~_..",·-

2
Form of O}:>j~~ - ••••.•••••.•..•••••••••••• . •.•••••.••
· B-6
Biz~ 9f t0Dj0~~ ·'- ..•.............................. . . · ·

Lxss9N, Il.~Co/lip$riaon of

Objecu ....................... .
Position ()f ~Opjects •••••...••••. . .•••••.•••••••.. .. ••
. . ..,,.--.... ~~D'1reo~1on
:· . .~>.le. _. ! , • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
....

; Angles . . ~ : .... ~ .............. . ....... . .............. .

3-6
4
5
5

Adaptedness .••••. • •• • . • ••.•....•••••••••• • •••••••••

OHAPTER TI.-PoINTs, Lnras, AND RxPREJ>XNTATION oi' 0BJECJTS. .13-16
13
Lxsso:i I.- Point.i and Lin(-3 .. . . .. . . . . ...... .. . . . . .. . . . . . .
Points ••• • ••••..•••• .. ..••••.•• • •.• •... . . . . . •... . .• .
Lines ..•• .•.•• •. • .... .. . ..• ••. . . .•• •••. , •• • • . . . .. . . •
Imaginary Lines ..•.. . . • .... . .. ... . .. . . ..... .. ... . · · ·
Dotted, Straight, and Curv ed Lines . .. ..• •.• .. .. . . .. . ..
Parallels .... . .. . ... . ...... . .... .. ......... .. . . ..... .
Converging and Diverging •••••••• • ••••••••••••• • ••. . •
Angles ......-...................................... .

13
13
14
H
15..·
15' \..

15
f !; .

LxssoN 11.-.&preaentation of Ob-jecu •••• •••••••••••••••••• rn-1,8 ,.
Of Size and Form .•. • •...••• ·•.•• • •••••••• . •• • • • • · · · · • \~..·
Sketches, Drawings, and Paintings •• • ••••••••••.... ·• . . ·
Arbitrary Forms ..... . ... . ............. . ............ •
Writing, Drawing, and Painting .•••••••. • •• . .• •• ••••• •

11.'

ii "
iif

WBITING Exuo1ss--No. I ..••.. ;. • ••••• • ~ ••• : •••••• .' •••..-.18-2~.
WSON

ID.~Qune<i Lina . .. , •', , • . • , .. , .•••• ••. • • • ~ . • · • • •20-~~

WmnNo. EllB~No: n ••••• : ••• ·•••••• ·••••• • •••••••••• 26-2'1' ~::

J

•

•

•

~.

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. '
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'27_99·:f
/;~.:.
D. UINll'IONS, •. •,., ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .• • • • • •~· •:.•.• '.' ' •.•' •' ~·.·· .~,_.;.:
\

·-i~:..

·"«

·.:_~·.- ·'

llAB.T IL

.

_!HILOSOPIDi OF PENMANSHIP.

OHAPl'E&
L-A....,..U.vw... ••. .• .
-·..
-

..·...·...

.

PJ.H

l.1l880N I~-Ckusi..J:~nC
·' • • • • •.• • • • • • • • .-.. • •• 29-44
VM.l'U' ion ...... • • •• • • • • _
LetteJS and t.h eir Ola8siilicatio
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .•. 29-40
81
...·" Le tters. . . .
n .••••
•. • • · · · • • · • • • · · • · · ·
aptL.&11
_
C
81
Small
Utters
·
..
·
..
·
·
·
·
·
•
·
·
·
-·
·
·
·
·
·
·
•
·
·
·
·
•
•
•
•
.n
. . •••••••• - • • • • • • • • • • • •
• ••••
"baraet.er1st1cs and T~...
. •• • • ~ • • • • . . • • • • • • • .
82

.,

J r- - · ...••.••.••• 0

.
84
SLA..'."? A.ND .!BRANG~'T •• •
1.ESSOir IL-Tk Study of For~ ...••••....• ·~·•."-:;·••·•··· .88-40
Principles of Form
• • ·• • • • • • ~ • • • • • ···~· • • • • • • •••. 40-44
i01IA.PTER IL--8~ ..•••...•••••• •. ~ •.•• '. • • .~. • · • • • · • • .
41
0

0

•

• •

0

"

•

" • • •

•

•

• •

LEssos 1 -.C0118tMlCtion ~ ,.,, • a_ -·ll. • • ·• • • • • • • •·•·-::.:.. • • • • • • • • .44-70
:t """' IJTIW. Al'1lhab t''
.-;First OJa.ss Letters....
r
e • ·,~. ·..~ · •••••••• 44-01
0--- ·a,.,,·--Le
cecun
"'""""'
tters · ··· ~ ............ : . •·~-••••••• ••••
44
Third. e~ .LC•t.e,
T =;-...
-.~"
e , • , .. , • • • • • • •, • • •
. 46
-:r ,.
II
............. .. . ..... .. .
.li.ESSOS
.- 001U1'nu:t .
.. n . .
• .• .••• • • • •
48
IS.••••. • • '. •

to.!o _

•·

.··

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ,

wn or vapitaU.

Fin,t CI;..s..-; Ca.;i!!..H.1s •
-~nd (H!!..._o___~ ;-1 .,, ..... H- ~1~ • ..

~~ ~

I

· • • · •· '· · • · · · · · · · · • . • • . 51-159

F.i

1

Third (ih._CIS C~~iWs~ ............... -.--•. •' ' ' ' '···•······.. ~i

·.

;o- •

•

!

'

"'

... ... .._

.. "

.. -

-

-

-

...

•

•

...

•

•

•

t:

i

:, LxssoI ill:-Current Capitiau . •·• ::::: • ••• • •••••• · • · • • · · · • 55
-p~;w TV.- P r-fr..ei.,,la ir 7 R • • .••.•• • • • • • • • • • • • ••. 56-59
n _
. . "
( m. •Ut.e.a OJ Writ in
·
u-eneral P.rrnc1p1es. • • • • • • •
g • • • • • • • • ••• • • . 59- 71
1. Unit of Measure .
· · · · · • · · · · · · · · • · · • • • • • • ••••
59
59
2. RW.ti rn Propor.ti~~ · · · · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · .
8. Position. • •
• • • • • • · • • • • • · • • • • •• • • · • • • • • • •
59
~

"%..

5.
.6.
'/.
8.

......
>·" T.;.__

,,._._n
• • • • • •• •••••
• • • •••••
· • • • • • · • • • • • • •' "• • • • .• • • • •
~.., . s·IOU . ••••••

Arnrng ~mcnt .. . . . ... .. . . .. . . · · · · • • • • · · · · • · · · • • • · ••

~: •••••••••• '•••...... : : : ..•.•. .. . ..... •. . •.. .

Spacing. . . •
· · •••• •••• • · · · · · • · • •
Shading .••• : :_· ..••.•••••••••••••••••• ~ •••••••..

. -ii".: .·. ..

2. lfarlcs • • • • • • •
a mg •- • • • . . ... • • • • • . . • . . . .
· 8. Joining Eleme ;t~
4 Angl
• •• • • • • • •••
..
· •
es and Turns . ·
. . • • • •.• • • • • • • ·• • • · • · • • •
_1>•...Stability ••••••••.•••.. • .. ~ ·.................. .• . • •
8. Regularit·y·
........... •.••••• •.• •••• >•.. ·

~-~.:.-:.

.. .

7'

:'¥.&:;:. ·• . :

..

························.······.

• ..• ···••··•·· . .

• Spacing • • •••••• ·

.

. ....

•••• "· • • • • • • : • • • • • . • •

61

62
62
62
63
63
63

-,._ •_; ·. s.·.Hefght of Contr~~ ·Le··t·t· • • • • · '. .. • .. • _.·: · •; • • · ·• . 64
- ··• • ; •. ·.-.•• ~ :·• • • • • .. ' 64 .
~":
. : "'•.-·'tl'..l..J.
~t of Expanded Lette ers ·, ••.•••

- ....,. ~... - ~ •

~_;

~~-...

,

Ii

61

V.-Rula /or w: ·e· S · · · · ·· · · · • · · · · · · · · · · · · ; ..
61
. and
ri ing mall Lettera
·
-1• Commencmg
Termin t•
••••.•••. . . • . . . 62-67
0

,,

60
61

• ••• ·•••••

,_,; . - . - iN

I

60

rs ~ .-- ~· ·····. ·•·· ~ -·-•· . ·..~ ~~ - -: - .2.. 64

F i.rot .Clr...cs. _-; -. ..... . . . . ... . . . .... .. . . ... •. .... . • . . ..
S::collll CL1s3·. ·. ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..••• •• ••• . . .. . . . . .•.•
ThirJ. ciz-::'-S :~. ... . . .; ;: . , .. .... . : ~ . . . ..... ~ •~ ' ~ •.••• ••. •••••
··. .::.....capi
...
~
·' - LESSON
............... .. ...................·•• 7S-S7-.
· First Olass .,_ ._... '. ............................'. ••• , •• ·

n.

- ·'

,,

. .... .. , ...

':"".

--

-

•

_•!

• •

·· Second OJass ..• •... ...• • • ••••• •.. ~ .. .. . . ... ... .. ... .
"Third Olass : •.••....•• ; •• ••••• ••... • ... • ..... .... . ...
Cnri0i'tt Onr1iJA.ls , .-. . ..... ~ ,. . . .-.... ~ . .. .... .. . .. .. . .... .

•

.. 83

85

Tax· NtJ11UIBAL8 ••••••••••..• •• .•••••••• . . ...•..•. ... ... . . 8';° -S'J

OH.A.PTER

rv..'.:..::.Tm: STUDY OF Mov:inntNT ••.••••••••.... . •••. 89-106 .

LJ!..Ss o;:; I .-The Arm and Hand ......... ... . ••••.. . .. . .. • . 89-92 ·

LJtsso.N U.-St~ture. t:'j ths Arm and H and .......... .. ... . 9Z-'.l5
"·"
INI
The Framework • ••••••••••••.•.••••••••.••••••••••••

The Covering................ . .. . .................... . 94:.;
;~

:.;·_

.:

!..EssON ill...;.....Thwr1f and Principlea of .!fO"Oement. : • ••••.••• 96-lM,'/
. Object and-,Plassification .••• ; •• . •.•.••••••••••••.••••• 91>-9.p ;':.··. (1.) .The Finger Movement ....••••••••••.•.. :·. ......
9~:'. ·"''·
. , . (2.) The Muscular Movement . •••.•.•••••••••••• ; ~...
9~~( ,::
,. ~
. . (3.) The Whole .A.rm Movement •••••••-•.•••••• • ;·. . ..
9f ' '
·' LESSON TV.-Ana-Zyaia o/t"M
.J.:·. :•.. 99-loi.'_<
.. ·:· LxSsON v ..:..:.Analyaia
.
. of thi
. ProgralifJe
. . •.
' ..' ; .. .
- .. ' '. ·~. _,.

<

hoJect~ M~t.;
.M01!~t,

~; .10~1~ ·:~&'_

on.APTER v.~iOOiiAL o»a~vA:T_I~Na : •: : ...• ; :: ••~ •. ::~ ~ .101>-1~f '.~
,.

,; : ~~ I.~!P~~~anl.i'.Pm·liiiai~g·: ~ ·..•• ~. :_:.:·...:.... ·.. i<i&-1if :;

--- -----_- - -·-- ; . - --, -. ····~L;,1 :,: ,::'_~~~r

.:-: . ~..;:!.~ ·-· '·-~

.--

.·

'

-

-.vI.·-

~

~

........... . 169
U ncie;,;orilig<·~·. ~ ·• • • ~ • • • • • • · · · .' ~ • ' ' • · • · · · ' · • • • " • • . i ;l9-1 'n
·-·
···········
~-

~~ . -: ~.:1x~- 0th0r }(arks_/~··~ -~········ ~ ··· .· .·······

-

'

P UBOTUATION AND LETTER WRITING.

CHAPTER

()ml'TER I . -LA.NGUAGK •••• - •••••••••••••••• • •••••• • ••••• 184--160
1.r:msox I.-Of Iduu and .Language ... . ..•••..•••••••••• •1 34-137
1.ussoN II.-Artijkial Language .••.••.••••• ••••••• , ••• •187-141
CIUIF'IER Il~ONSTBUOTION OF LA NGUAGE ••••••••• • ••• •• •• 1 41-160
~ir I.- tJrthography . . . , • ••••. .. ..• • ••.. •.••• • ••• : . 141-144

LESSON

..

....

-

~

-

_; .

•

'

w

•

•

•

•

·: ·

. . - ••-

__

•

._ .~ •• ; • .._ •••••••••••••••
.

.. •

>

171-228

•

I.-Of.Lettm in.JllMral. • • • · · · · · ·' · ' ''' •

172
174 ·
174:

· 1 Orthography· • • .. • .. · • .... • • • • • · • • • • ... ··" • ·..
Penmanshi • • • • • • • • • : · . .... ' .... . '. . • . . . • • • • • . . .

-"' IT.

III. Gra~mar"'. · ; ~ • • • · · · · · • · • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · • • • • · · • • 175

rv.·.Arrangement. . .. ... .. ...... . .. .. . .. ... .........

1 '!13
For111 of s. J, cttcr · • · · · · · • • • • • • • · - · · · · - . · ' . ...... 177
A. utter aml its Parts ... - ... - . : ........ - .... - .. · :S-19:3
11
l"S
, • IT - Of Letters in Genera l- Co ii.'inued - - - • • • ·• · · · ·

.....
I_
.

~

l ,r: S:;O~
·
•
,
l'"
I t'f'h " L oc.?.bon and · f:h ·O .
.

Nonna................ . ...... . ...................... 145

•• - •

~ ~· ~ ·."'
-. :: ~

1v:..:..:irrfu '!JUTlN.....i, rro..... . ••.•..•••• : : : : : : :171-178
•

0

.

-

RxoAP1TUUT10N

4djectites and PronOnns....... . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . 146
Verb aul Adverb..... . .............................. 14'T
Preposition and Conjunction........................ . . 14'8
Interjection . . ; .•.•• • • ; .•.•.. ~........... . . • • • . . • • • • • 149
.laao!f fil-Comtructicn of &ntencea ••• • •••••••••••••• •149-154
Phrase, Olause, and s ·entence . .... . ............... ~ .. . 149
JI. Wordl tinl 19.ipreuiam . .". ........·.............. . • • • • • • • 150
Purity .Od Propriety.... • •••••••• • ~ •••..••• ; ..•••• 150-llH:
-~t.so; IV.~Oo~t~tiCn-Continued •••••••••••••.• . •• •164--160
:::-~ · .; ~ Ammgem~nt in Se~~nce~ ..• .......................... ~ 154:
~ 11:~
1. Oleamesa .... ! •••••••• • •••• ~- •••••••••••••••~ ••• ~ •• 154:
~ ~ ·- '9. Str8Jigth . .....................~ ~ ~ • : • : • : . : ~ ·~- ·• ~ ; : : • ~- . 155
~ "u ' ~ · ., a Harm
' .... .. '· ,. .. ·.. · · ·- ·,. · .. ~....,_, .,
8-.r nit,"~
ony • ••••.••••..••• ·•••••• ·• ~ •• ~ ~ .••.• 1156

• ·

.....

PART III.

143
Word3 ..... . ..... .. .. . . . .. . ... . •.. . .. ... .... . . • .. .. 143
.,- """°S II.-I'art<1 of Spee.ch .•.. • ••• . . . ..•..... •... .•• . 1-J.-4-14(}

. •-.• ••• • .• . • ••••

0

of

1 ·l1

P.A.GI

-

.( .- . .. m.

" '

'Beauty-•• ..• • • • .• • • .... • •. • • • • • • • •.• • •.• • •.• • ~ • • • ••· • • • 116
Regnlarity and Uniformity ..••••.•••.•...•. ::~ ••• ~ ~,... - . 117
Variety and Adaptedness .••• ~ ••••.••••••••• .• '.; ••• ;._•• • • _118
Cc>ntintlity . ·~ •.•.••••......•.••.... ~ . ;·•••-.~ .. ~ ...••• ~ . 119
JHnJrm TO Tli:lOBERS AND~ : ••.•••• '; •• ~ •·J · ..•••.lll-123
Jlaso:ir m-Styla of Writing ..• -••••••••••• :·. : : ••••••• 123-127
Jtmso:r. IV.-Principlu
Orna~tai Penir:amhip·.... ••• 127-184:
w.ritin2 • •••••••.• . . • ..•..•..•••••....•.. :•.-';"". • • • • • • • • 128
Lette~ ••• ·•••..••.....•.•••...•••..•. ~ •. :-• • . . • •. • • . 129
Flo urisbing ........ . ...........·•••••••• ~·:; ~· ••••••• 1 81-184:

Sonnds. s:Jd LcttcTs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . • • • . • . . . . • . . • •

. .

nr Ki.80~11~ :D..IJ.'-.. ~ · ·'· •·•·,,.. • < • • • • • •• • • •

I. Body. II; Arms. · m. Paper. ·. IV. Pe~.-;-;::~.~ ~~: :.t10
SeVll!D Hints on.Position and Pen Holding .. ;. ·• ; •• • • • • Ill
Cot Bho'!'lng the proper pOsi.tion of holding the Band
aid Pen ....••.........•....•• · .. ··· . ·~·· ~ . ... . .. . 112
:aasoir IL-Genm"al ObleMati<ma-<Jontinu&l •••• ~ ••••• ••.•113-i24
'I.egibilij' .....•••....... ~ ....•. ~ .• . . ~ ·. ·-,· ~ .. ~ ......, . - • 118 :·:
1115
~pidi.tj .. .. . . .• .......... .. ....................... .. . .. .

Syllabl<:3..... . . . . . . • • . . . • . • • • • . • . . • • . . . . . . . • • • • • • • .

..

u~

157
157
~ r ~ . -I.. Use of 4Ac1jeotiy_~ •.• • • • ~· · • • · · • • • • •••••••••..•.....•
"' . . . . . ;·,ii.: ;~~ 9f -~~e~~··· · ·· · · · · · · · · ···~ · · · · · · · · · · · 158
Oontrao~ona . . .• . _
.•.• .. .......... ·.. : .. .. ............ . 158
lp9
~n:ducting Exercises in Composition ••• • • .. • • • • • · · ·
;..'.,:P~ .fo! ., - ~.·- ·"'-: ·· . · ,.
·
160-171
. .- ...,.,,,..'D III ..:..:PUNOTU.A. TtON ••••••••••••••••••••• .,•••••••
ClHAL"..a."'"-~ - . '. >L · n.....:~ Co'- &micol<m1 and Comma.~ .... 160-1615
• 161
:; ' Lx88oN I.-Tn<> ~··H"""l 1 ..,,..,
..
'od
.
R • • • ••••••••••••
.
~- f...•: ' · ·. 1. ..The Pen ~ ~"°············
16'1
-. R ~"°""""'"····
'·
• - ~· 1 o
II. ·The <Jo1on'.":'"~
... ' · · · ... '' .. ' ..... . 162
~ - ~ ~· n· I .T he o .IDl
;. ··colbn---.Rule: •• .·...... . .. • • •. •.· . • .. • ••.• •
;~~ ~- • IV. The ~~Generd Rul6 .•••• •................. 163
\..'' ;. ~ · -N- •n. ·..::...Thtn~h$'.!ntiirrogation,
- . .,. .
2"--'- . "'
165-169
~ma.twn, u;C. •••••
..... LssaO
.
·<fi· ';i.- •.c,,_
• • • • • • • • • 165
, ~ ; - ·~-Y. The D~~-_: ~11"'· ••• · •.. · · .. ""'.......
166
' #
·,
Th~ ·InteuQg~tion-:-Rul6 • • • • • • · • • · · · · · • · • • • • • • • • · 167
~{ ~-: ~• VII. • Th~-Ei~~~~ion-Ruu
••• • • · • • • · · • •••• •••• ••• • • 16S
·::',';
';.. . .. _, ' "i;;"'-- ''";.""-'f:,._" •
• • • •••••••••••••••
·VIII: The
Oaret.-;
·
·
•
•
•
~
•
•
•
•
•••• ' ••
168
. - -'- -

P.&9•

....

v

.

•

..... - - -

~ •

..... ,. .... ,. .. .. ..

.4

17&

• • • • • • • • • • • • •••• ••

II Name and Title •• • • • • • • · · · · • • • •
·· · ········ · ··'·····'····'···.
Il . Address. ". ······ •·
ddr
•••••••••• •
IV Complliiientary A ess • • • • • • • • ' ' • • ·: ' v ·Body of the Letter : .. · • · • • · ·· · · "· • • • • • .. · ·· .. · · · · ·
. Complimen_tary Closing .•.•......• • •• • •••..•.••• •.
VI .
. .
VII Signatures·. ., ··· · ···· · ······ ·· ·'···'···
·. B .. OY LE~ WRITIN'G. : •••• : •••• · -· •••••••• • .• •••••

l

......... .

~

181
182
183 · i•
185 . '·
185 .

-188
\
TIQUR"I"l'
.
• • • ••••••••••••• • • • 189
·
Folding . • • • • • • • · · · · • • • • · · · · • · · · · '
....... . ••. • ; •• 190
.-· · ·s.uperscription-F orm
of a.··········· ·
.
•- '191
.
. ; •. •. •. • • •. • .. .. •
.
"'" · ' Sealing and Stamping .. •••• .. ·'···
·
·l91-~i:3

. 'E

. : :'Lz..~oN· m.-Partic1llar Ldttira and. ~·'••'·:::::::: : 19~2~

'· '

. ~~~-~

.r·LE 'ns Oi' BusndcSS ..... . ........ . ...

~. - ·.
' •. · J:eVity .-:. ·:.: ._.:.-. • • ·: • • ~ .,.-.. _
._.• ~: • ~:: • ~ • ~ · _·_

·-:

..

' . 192

r ·.. :_· ..;: _·t:::

---- -

~·

1

~ :;~·

II.

~

~- ;'. ~~

·,.":

:·s.~.-"

rj.

coNTii:NTs.; :·.

AN.ALTIJIS OF
FoBlfS FOR ~srnxss

;:·

~- -

'

.

·

·

•.&am

I. Fonm for Orders
• • • • • • • • • • • • ••.· • • • • ...... •.• • • • .193-202
.
. ......................... .
. • •• • • • • • • 194
ll• I nmices and Accoan;t Sales
Ill Accounts Current
· · • • · • · • · · · • • • _• ~ • · · · · · • .- 196
IV. ROOlllesting
Favo,~· • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• · • • • · • • • • • · • • • • 19.7
. ·-·. •. . • •. • •••.•
.
·__,
. ••••
· • • • • • • • • • • • · · • 198
V • I ntn.... uction and Recom· menda.t1on
Vl. Ansnnir to an Adlvertisement .••••• • • • • · • • • • • • • • 200

Llrl"I'EBS

FRIENDSHIP

(!))'

Form . . ... . • . .

PART I.
IN,TRODUOTION.

201
202-204

. • • • ••• • • • • • • • • • •

. .••. •.

0
•••••• • • •

~•

• •

• • • • •

•

•

••

"· " .Before the groundnrk of _ ~~ Art or Science can be considered as . safely la.id,
the pnp~ muaL be made 119CJ~ain~~d with ita first rudiments; and in none is this more
re!liliaite than the arl or Writi~g:, This elementary inatruction is, by the p.-eva.lenL
methods oC ieaching, too much-neglected."

·•·•····•··•····••••····•••
LEssoN lV.-Nota and <Jl!Jris
. • • • • • • • • • • • . · 203

1. Notes.. • • • •
· · '. · • • • · • • • • • • • · ; • • • • • • • • •. 26~212 ·
··~··········· • • • ••• • ••.• • ••••
.
Promissa>ry Notes
• • •• • • • • .204-20'1 .

.....

. .... ...... ..

or

..

. . -

~

:. - ;~~~!.' - - - -

Notes ,. Invitation . - .......................
•" ' •• •·•~ .• • • • • • • • • • •• 205
. . .r• • • • • • • • • • • • • 206
Ackn ow.r.;edgment of a. Oall
II. Oards .••••••·
• • • • · .. • • • • ·" • ~ • • • • • • • • • • • • 20'1
Autograph Oar~.··· · ···············•· ,· : ···•·•••• .207-212

.........................

Forms.. .. .
· · · · • • · • · · · · · · · · · · ·(· · · · · · · • • · · .' • · ·..
Address
Cards-Forms
.
. .•.•••.•••• • • · · • • • • • • · · · · • · .
• • • • • · · · • • • • • • • • •..
B usmess Cards-Forrns.

1VeddingCards-:-Fornu •••••••••••••••••• ~ ••••.•••••
···············~····. ··········

~l&.~l;·

--

~ -1<' . -~CHAPI'ER

~-~;,~~.

I.

207
208
209
209
210

· . PAnTIV.

I. ORiom .A~"D RraTORY .OF WRITING

Systems of 1Vriting.. ...... • • • · • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •. 212-218
ll. lli-;uu..i.LS Foi: Wmn~G
• · · · • · .. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·. ~ 18-2 1 :r
.. .. . .. . .. .
.
ens
.
.
..
.
..
..
.
.. .. .... . ....... .. 219- 2:23
1 P

:: -~~~~~-. ::.·:::.<·:·:-~-~-~-~-~-~·~·~·~· :·:·~·:-~-:-~·~·::::: :::: ::::: ;~~ .

to pr;r:rimt m,., ,, ,,
mBLOTTINa.-How
rr.
-- ~ !.!, _na,
I

.

.

• . .lli2''T8 AND DIRECTIONS FOR

CLA.S8ES

0

1

lw"'Ul

• • • • • • • • • ••

to E raiJd t'

Mm• • •

221
"22

~

.
ONDUOTING WRITING
.• ....................................... 223-228 .

A.P'PEWDIX.
I . .TRX

PEN................

ll. L"ilt .•••..• _...
-

1. A.LL- the things that we see are called . objects.
Obj~~ts h a'7C certai~ rarb;i. called qualities. We know
4

•

.

.

. ... •. · · · · • · • • · · · · · · · · ..... 228-230

.
• •••••••••••••••••.•. 230-232
··••••·•·•····•

I
ii

or distinguish obj ects by their qualities. Some o1>j ecb
ha:vc lik e q ua.1ities) nnd some ha.v e unlike qn:t1 it ics.
.
h' h h
,.,
Th ose obJects w . ic .ave 11 irn quanties are called. t.uc.g
l'

•

-

..

,

•••

objects. Those .-:Which have different qualities are
called unlike or different objects. All that we know
about the qualities~~f. objects is learned by means of
our 8enses. Our ~e~ses Me 8eeing, feeling, hea1·ing,
smelling, and ta.sting. Objects are of two kinds, natural ·a nd artitlcial. , NATURAL OBJECTS are objec~ of

.. '-:

...

,' '

.

,,

QuES"rIONs.-{1.) What are e.11 the things we see called? What have all .
objects t How do we know or distinguish objects? Have all objeets like quali· .
ties? What are those objects called which have like qualities? What those
having .unlike qualities? How is all that we know about objects learned? Name
theni.. How many are there? Of how many kinds are objects? Name them. .
What are natural objects t What
artificial objects?
· ·'

are

9

PUNOTUATION

158

,.{!_.
d
'"L'
superlatr;e uegree. .Lnese quaw:yrng or escnumg -.
words -Jl~e force by multiplication ; and if compar&
t1 veiv common tu.rngs are aescrrnea a.s tne ·· gnmacsr., ·
"subli.n-J£:St," "most beautiful," "most lovely t :: most
de1ign ti~1,1' "most exquisite," or" most sp1endid," there
will rrn:m.in no expression:; by means of wbich to expreS3 ffad difference between objects possessing these
qualities in different degrees.
IL E'ro-uRES OF A.luTHMETic.-Numbers, except
dates v.n:.d sums of money, should generally b€ expressed_ rn words. In legal and other important writings sm ll:3 of money should be expressed in both words
and fig1rres, to prevent possibility of error. It is in. correct oo write, ''.I have been at school 3 months ; "
also, "' Th.ere were 25 persons present."
Ill. CoNTBACTIONs.-·Never use & for and, except
in the titles of firms, and even then it is better to write ·
and full. Contractions and abbreviations should,
in genl': nl, be avoided. The saving of time and space ·
will hanlly compensate for the mutilated appear~nce
of the ~ting, and liability to error which their use
involves. .lJon't, can't, isn't, and similar contractions
are onJly allowable in faniiliar letters, or where common
convemation is quoted.
·
9!

•

,.

~

rTl"I

· -,

..

'"l

• .,

'°;

o

11

11

,

j

figuru IF Arithmetic be written? · Wben should they be expre 88ed in· both
Yords llll:!l! lgaree l' Is it correct to write 8 months and 26 persons?
What
is .aald d.r contnctions and abbreviations? Where only are the conU"actiona

m

.
f~ ,~ .
~:.. "._ .,

~".'"

.

~:•.

~:;-

don't, clllilt, isn't, &c., allowable?

PLAN FOR CONDUCTING EXERCIBES IN C034POSITIO:-t.

i'J

m

"

159

AND . LE'.lTER wmT.ING.

·

1. It !~ S12f;'8'e~- ~ed. th:\t) rrev10ns t0 a~!~~rt~T!~ 0:~~~~ 1 '_'0~r':' ·
s1tion, a few days or . weeks should be spent in copying, with great
accuracy, short piP-ces in prose from some good author. This will
give the habit of nc?.tness and exactness in the use of point..~, capitals, &c., and if carefully managed will form an excelle nt preliminary
exercise.
2. Each pupil shorrld be provided with a qu;rntity of common
paper for the scroll exercise, and an exerci.Be book for transcribing,
and this text book.

s.

.m'~ifa~hjoo±s:&o.aah..e;.tabl-e~ J.Sde:sk'"hefoi:.e~th.

-....-~

~~.... ~

W-~·

"'""'""""

~

-

class, and request the_pupils to write the names of the obj ects,- fne1f
·-n:ill'na~es"ofSollie of the qualities pos_sessed by each, n ext their uses,
next their relations to each, tl;re table, and ea.ch other .

4.
WO

.

;~ ~......

' -

••:..1!+~
fll: - -~;,......,.,;+J...,;~,.,.,,.
."J"O~~e

~

"- '

<::::.:.. .:i

" - ·1

.. oh.aa;;anmr .

...Mffl~·
-

·

· ' -

·~Q)

- · -"t~
;:;-;1"1." io,~ &c •
.. - ._

5. This - done, the pa ~ may ~ exchanged, and eiCli pupil
should correct the ~rro } his ne!ghbor, such as spelling, &c.
6: Then let the. papers be · returned to their owners, that t hey
may .review the _criticismB, and all should be encouraged to protest
-~
against false criticisms.
7. The teacher ·should then pass round the class, deciding disputed .points, explaining the growid for each decision, questioning
the pupils and allowing them to freely question him.
8. The scroll copy, thus corrected, should then be taken home by
its owner, neatly trruiscrib€d into .the exercise book, which, duly
dated, should b~ handed to the ieacher next day.
9. The teacher may then mark the errors in the transcript, asking the class to show the cause of each correction.
· 10. The exercise should then be returned to the owner, with a
number (in the teacher's handwriting) indicating the rank of the
exercise.
11. The pupils 8hould use black ink in writing the exercise, and
lead pencil in marking corrections. ·The teacher's criticisms, remarks,
and numbers should be in red ink.

,·
~­

·

170

..

When twQ usual revolu.tions are combined in one,
the customary stoppfug place is denoted by the Ookni
(: ), or one stop displaced by another.
_
_
. Each partial revolution of the onward train is noted
by the stopping signal elevated, with the 8ign of motion
·unikr-neath,~r the Sernicol,r:;n. (; ). ·
The l1-1lti11g pla::"es of rn.anner, tlmr; nmn1ic·r, y1hce,
&c., are noted by the lesser sign of stop, all iut ab8orbed by motion, called the Comma (, ) . .
The incident-s along the way,-of questions askec1,of turn in sentiment,--of slacking in the train from
weakness or for e:s:p1anation ;--each has its signa1,
thus :-Inu-rrogation ( ~ )- Exclamatfon ( ! ) and Pa-

rentlw.<tis ( ).

-·

-~

-:-··-- - -,.

PIJNCTl'UATICHf AND~ ·WRITING;

·No wonder, then, the tyro shudders at the m_e ntal
effort necessary for freighting and Coiiducting suc"!,i a
tortuous· train in safety onward to success,--omitting
not a signal by the way t
revolution indicated by? When two complete revolutions are combined in one,
how is it indicated ? How is ee.cb partial revolution denoted ? How are the
halting plscea of time, manner, &c., indicated? Incidents along the way? Is it
& wonder tba\ t}l.e beginner shudders at the effort. nece8881"Y to write a compo1
;
'
·
sition?
·-

... .

••• •

·-

. .CHAPTER ill.
LETTER WRITIXG, ETC.

LEssoN

I.-Of Letters in General.

1. O F all species of Composition,

are the
most ~n~versal, as well as important; and yet, among
th~ millions of letters written yearly, how few could
: be.ar t~e - ~os.t s~
- ari _::"'criticism .! Errors in penman·. ~?1p, spe.~111,g~ gr -~ -ar, and. arr:111gement are universally attributed
ha.ste, which IS considered as ample
·~pology for e~ery fault; when in reality the writer is
. not qualified to write a letter correctlj under the most
: favorable circumstances.
-.
2.. A letter well C?mposed, and neatly written, is a
stand1:Ilg recommendation in its author's favor. In no
way can ·a person so commend himself to the favorable
regard of others; or impart to them so just an idea of
his mental qufil.ities as by writing.
.
3. Says Lord Collingwood, ·" When you write a let- ·
ter, give it 'your greatest care, that it may be as per· ";
feet in _a ll its parts as you can make it. Let the· subject >
.

·.

.,, -

.. --'9':." .: , . . _ .-· "

.

.

LETTERS

.

.

- -(1.) What la the most. universal and impo~t speciea of Composition? What
is said of the millions of letters written yearly? To what are errors attributed?
Is this the true cause! ·
· ·
(2.) What is ~d of a letter well composed and neatly Written?
(S.) What does Lord Collingwood say about letters?
,
-

..

.

.

..

.

~

.

.

.

! .

-~ . ·.

1'12

u
H-

A

i ;

ti

l -

i -.
f

-~

!!

111!11111

·.

be 8en8C e:.tpressed in the most plain, intelligible, an(}
elegant Lamgnage which you can command. If, in .a
familiar epistle, you should be playful · and jocular,
guard caI~ully that your .wit be not sha:rp so as to
give pain to any person; and before you write~ sentence, e:a:mine it, that there b!L _nothin vnl __ ,r__ or
inelegant therein.
:picture of your~ni'l-;- _:
se=w -vse m:ium arc a
;eompounOi of folly, nonsense, and impertinence, are to
·blame to exhibit them fo the contempt of the world,
-0f#th--e· pii~filleir=friencls.-'"l'o write a letter with
.neg1igenee, wit out stops, with crooked lines, and great
ftourishes, is inelegant. It argues either great ignorance of what is proper, or great impudence toward the
person to whom it is addressed. It makes no amends
to add an apology for having scrawled a sheet of paper,
for bad pens, because you should have good ones; or
want of time, for nothing is more important to you, or
t-0 which. our tim~ can more properly be devotetl."
. 4.

-------=

-

-

-

_ 0:BTHOGRAPHY.- · orreCt

spelling, or orthography, is so rare among the majority of people that it is
considered an absolute virtue. Perhaps there is no
part of our education, the neglect of which receives so
little e1urity as this; and a bad speller is ·a common
laughing stock. Yet, when we look for that system
of classifcation and application of general rules and
· (4.) m& are the essential requisites of any letter? What IB ~id of the esti~
mation in ..Web correct spelling ia held? Does this part of our education receive
/,;:':: -.~If.: much charitf! Ought it, when we look at the difficulties attending its acqulrd;,,
t!on I la thlre much system in our orthography? Why might we with better

f .

..

.

•f.

principles in this, which is found in every other branch
of study, we find that exception soon becomes the rule
~nd the pupil is forced to rely upon memory nnd un:
re.mitting ~ractice for the orthography of almost every
word. With better show of reason might we stigma~i?e a bad handwriting than bad spelling. How few
~quld ex~_ulpate delinquencies in spelling on the plea.
that the orthography was sufficien tly accnrnte to enable one to comprehend the meaning!
.
lVe spd~ only when we 1.Drite. Therefore, spelling
is best acqmred by constant practice in copying from
the best authors, writing from dictation, or composina
~1?:.~~1.!_J~~ing original essays. These exercises -are
th~ same time .the most efficient training in penmanship and grammar.
. Copying- from a pr· ted page should form a daily
exercise, until entir ·ages can be correctly transcribed
from dictati?Il.. _ uch an exercise gives substantial
practice in reading, translation, spelling, punctuation,
and use of capita1s. It also cultivates a habit of accuracy in transcribing, which is a most desirable acqui·
sitioa.

at

It is safe to predict that not one in fifty, who have never attempted it, can copy an entire page without a mi.stake• . Let those
who doubt, try it.
rell.'lon stigmatize bad spelling than writing? Would the plea that our spelling is
sufficiently correct to be _understood be accepted? Is not a similar one often ,
made about writing? W71en, only, do ID<! 8J>ell l How is spelling best learned? ' ':
Of what other benefit are these exercises? What should form a dail v exercise? ·
Wbat does it give ? What else ? What is the remark ?
•
II. · What la said of the importance of Penmanship in letter writing? What
relation does it sustain to it? Becall!e some persons use bad taste in thei~ penmanship, does it follow that good writing iB to be avoided P What ia the remark?

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. II. ~HIP.-Writing f~rins st0 -corispicno11S:Spottion-of the present work, th~t. its ~portan~e! ~~
the means best adapted to facilitate 1t.s acqms1tion;
have already been sufficiently -dwelt upon. Penman•
ship is to writing, what dress is to the : app~ncce of
an mdividual; and no one can deny the deciding ·imftu..;
cncc' o':' J rcss. Nor doc3 flw r.tHre -of P: gcnfl cms n
become him less because knEffcs and fools Eornetimes
a.<::Snme the same.
1-le.-er apologize for bad penmanship, C8P''ciaJ1y wher e i'., is :babitmJ. - I t is far frcm refreshing to the recipient un·cad imch un.mter~ing eommonplaces. E ither write respect8bly,- if possibie, or !!1lbmit
to such refl ections as your bad writing nmst ine;itably scggest
whelber excused or not.

m.

GR.DD!AR.-The principles of grammar , also,
nav.e been so -clearly and nlly set forth , that 9- few
hints and cautions are all we need o£fer in this place.
Remember letter writing is talking .on paper; but we
must talk on paper mc:>re carefully than m_any of m; are
accustomed to ,talk with .the voice. In . common con~
versation, redundancies, l;>ad gramm~r, _and inel_e gant·
expressions, if they do not pass unobserved and un.,
cr:itjcised, may at least p~ e~cused and s~qn fo.r gotten ;
J>l;lt in !3-l~~ter _they :r:ernain pe~ane~t :~vitn~~ against
ns. It would astonish many who pride tp~mselves on
their grammatical attainment.a, ~ see their precise Jan-:
guage in -print. . Never commit to paper -expressions
would be ashamed t<? .~cknowledge -shoul.~ ·t~ey
confront you afterward ; trusting' to" the charity -of
your friends to burn
t~eln' for
yo~~feptli'.a.~~~'s
's.a}{e:
.
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you

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. . ~ ~t ~said ~r G:11~~a~f -~.a~,are::w;e .~ -~~e~~;.~ -Ie~ writmgt
Kay b&d grammar be e:r:cused in common conversation t Can it in letter writ.in_g f
W1W would aatoni.eh many _? · Ought you, even in confiden~ letters, to c0mmi~

If. sp0ken ~:Vclgarisms m;e :bad, what shall we say of
8nch : .e:x:presa~on8 ·put: upon .-paper and sent to one's
friend ~ Think of the letter yon are writing as a record
which may be pr~erved .b y your _frien~ long after ·
you --have -ceased ·to be - among them ; · and comm.it
nothing to the permanence of ink and paper that can
possibly th:ro-w n sh:-td c upon yo ur rnem•)ry.
IV. ..L\ ~r:.i:SaE:liE.Yi .-:-In all letters, ·wh~te Y cr be
their class or su bj eet, attention rnmt be paic1 to certain
conventional forms for arranging the severn.l part;; of
which they arc composed. E very letter is rcganlcd
i'-ci consisti~g of . six essentiai- p arts: 1. i:rhe Location
and Datto. 2. Tne Name and Address of the person
to whom it is written. 3. The Complimentary Ad. dress. - 4. The Body of the letter. 5. The Complimentary Closing. ~-,6 ~e'S ignature of the writer.
The locatioU:r
dat~ should both be written upon
the same line, near the right upper corner of the sheet. •
The name and title of the person t-0 whom it is addressed follow on the next line below, near the left
side of the -sheet; and his address on the line under- ·
neath. The complimentary address follows on the
line below the- address, ending near the middle of the
sheet. The body of the letter should ?e coi;r:imenced
very ·nearly "under-the last letter of the complimentary
address. The style or complimentary closing should '.
stand very nearly under the · 1a.st letter of the body ; Z:;
,\ ;.

to paper expressions you _might be asliamed of afterward P How ·should you ~:
think of the letter you are writing?
~
.
IV. wht is said of .A~angement? Of how many parts is ev~ry letter composed p .What..is the First t Second t Third? Fourth? ~ifth P Sixth: Where
should the location 11nd date be written t The Name and Title? Complimentary
Address? Where should the Body of the letter begin t The Style or Complimeniary Closing? ~ SigU&ture? . --Dr&• ihe form of arrangement on the blackboard?

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·176

WJµTING •

PUNCTu.ArION Aim""LE'ri'ER WBm:Nd.

•

and the sigl}ature: very nearly nnder the last letter. of
the conaplimentmry closing, as illustrated in the fo~- lowing tCUStomary
FORM OF A LETTER.

!-

.A LETTER AND ITS P .ARTS.

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NEW

(Location and Date.)

You, &pt. 20th, 1863.

Location and Date.

li~~n~ ~f!d Ti~.t~ ol ~~ f..t.I'$ C::. 2.!!C~e1.
~---~~~

.Address.

Complimentuy Address.
Body of the Letter.

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arranging the variou~-parts of a ll'lter, .-:i.rics wm2Y.L:1t, y; ; :~
~

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the natU!"e of the .J!liject and_ the relation of the parties betwt:en
""

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presented will ix:rhaps be found as conYcnicnt as any, in

most cases.

~

Shon1cl you a·esire to.inform yourse1f further upon the
~~~~~..-..-.~.r.r..~~

..

wbjc-ct, I woulcl suggest " Ell sworth's Text Ih.-·•ok on I'cnn ::m-

ship and Letter Writing" as affording full and explicit forms
and directions.

-

(Signature.)

H. V. PERruN.
Signature.

.
f '-

(Complimentary OZOlting.)
Very truly yours,
Complimentary Closing.

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_.,' ... ~ ••_ ~. ... .... .

,...:_;:,..,_.~:..>.! ~-~·

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PUiaJU.ATIOl'f -llD: LETI'EB -:WRITDG.

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I.imsON'

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"141 William Street, New York,
Oct: 30th, 1863."

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-~ writing _from a~y place except a large city ~e
New York, Philadelphia, Boston, or Buffalo ·care should
be taken .1'.o mention the State, and g~n~rally the
·coonty, as there m.ay be from ten to thirty post offices
of the same nllme m the United States.
·
The order in which the words of the location and
~.ate: are_writ~en~ varies somew ~at._ :F~r in5tance, Eng_lish letter .wnters generally place the day before the
. m•iJ.nth,. as: 15th June, instead of Jwne l5t.k. The
. former I~ ce~y the most-_µatural ~rrangement, .but
. _custom m this : country_generally favors the · latter.
Some ·adopt the· Quaker method · and ·write "Nezb
.

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-~~t ~:: i~e Jetter is of. 'fitaJ impo.rtance? What fs said or tt.8
01
-~ :onler
In whi h t 11 llald or letters wntten in a city? . Other places? Doea the
• ;_. . Ovmt Wh" ~ . th~ words are arranged vary? What is the Engr1Sh custom?
o,_. · •• , • .
ic 18 most natural_? What is the Quaker method? Has this advail-l; ~·taps over the others?_ _ . -.. _

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· ~ Yorh; 10th ¥0. 25th; 1863," which has some decided

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.A... FEW remarks under e~ch of the foregoing parts
will. &erve ·to dJevelop ~the important features relai-.
ing -.f o an ordi~a.ry letter.
· -'
JL THE Loc.A.T!ON .AND . DATE.· The. -1.ocation and
date ~t which 8 letter jg wiitten is one of its -~ost -rital
pam- Its omission, particulariy fu· letters of b~i:
nea!!', :a:, a sorrrce of constant annoyaii_~ e to the recipient;
and. aia the whole legal bearing of a_n.y letter, howeve-~
impoirtant, may be destroyed by the. omission of t~
essential part, you cannot be toO careful in stating it
correctly and folly. If you write in ·a city, the street
and mumber should be included;··# .: ·
· ·' · ·' ·

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Il.-Of Lettera in Ge:neral-Ountinild.

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advaiitages '-M a 'blisinesS custom.
s:.·' '1:~ ; ~~ - il~ , 'fyrLE.-_1.

Name8. The first name
~.~ -~ P~!'8o~ -JIB: . ifo!in, Jame8, Mary, Martha, &c., is
c~lled 'the ·~ohmtian n~me ; whil~ the last, ss: Smith,
J07J.e11, ~·T"ly>1np8on7~c~, is .called the Surname. Most
..Oft.J.-

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. wtiaJ~~ _~~a~p~::-(1.)
ii!,D .!.."±'J.:.n

:f~~~J

.· '_ :~!Jl ··

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Jarru18 0. Putnam; (2.) 8. 8.
.

C•. -~- ~ ~:-~ ~

d~~iri.K ~!etters to persons, it is always best

'to :ris~~the )3ame fo~~ ·a.s 'that adopted in their own signa~~i:e, -~th_,!~~ . a~~tioi'i· 9f the proper title.

an

When"fa:ther .
on have both the same name,
,John', 8in"ith;ff0_r · · - ance, the father is addressed as
\T'ohn -~ajth ~~r:, , r:;~enior, meaning okler, and the son
,'. as John.Smith Jr:; .Or Jruiior, meaning younger.
. :~ ·_.:2. :·J!itles:-·Althc>P,gh the laws of this eountry recog. niz~ no titled nobility; and all profess to be aristocrats,
beliL;Ying that
"Titles of honor add not to his worth
W_!io is an _h_Qnor ~o his title;" ·

,•

:.yet there has, ·imperceptibly grown up an array of ~ ·
: titl~ and add~esse8,-w'hlch, though ~perhaps not so ':_ .
_~~~erous or · cumbersome as th.oso of Europe, are;,i
.

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What is the 11.rst name of a person called f . The last? How .many names·
r :do most perso~ "have in this c;ountry? . What is .the general custOm in writing. ·
t' ,_the~ t , Giy_
e_· wmpt~. ,What ii! the best rule in !!<ddressi~g !ett~rs to peraon_s? .
~ ;When _father.and son _.liave both : the .same name, how is the father ~dre!sed? ·
'''. · •
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,;_The son,? .,..:_.·;:· '--~.. z·:·. ·.: ;_.:,·; : ..,·:·: .- !;'-·f .. ~ "~·'.;:'-. · ·-.:: (2.) .Do.. the Jaws of this country recognize titles P Wha& do we proresa and
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~ _P.~1:'80~ f1 ,~~JS · ,co~.I1try _ha;e tw? Christian names, as:
~t_.{..Q~~:~-;Tai<f/!, £s~r·" :It IS a general custom to use
ohly the ~initial:
orHiist letter of the second christian
~ .)1f~ ' J ~.'- ..... ·~ _,•
~,.....
.:::-;~ N.~.;f
i1a~~~ .~d. no~ tiJ?.~ually ·b oth are represented by their
r! .

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:roiS-aroA.Tio:N··ANI> · ~; WimmG:'°' Hon~rable; Commodore, General, &c., in full, than to

the

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nevcarthebs ~arded as strictly irom violation by
lD.ws of etiquette. Many of t1rese titles, or eapre88iorut
of r~~· are clearly traceable to their foreign origin.
For- example: Mr. from Ma8!e-7; Mr8. froin .Mi8trM8;
Miss~ froim the French denwi8ielle; $8q. from E8q11,ire,
a.n Englim officer_of the law," bm.t applied almost indiscriminatd.y to all classes of males in this country.
Titles may be divided into two classes: Titles of
Respect, as Mr., Mrs., Mis&, E8q., &c.; and Pr.ofessiowtl Titles, as Hon., Rev., LL..D., &c. k
AB a general ru1e, two titles of .:the same class
sn0"1dd !J!.!)t he app1ied to t11e same n ame.·-_ "-11rir. Joh n
Smitb; Eaq." shou1d be either "Mr. John Smith" oJ;
"John Smith, Esq." The first is preferable. · If the
profession of the person is known to the writer, the
professional title alone should be used. Where there
are two or more professional titles applicable to the
same individual, the highest should be used in preference to the others.
_Cusrom places mere Titles of Respect (except Esq.) ·
befrn·e the name, while it is not uniform in the applica. tion. of Professional Titles, some preceding and others
following it. For instance, Hon., Rev., .Dr., and militaIY titles should precede the · name, :while LL.IJ., '..A..M., .D.JJ., &c., shollld follow it. It is considered
more l'iespectful to write· titles of high rank, such as ·

abbreviate. them thus : Hon., Com., Gen., ·&c. The
foll~wing list ·will ·illustrate the effect of titles in expressing elevation rank among individuals:

o!

Hi!J Excellency, John Smith,
· Honura~
. :: ·--:~ . . .:

J ohri Smith,

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President of the U. S., Governor of
any State, or ~bassador of the

. U.S.

,

Vice-President, Senators and Representatives of U. S., Lieut.-Governor of a State and State Senators, Judges, Mayors, and Heads
of Ex. Departments of Gen. Gov.

» Jp~n Smith, .D.IJ., Doctor of Divinity.

· '·.Io1iu Smith, LL.D.,

Rev.-..
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_P.rof. •

Mr.•

Dodor of Laws.
- '_John Smith, :Minister of the Gospel
·Joitn S~ith, A.M, Master of Arts.
Jo4n Smith, Physician or Surgeon.
· J~hn Smith {Professor or r:r:eacher of
'
Art or Science.
· · ·. .
{Member of the
·. h E
mit ' sq., Legal Fraternity.
· obn Smith, Non-Prof. Gentleman.
. •
. J~hn Smith, Plain Signature.
·j. S.
His Initials.
John x Smith, Unable to write name.

..

(bl.8 mark.)

m. ADDRESS.-The address of the person to whom
y~u are writing should always be upon the sheet containing the body of the letter, so that, in case the let- ,
ter bec~mes sep_a: ated from the envelope, it may not
be lost for want of directio~ · ·Custom has of late fa- ',

belteve? BaTe we titles nev~rtheless ? .Are they as numerous and cumbersome
as tho!!e of Europe? .Are they guarded u strictly by the laW'!I or etiquette?
~is aid of many of these titles? Give examples. How is Esquire &pplied
in this ~ouatry! Of how many classes are titles? What are they? Exam-pies;
What 11 th general rule for applying titles? Illustrate &ll'T'ong use of titles.
When showld the Professional Title be used? When there are seTeral, which
bu preference? Where does custom place mere Titles of Respect? Profes_eioaal Titles! · Give instances. · How should titles eipreWiig high r&nk be

----------:-------------:-----

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written? To whom is Hia Ercelltney applied P HOflorable 1 I>..D. 1 LL.D. 1 '.: .
JU-v. f A.H. f J)r. f Prof. f Eaq~ 1 ·Mr. f When a person is unable to
write his name, how may his assent be expresaed?
·
,Jil. Where should the address always be placed? Why? What does cus- ~

.,
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~~i£~c,~!i.~L~::~,~-,,.,>:,;~;.·1~;;.J~~'fSK{,;j;';i)~·.,.L;:;:1~~),,,::,~:I.,.\j;<i~~:::: ~.i-~;.~(";~~:~'li.r;~;~G_

18~

182
vored pladog. both the name and address at the he~~
of the letiter instead of at the close, as was done formerly. T··h s arrangement ~ppe8.rs more sensible, as
in case it is received by the wrong person through mistake, it cai.n be discovered before r~ading the letter
through. 'Thi~ plan also facilitates aadressing the
envelopes when several letters are written-at the same
.
····
time. ·
IV. Go-311'LilIB"-'TARY AnnREss.- In '-ivriting to a
gentleman with whom ·you have little _o_:r;· no acquaintance, the address should be simply "Sir;" If you are
on familiar terms with the person, "Dear Sir " may
be used. "My Dear Sir" implies still greater intimacy.
In adci'lressing a lady not a relative, " Madam " or
" Dear ~am " may be used, according. to the degre·e
of intimacy. Unmarried ladies are addressed as " Miss,"
"Dear :Miss," "Dear Julia," and so. forth, to express
degrees of intimacy.
In addressing a firm, or association ·of individuals
comprising a Committee,· Board of Trustees, or other
body, " Gentlemen ,, or " Ladies" should be used, ac:.
cording to the sex of the individuals composing it.
If the body is one toward which it is desired t-0 express
gi:eat regard or esteem, ·something like ·the ·following
may be nsed : .
.
·
·
!

.... ..:':

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~v.~ !BoI>Y ;OLTHE : LErrER.-The body of a letter

should •be ·ma~e up of paragraphs. Every change of
subject sho~d be.in~icated by .commencing a new par~ra,ph to_ ·the left of . t~e niid~e .of the sheet, and
about an inch farther to the right than the other lines.
The ?penhig paragraph should always be short, and
unfold, if ·po8sibl~, · t1i'.~· object of the letter. If it is a
reply,' it _shoul~ ·a{~.~unce the receipt and date of the
Jetter ·to·' ~hic~ -.this?.is an answer, and shou1d give a
btj.ef ~ta.tement of i~ subject matter, that all cause for
misapprehension
.b e _,~xplained or removed, thus:
··. · ~ay
. . •"
'LYorir .fovor.-of 4th:. inst., relating to the purchase of
an Invoi<'.-~ .?f s.ta~ioEery, is i:eceived," &c.
·Whatever be the nature of the letter, avoid all
such expressio.ns as . "I . re my pen in hand," &c. If
the letter is one .of
mess, or inquiry, dispose of that
first; : and, unless . 'familiar terms, never introduce
other matters. .If 'the letter is to be short, it should
be begun so as to leave. an equal space above and below. ·
No error is · more frequent among beginners than
the use of small i instead of the capital I in writing of
themselves. This prop.oun is of frequent occurrence
in letter writing, and_·such a display of ignorance
should be carefully' guarded against. .
· Much ado has bee1:J. made about the frequent use

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" To the Honorable ·:
The Ne~ Yor~ Board of Education.''
tom favor orJllle?
tate p
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Is this-a better arrangement? · mat does thls plan facill·
.
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" · IV. Bow .llioul.d a gentleman with whom you· ~ave but alight acqu~lnta~c~
be addrel!Bed7 If you are on'. familiar terms? ·Very intimate? . How should a
lady noi a rellliTe l?e addre1111ed?. How: should .unmarried ladies be addi:e*d !

How sb~uld a fir~ or association or Individuals be addressed? If you desire to
express great ·esteem·or rega~d : ? . ·dive an ·example. :
·
- V. Of what should the hJdy of a letter be made up? How should every
change of subject bi indicated? What is aaid of the opening pa.ragraph? If a
reply, wh~t should it contain? Write an illustration. What kind of expressions
should be aToided? IC the letter Is one of business or inquiry, what should be
disposed of .first? · Where should a short letter begin? . What error iB fre~ueot
among beginners?_ Should such .a diJiplay of ign9rance be ~uarded agalllllt?

1$4

()fr 1! in

ialluding to one's self, as e~cing egotism\ in
tlhe wriit<er. The following extract, taken from " Fra1e1r's MBf,:JRZine ;, (Eng.), touches :upon _this point:
~ne~ud upon it, my reader, that the straightforward and natn1at Ufriter who frankly uses the first person ajngular, amd says, '.I
tmlk tbw. &nd thus,' ' I have seen so and so,' is thfoking of himself
aw~ his & 'VD personality a mighty deal less than -the rnan who is
m}wruys amploying awkward and roundabout :form~ of expression tO·
vwci!!i thf use of the obnoxious L Ev-ery su.i:h peripbra.sis testifies:

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tIDXJistaTmbly that the man was thinking of himself; but the simple,,
ml!l!tYal w-ri.ter, warm with his subject, eager to press hiB views uporu
JhU read..tri, uses the I without a thought of self, . just because it is
itht shortest, most direct, and most iiatural wa.y of expressing himself.
'Tie recclllection of his own personality probably ii.ever once crossed
0 mind during the composition· of the paragraph from which an ill·
To say ' It is submitted,'
1.e cri_t;ic might pick out a score of I'1.
Uts-;tead oif' I think,' 'It has been observed,' instead of' I have seen.;
& lhi: presait writer,' instead of ' I,' is much the more really egotistical. Y Gll ~se the readiest and most unaffected mode of speech to set
m Jt your thoughts of it, You have written I a dozen times, but you
D.ve not; thought of yourself once."

. Th~ first letter of every sentence, title, proper
n:ame, or adjective derived from it; every name appJied to the Deity; every quotation of the words of
amothter; every line in poetry ; t:he words I, 0, and
Oh,' smd the principal words in rules and headings,
s~houJd be capitals. The tendency, at first, is to use
tno many capitals, especially if the writer happens. to
pride himself on his dexterity in making them. Their
improper use, instead of adding to the appearance of
the page detracts much from it.• Except in one of the
<eases above enumerated, O! when in doubt, use a small
·letter.
.,
'What uuaid of the use of Iin speaking of one's sellf Read the extract aloud.
lit.ate where capit&la ahould
used. . Whit i8 the tendency at first? · What is

be

.

. p~ - ~ot

.

be~ a sentenc·e till the whole is clearly

fiied m the mmd. Never add clause after clause
loosely. linke~ on with ". a;ruh" and "~t8," till yo~
are led _to say what you did not mean, instead of havi.rig·expressed the thought intended.
•
:"· ";When finished, strike out ill words which add
AO~~.ing ,to th(s,ens~/arid see if all the paragraphs of
your letter, taken t-Ogether, include all you intended to
say. If errors have been committed, or many interlineations ha.ve been made, the whole should bs carefu~ly c9P!.ed upon another sheet before sending.
:· y. ··"CoMPLriiEN't'~~Y CLosrno.-The complimentary
"closing,· like the . co~plimentary address, usually consists of a phrase ni0:1;e or less formal in its character,
regulated by;_the degree of familiarity between the
pa~ies. It ge?-erally . . ists of some such expressions
:~ "Yours t:ruly," ' - espectfully yours" or "Yours respectfully," "'-Alw s respectfully," "Yours with great
respect," " your sincere friend," &c.
The closing sentence.of the body should be framed
so as to connect smoothly with the complimentary
closing. Th~ following is an example: "Hoping to
hear from you soon, I remain,
Yours truly,

W. W.

0LCOTI'."

VI.--SIGNATURES.-The first ambition of every be-. gitmer in wri~ing is the ability to write his own name.
1\-,

said of their improper use? \\"hen should you UBe small letters? What is said
about beginning a sentence? , Of~ding clauaes linked on with and. and but1 l
What should be done when finis ed? What, if errors and interlineationa ha Ye
been made?
,
V. Of what does the Complimentary Closing nsually consist? Repeat some
of the common ·expressions.
~ '.-VI. What Ls the first ambition of every writer P How long ago were per-

-- - _....

At the be~g of ~e ·eleventh _ ~n~~' in :Eutc>pe,
pe~oES of the. highest. rank and .mbst exalted statiOn
could neit1Le1l' read no:r vrite. . Tllose who had to express their ~ent in writimg, did so by i:i- sign _of the
cross attached to the docmment; and to this day w~
speak: of Bigruing when. we 13Ubscribe our namea. - (Seepage 181.) f?oinetimes, instead of the cross, a seal was
attached to th~ writing~ a practfoe still observed in
very -formal ·Or legal docmments.
.
The importance of an appropriai.te signature is much
great·er than. is sometim:es isupposed . . _.:Vifferent tastes
will suggest different StJfoS, such as , the bold; coarse

hand, the condensed baud, back hand, fine hand, &c. ;
but it matters little what style IB •Cbose_n for one's signatur e, if it be suited to the sex of . the individual
and length of the name.
·
_
In addition to the opportunity afforded for display~
ing individual taste' in the selection and grouping of
tbe "VRrions parts, the liability of being counterfeited
should be carefully guarded against. To this end,
the signature once adopted should not vary, so tha~
continual repetition may give to it a character which
it is ~xtremely ·difficult for an unpractised hand tQ
counterfeit. In- a,d dition, some peculiarity of combination, snch 88 the crossing of curves, C!r arrange'ment of the :part.a may be observed.. ·· ·When the temptation to connterf~it is great, 88 is the c.8 8e wit)l. the sig'!
natures of persons in i_m portant offices, some private

: 1:

sons <Jr the higheat rank unable to read.or write i? · How did they express their
assent? What expression ha.a this custom givett rise to? What else was some·
timea attached to the writing? Ia'this practice still adhered to? , What is said
or the importance of an appropriate sign~ture? What will dHferent tastes sug~
gest? Is it much matter. what style is adopted? . What should ~e . guarded

,.

'k;.'A;,

;;:;,.~i~.~,~'!~~;~~~~-*i>l'~1;~L~~~~· :

__

_.. .~.

- '-

,_

·. . mark,: likely tO ·pass unobserved by the common eye,
is frequently,resortea.to; as-a security ·against forgery.

- The·_ ~olloWj.Ilg -e#.ract relative to · signatures, from

Fraser's

Ma.gazme - (Eng.), may perhaps be

profit: ' ; ,·,, _

-

r~ad with

·

. ~'The . haixlwriting of some men is essentially aff~ted ; more
especially their ~O'Ilature. _ It seems to ·be a very searching test
. whether a man is: a conceited person or an unaffected person, to be
;;;qui;~d tO,furnisb hls aut?grap~ to be printed underneath his published
:I have f~ncied I could form a theory of a man's
~'b61~'-i:h~~~t~t from "'r'eadfug; in sud1 a s1t1ia.tion, merely the words
,.:V~ry ~ithfully , jr6~~ ~~ebius : Snooks.' You could see that Mr.
Snooks- Ji~' ~t.in.g JV hen 1!~'~wrote that signature. Ile was thinking
of .the impr~ioll.J~ -TI.~.~A"'fr.o4uc~, on those wh? saw it. It was not
the thin.;. -which lri&ii~ .Would produce who simply wished to write
.
' 0
- .
.
- . - ·· ·· - -·
'his 'liame legibly in 8.8 snort' a time and with as little needless trouble ~ .po8Sible. Let me aay with ,sorrow that I have known even
venerable bishops who were not superior to th.is irritating weakness.
Some men aim at~ an . arist-OCr~ band; some dea1 in vulgar flourishes. These are the men .;\ftFo have reached no furthe r than tbat
~tage at which they a!~dof the dexterity wi~h which they handle -their pen. _ Some strive after an affectedly 81Illple and studentlike h~nd • some at a -dashing and military style. But there may
be as mu;h· self-conscioiisness evinced by handwriting as by anything else. :Any clergyman ~ho ~performs a good many marriages
will be ~pressed by the fact that .very few among the h~m~ler
classes can sign theii n~~e in ran unaffected way. I am ~ot thmking
9 r the poor bride who sljakjly t:i:aces her name, or of the ~llllple bu~p­
kin who slowly writes his, making no secret of the difficulty w:th
which he does it. These_are natnral and pleasing. . You would like
to help and encourage.them. But it is irritating when some forward
fellow -after evincing h.ia marked contempt for the slow and cramped
perfo~ances ofhls frle~ds,janntily takes tip the pen and dashes o.ff
his signature at a tre.mepdona . rate and with the air of an ,exploit,

:Portrait.·

,a

against in

~ddltio~?

~lgnatnrea? : How:~ca~ ~b~ b~ prev~n~d? What_ma.y be do~e in

Where

ihe 'temptation to counterfeit

done? .~ Read Uie extrac~ aloud. c ., •.

Ill

great, what

IS

sometimes

"·

~11tl;J e.xpecit\ng ·the admiration of his mstic friends, and lajiilg ·"a

·-:· ~ ' 5. · A : busine8s letter· should never occupy more
than the first page of the sheet, except in rare ca.<:Jes.
It' 'is
considered inlproper to write such letters
~pon ·a half sh~et only, although to avoid the appearance of economy, many prefer to send the whole.
· 6. ·In letter writing, be particular and use a sheet
appropriate in size and: style to the purpose for which
it is employed. ·F or ~xample, it would be considered
~L~d .t~te tu 1vrit~. aJtusille6S letter upun c010reJ 11ute
p~per. Paper is "Il.q~-.;Inanufactured of every requisite
si.w,; shape, and qua}j.tx~ and its judicious selection and
~e sho~uld be a matt'e'f of no little consequence. Enve1op_(~s__;;hould in ·gt~~18_rrtl be huff, white, or otl1er plain
color~ and -quite thick. Avoid all fancy patterns and
col_ors.
. ~..
7. Postscripts ;re sen~nces inserted after the body
of the letter i:; finished.r""''They indicate either lw.ste or
thoughtlessness, .an~ould, .in general, .be cffoicled.
Writing around the margin of a letter should likewise
be avoided.
8. Letters of recommendation or introduction should
not be sealed, when intended to be delivered by the
person to whom they relate, as he ought to know the
contents.
FoLDrno.-The folding of letters at the present day

-MmtiDn for.· :re:millk.ing to them on his way home, that the parsoa
~ ndt tou.dl

liiizm at penmanship.

not

I have observed with a little

m&l'!Eiow satisfacliiom that such persons, wising in iheir pride

from

~ pl~e. whc:c t~bey wrote, generally Sm!;!~ th~ii signa.!u.re v.-iii1r:
th!fa coat-Blee-re, amd reduce it to a -state of comparative illegibility.
I fil're fo f.'_:ee the smirking, impudent creature a little taken down."

~-

,_
L

t~

•

1. In. g.,;,u~r every eCter r eqmres ·a reolv. It is
&J nee~3Sarr to an.8wer when written k>,~as ·when spo-·
.kem t-0•. Let ters c_onsidered disrespectfu1 or insulting

:SJ!J{oolcl lbe retn:rned at once, without a reply. Lettersof friliiil"~e:'.:5 Or £'0Urtesy shon1J 1J€ answered pronmtlv.
2. Two persons should not write in the same l~tt~r
1:ut1ess n:i family letters, or both persons are very inti:
0
m.:·1te with tbe correspondent.
3. \\'here ceremony is required, letters should be
~ie.zu.n. ;a _li~fle ab~ve the middle of the .first page, and
yf ~there 19 1:18u_
ffic1ent r~om to finish it on the :first page
WJ.!thollt hnngmg the signature too near the bottom it
may be £.rushed on the inside of the sheet, on the ~h~
lumd page. In such cases, there should be at least
two or t~ree li~es of \t~e body upon the next page. .
4. It 1:i considered impolite by many to write other
than bnsmess letters on a half sheet of paper, and
tlce:refore, unless from necessity, always use a whole one.

(Ii.) How much of a sheet should a business letter occupy? Is it improper
. to write business letters on a half sheet ? What do many prefer?
: (6.) . Wba.t should you be particular about in letter writing? Give an example .of bad taste in the selection of paper. What is said of the manufacture and
selection of appropriate paper? What .color should envelopes be? Should
they be thick or thin? What· should always be avoided?
: ('7.) What are P<>4tacripll i What do they indicate ? What, in general,
ehoUld be avoided?
. (8.) Wha.t is said of letters of introduction, &c. ? Is the foldlng of a letter

(I.) What, i1 general, does every letter require? Why? What should ~
&111e witl lettem considered disrespectful or ·insulting? What letters should
llihn:ya be answered promptly?
O
{2.) Sboald &wo persons write in the same letter?
(3.) ~~n oere~ony is required, where should letters be . begun? What, if ·
tl!e room u insufficient on the first page ? How many lines should there be on
Ile nex.t page 7
·.. , _,
(4.) What ~considered impolite by many?

...

1

. .

-~""'~ .•

·~.

...

~._

--·-· : ...

l.90

PUl{Cl'UATION' AND ·LEl.T.B. ·wKrn:Na-..

fu & very simple operation. ~t:her the slt~t the a
single or double leaf, the procesis is th.e same, -viz.: :i-.
~urn over the bottom or the sheet till its edge lies
upon the edge at the top, makiDg a. fold in the middle.
2. Bring the right end of the folded sheet t-0 your
body, and fold over about one third of the· letter to•ward the top. 3. Finally, _reverse the ends of the
s~eet, and fold as inuch of the n_p:pier ~art in th·e oppo_BiJ.: <lin:ction.
Sl?EF-scr:.rPTiox.-The Supe r&'rirt1on of n letter
means the address of the person to 1vhorn it i3 sent,
'Written npon t he enve1one inc1osin()'
it. The :form of
0
!&.rrangement should correspond with the saGJe address
:!Lt the hea.d of the letter. Care should be taken that
~t is commenced a little above the middle, and to the
left of the centre of the envelope, so as not to crowd
npon the right edge or bottom. The following will
~rve to illustrate the
-

:;._
~-

~·-·

-

i

FOR~

OF .A SUPERSCRIPTION.

I

-

...

~- un~il you can "Write sufficiently straight, with
guide than th~ edges ~f tJ:ie env_elope. . ·

110

other

."· , ~ B~fore wn~~ ~he_ suve~cription, always ascertain
if the envelope IS right edge up.
·
It. is ~ thi.'3 position wh~n the part on wliich the
gmn IS usually pl~d folds under from the top of the
~nvelope~

..

_

~· ~
--~-~--~-=-==
~~-~-~~
, -~rn~·-n~
.---.All
P1c0c.ut
C:.B..-t
... .
. _.,;,,..
--- l -ll
LC.t.:

~

;.

l.i.Tt;. 1Lu..~ io~ e {t

or1dinarv

l~tt_;rs ;_~

CI.iVe ...1 on
r r~
. . . . . l'. .'~;1~tt
. ___

.•n~ "'J
11v ....

8tali"nr;1 t he edges being cov-crcd ,~-i th :pr•·rarec1 rn ncil age which on:ly requires moist ening to adhere £n nly.
In sealing letr~er-:3 of ceremony, or great importrmcc, or
. kttei·a sent to foreign climes, wax is still use<l.
The U.% of vrnfe rs for sealing letters is now almost
entirely discmntilnued. The customary spot for placing
the requisite postage sta~p, to insure tbe conveyance
of the letter, is on thernght hand upper corner of the
envelope. The lo~t way of the staq::ip shou1cl correspond with that of the envelope, as it occupies less
de8irabl~ -room, and lOoks ·better in this position.

Btamp.
-'

Dr. 'J. G. T H 0 MPS~ ~,
8rocKTON' . ..··- - ·
·Ohaut. -

fil-PartWular Letter8 and Form8.

·LESSON

MosT letters belong to .one of the follqwing classes:
1. Letters of BnSiness. 2. Letters of Friendship.

~o.,

~

N. Y.

to

Never scratch or d~aw faintJines upon _which
write the superscription ; but, if·· necessary, · practise
at the present day difficult? Wbat is done first in folding? -.Second ? · Thi;.d:P
What doea ·the superscnption"of a·letier m"e an? With what shoald the "form

.

....

' Of w1bat should care be taken P Write a snperscription on an encorrespond?
Telo{>e. Is it allowaible to 8cratCh faint lines as guides? What should be done ?
'Before writing the address, .'what should be carefully noted? When is it right
n4e up P How are all ordinary letters now j.nclosed ?. When should wax be
·used P A.re w&f'ers. mwch UBed P Whe·re should the reqiiisite postage stamp be
~placed? With what should the .longest :way or the_stamp correspond? Why l'
!~. Jiow many ~ . do mostJet~rs bel~ng? __Name theµ:i . . What are the
! • ;;: . -

.

-

~

·-

.

•

\ .

. 192
\ ~\

1-LF.:TrEBs

OF

Bus!NE3S.

Thie ch~teristics of a business letter are lnevity,
and dea~88~
BEEvfi"Y. Business letters are expected to be ac:r
brief l3S the subject will possibly 8.1.low, for "'unnecessary llYOrd.s are a waste of time, ·both to him who
., t(}
· 1·;.ir1:.· ' -1:- !L"'i_ ohJ!:r~a
v-ir~r · t~., an-c1
·- 1.b. v · •r.
L . ) r·e".l.:i
._.!_t tt..,m"
.._ir:._.
•
1
\,- .:..it;

.t.

1
1 -'.·,st.·-..•~
'
'h
·1 C a;~:..u
' :· il eXp·:~-.. ·--. ~ c"n
l,._.
-µ·t..v
.._,3, . ..-c r:n,,1 l.12.•J Ll
ll..:· 11•...J.::
d. ,
• .•, :··.._.._
- .. '.'. r·- ,·•. ,~'"'
~ on rnin:.? and :readln .~ eveu a hu ru]red letter~; a.cid v~·hcn \ Ye

}" t,~ t

J3 h,jr

.._____.;.. _

' rr

l
~

1f t•

'

t-

-

0

co:1c,.i ]c.r the fac;: t hat rnar:y o.f the hrgL·st fi r Es in X cw T ork rc.·ei·.-e
eevernl b und.;red DAILY, whoiie content.> mu.s~ k rCJ.d, and co.u.:;i.J.;rcJ,
frc.ci:1.c.r.:tl v throt.1gh the n1os~ sb1x·.king pe.n1i1Jns1_iip and grarn:n.J..:-, \Ye
~a; im 3~in.e why lelters fill ing an entire sh8ct, with bi.: ..,iile.o.; \.hid1
should. be dispat~hed inn. <lozen lines, are never read at ali. In re.;iding his. correspondence, the man of business habits gras;:;s not re~re1y
the meaning of words, but whole sentences at a glance, and extracts
the im:portant points of the letter, and obj ect of the wr iter, al most instaut.a:ncously.

B efore commencing a business letter, the writer
should ask himself: 1. How many different points <lo
I ~h this letter to contain? 2. Can I embody all I
wish to say upon each point in a single sentence? · 3.
If I cannot, how Jew 8enkru:e8 will 8Ujfice?
After the letter is completed, the fo11owing questions should be answered: 1. ·Have I-included all the
poin.'ts or subjects I intended to write about? 2. Are
charuteristics of a busineBB letter? Why should busineSB letters be brief(
What. is s*1 of .tbe labor of opening and reading a. large number of letters? ,
How JDAI1ydo_some New York houses receive daily? How do they sometimes'.
trea.t long c:areless).y-lrlitten letters? How does the man of busineSB habits read .
his eorresp1ndence? What should the' writer ask himself before b~gin~i~g ii.'
.busme. lekr' . What questions should be answered after it is 'c~mpleted 'i

they.expressed in a brief and clear manner 1 s. Can
the language b~ ~construed 1
.
.. . ~e ,.arr~ngemen~ . or form of .such a letter must be
suQh~1.8. Will '•answer·dearly the three questions, which
always a.rise on unsealing any letter : 1. Wlure is this
let~r froni 1 . 2~ Who wrote it 1 3. What ·does the
Write-r want 1
:,f.
!_).~~ -!~·~~- fy~o~g -~rra~gement answers these questions
1. .Jli!_i:.- 'Vl..._Y
D ""f·"r·'"l.i:~1-:-:-

.1

.r-r-1!-1

r.:-z~is~r"' c_ tr.
~~11 T'"
t;<l.jl ~ -"- .."f

C1'L~._d. tj< ,...~.._ ... , l

;.!:.!
r

f'L~
-c fr-~-=-~-= µ. !.~-:- ~~.
-, .:.!i.-._, t...:.d...d..:.. :....:..J.~:,1_-i T ..:,

.:t

n-:'\ ..

7

UU.. ~ .i.

~L'.::i- ..tl.i.l'~~
l~ .-.

form 13;l!1ct1onec1 l>y-the best usage·

Nr:w Yor.x, .Ia'1 . 28, 1863.

TI. W. Euzworrm
1\.> ~. \V. -II.

SADLEll,

Lockport, N. Y.
DEAR Sm:
.J"Will you oblige me by placing the
in closed Promissory Note iµ· the .hands of some prom pt an<l reliable
lawyer of your place, for~mediate collection!
Very truly yours,
H. W. EuswoRTH.
. FORM$ _FOR BUSilf:ESS LEITER8.

The following examples will illustrate a variety of
the _customary forms employed in business correspond,ence :
Whiii muat the form of such a letter answer clearly? Write a letter of the form
sanctioned by the best usag~. Write the form of an Order for books, newspape~ &:c. _whAt ·1s· said of.the' use of Mu'sr1. and Gentlemen! Write a form,
a. desire to make an arrangement for ordering men:handise. write a.
reply; expressing present Inability to forward samples
requested. What ls
the difference between the form of a.ddress given .in the last letter: and reply and
the
Wba~ ill -said of !ta necesalty? When is it beat to employ it'

e,xi>resalng

others'

- . .. ::·.10 .

as

'.

1-Fouc

FOR

Om>Elt!.

'

I

'

I

3:

DETBOIT,, Miroii., Jan. 1, 18i68.
D..
~ ;...

-""

·

,!n>u:TON

GENTLEMEN!

f

!::-

& Co.,
New York.

-

·a

• :
Inclosed, yon . ~nJ.d, find t25 in u.
Treaaury Notes, for which please forward me~ .
.-,
.:J... 1 :Dozen Photographic Albums
•.
tl2 00 ·
8 Dozen Ellsworth's Copy Books
• ;· · ~ '
· · 8 00 · '
1 :Ellsworth's Text Book of Penmansbil}> . -~~·~; .
1 00 ··. · .
1 B~s of New York . •
•
~- : ·:~':ii;.;
1 &O .: :..!
_l Freedlefs Treatise on Business (LiP:'pm~~t)
1 25
~:>

i Dozen Railway Guides .

« <Jo., Detroit.

.CASH

~-

'.; . .

··· ;;~ ·

t·'io:·: : ;_ -

..·

s. s. PACKARD.

-~~ -:-::.1~~,-.:. ;~··

::--~ _}.~

~Y.

~­

.

··. ; ·r_... ~~?·· i':· t/~,

·' ·. DETROIT, Nov: 28, 1S62. .
.,. ·
..,_
,·'-.:. - -To S. S. PACKARD, E
.
18 J Jooper
itute, New York.
:--. : - · EA.R Sm: ·
..
~

or

· .Bi co~paring 1 th~ addr~es in ·pre~edfug forms;' "~t
will be noticed that the title Gentlemen is nsed in the
fint, an~ .Me8ar8. in the sec~p.d. TJ}~y are both -fre~
.9-u~nPY. u8ed}n the _
s_am.e .addr.e8s, whi<?Ji iS ~ iilcoro_~~t, as
¥.uarB.-.an abbreViation 'of 'the. Fr~nch 'Me88ieur~
-~gmnes 'gentlemen;
'the . ·aaditi~n:·:·~r . that :' ~~fd

)~akes' ~. i]~~·e~ repe1~ti~r~- ~- ...;~\ ··: ·. :::· >;>·:~

-

· CBJ..s:... - P1Qci:.m · ·

DOWN.

and

.

·~·

·~

Franklin Square, New York.
I inclose $2 50 in U . . S. Postal
Omrency, for which pleBBe mail one copy "Harpers' w ee'kly !'. to
ID'7 address, t')r one Year.
Yours t:rnly'
S. S. CrussEY.
FltEooNU, Chant. Co., N. Y., Oct. BO, 1863.·

.

.· nw Sm:·

you

MFsm.s. lIABPER BROTHERS,

.

·

_., :·~~:.~

tO. me, care of F. · R&ymond

.

~P~ ~\ ~Qo~ ~4 }~en Manufacturer,
"'""'-"- - •"' ' ' ~ · · ·"· Detroit./ Mich.··

1 2•5

Itespectfnlly yonrS,

:PACKARD .· · •

. . .
_
. Having h~d _my friend John R.
,,f~-Si>e3-~ oJJ he ex~~t quality and superior fineness of the Gold
, Pe~~of yo~ man~actn!e,. l4~sire to make an arrangement wit~
-fu .~~P\~~m PD: ~e ;..~ ~~~ city. ·. I s~ expect to pay cash, and
__ ':. Ji.opf~ ~~~~1-'~he~:t·:y~~ low~st tr~e pric~ .Y ~~ w_lll oblige me
- b:>-",S~~~~ ~Pli;81'?1tY;g~r vanoua st~les, with the pnces marked,
- ~t,11lf.ay be able.f4 o,r~~r unders~dingly. ·
- .,. .
,.., '"
'~ '< ~ ~ .:t~ · · [_ ,>,fr'· t,.,1::t.i,., .-- ·.. v_ery respectfully yours,

t2s·oo
SeDd per American Express, directed

S.

S,

·

~

'":_ ~

i:::·- ...,_

:;._~; _{-

-'!

· . ~:

·.

I,.

-

.... ~;.._ ••

/ l ,..~

•

-

!

...

,,~» ;)~.J~~. l~~t~f~~i.O:

·

·cu.As.

PIQUETTE. ··

replta __di~er~~t 'fo~in. of ad~~s

.::~~·~nirloy~~
,fro,~;;t,~-~ . ?t?,e~. :;-¥<?,~t: !J~1~~ pers~.~s
~t thIS -day ·have .. theJ.r. names, and frequently .t~~J.r
r:

0

~-6Kias/ p'ri'nte-Ci ;c>~:-tli~'-'.~ n'Y~~op~~l ~-h:i~lf ·~ ~~~-e~ t~ e p~~ .

cedirig'form of addfeSg !uD:neceS8ary. _. · Jt ·~ is -therefqre
. ,b~~t
. o~ly when ~he en,velop~s . ar~ plain,-ari4
~he parties have no other
of recogn~g the 17.t. ter ·at sight.-.
.
., ;:.

to ,use)t

- : - ~ ·•• -- •-.J
_... "': .... y.

•

f.,;. ~- . . . ·"' · ... ~- ~~ Your favor of 25th inst., relative to
-:: mak,ing an arral?gemen~ f9,~ the~~ of my pens in your city,~ at hand.
I ab.all be ·glad to furnish you with any quantity you may desire,
at most fa.rnrabl e rates upon short notice. I r eg-ret my i~:\bi 1 i ty to
send you samples imme<ljately, ha ving just filled s ere~ al brge or<lcrsi
but will fonvard theih· ~- requested by the middle of next week.
J .
.
. ..
j',. t~ .
.. .
yours respectfu1ly,

means

.

. :;.;.:

_ _

'

.J'-

- -

-

-

_ _ _, .

---

.---

~

: ~ ·. ·: : (Account Sales.)

IL-hvo1CES AND AceoUNTS SALF.S.

Where me:iJ'chandise is sent to .:im :~ent or ~om­
:mi$on mterchmnt to be sold, on account ·of yolirself or
others, the articles sent at any one time form a coneigrP.ment. A llist or specification of the articles sent i_s
called an invok,e, and should either accompany
pre.
nd
· '" f h r> c·iu--n~i(o't'l
t)' ('n
o il.l....:.l.
·- il fL •
e
'"'

1o,.,

...

......

-

·

or

_.._"',\"1,_

<;: f r1 fc mr•.u.
f' t· :r,f f 1;o <•rn
f-•J.1 T~'tu
""-"'~-'

,,..; ... ~.•

i.,.

........__

i.,.

........

.,....__._

............

so1Jl an<l pr1cesrecei\·ed up to any gi~·cn time: is c~llecl
an. aocoiud .sa.f-t-8. Iin•oices and accounts sa1es usua}ly
eit-li:eT ac.eompany, or are contained in, 1ette:r8 of the
forms follo wing:
(Inv~)
BUFFALO,

N. Y.,

Oct. 5, 1862. ·

No. 9 W ate? Street0 New York .
GENTLEYEN:

We have shipped you this day, per
N. Y. Central R. R., 7 5 Firkins of Butter,
follows :

as

25. (0. Temple dai.ry) marked W. & D., N. Y.
10 (V. Bawheller dairy) "
"
"
"
"
35 (G. Goldsmith dairy) "
5 (L. Keith dairy)
"
"
"
· This lot is in prime condition, and of better quality than -~nr last
shipment. From your 1prices current, received t-0-day, we learn ~that
the demand for the best_grades is in advance of the snpply. We a~e
therefore induced to hope that thi;s lot may meet with ready sale at
good prices. We may se1:1d yon another lot of prime~estem butter
soon if the market will warrant it. · Awaiting further advices fro~
·you, we remain, ·
' .--;.-... ·· ,., .
. . Very respectfully yours, ·.
. _,.

. -. .

~

DoWiE -&. EWWo~ ·.
.,

•

· ' ·.

•. -'..__

I •'

-I

,

~-

-'

.f• .

, ·
••

.

-, .

-,.

1- .

, ( .·

. ~ ~· a C~gn_ment, .m~i is an I~voic~, ·A.~-:Ad;~;;;t-lal~ I Wb;tdo
~ ln~es an~ aceounta wes' aoeompany t .~ write' the form of .. letter coniainlrig
<an IDTolce or merchandise. . write the form or a letter .aecomiia;nffug. an -&cco~t
.:-

..

• _ .

,

~}

•

0

,- _

--~

__

7__&..~-W~~ 'ST., NEw You, N011. ·1, 1862.

-~: . ·~ -· '-

GENTLEMEN:

· - · ·:~~~~~' :i~¥~i~;~~~.~f;~j~J:~~~~1~~l~1~~£~~4~~~Sk~~~-k;~~~01;\~;~=~'; ..

,>

We ?Jiclose an account sales of 60
~~_of,.t~(3 _!?,_ut~r ,:shtpped ~ , the s5th ult., which we trust will
-!Jatisfactorjr. . At the time of its arrival the market bad de.di1)ed. s.1 much that we w .-,rn cvmpdlcd to dispcse cf i~ in small l·-'~9
to rct<lilcr::s, in order to obt.J: i~ anythi ng l ik e the prlc~·:s yon no doubt
~~t~. to re.aliz~.-~ _!.'he remainder ¥iiil be closeJ cut as bOOll as
- ~~ssibfa in tbe aame ininn~cr, unie;>,s foere is a. prospoc~ Of an ad.Yance.
You m::.7 draw on us at the customary date for the amount due :you,
Hoping to receive· fu~her consignments, .we remarn,
: .~ ~-;With great_respect, yours truly,
, "'-- ~- -...~ _, _.
. .
W!!..TTE & DoDOLAS,
... '·-. .
pe-r 0.
,:! ::,

,

•. , .. .

_prove

•

- ..

.. , ..,

..

•

• ... to:"

.~....,?';

~

WHITE & DouGLA..S,

.!•.

• •

·, :-:= DoWIE & _Eu.awoRTH,
---: : - ·-; . :Buffalo, ·N. Y.

'7?.;-

.

•

~

In the preceding f_31'm, the word ult., for ultimo,
meaning the l.a.st mo11rtli, occurs. Pruximo, or 21rox., i:i,
likewise, frequen~employed to denot e the next or
succeedi11g 'month, while in.st., for inBtant, refers to
any day of the present month, whether forward or
backward. _ _
Where a clerk_~s ,aut):iorized 0 sign the name of a
.firm, his mitiab;; preceded by tpe word per, meaning
by, should be placed underneath, as in the foregoing
example.
· III. AccoUNTS CURRENT.
Twice yearly,: it is customary among busine~ houses \ .

to send a statement .of account to all who are mdebted .
'
_~ . ~~e~ u~ii their books. The customary form of .,.
.

:~

~~~ ---~~t .d~~: .Ji.'~ ~ean?~ Pro;_: ~proritnof . j~ i, How may 11 clerk

;~gn ~ -~e ofb~ ,employers? _ How often is it customary to tend acc-0unts

t}ie letter inclosing such a statemen;
is as follows:
·

with

the \reply,
.
.
.

141 WILLIAll ST., NEW You, Jan. 1, 1863.

R. G. vAN PELT, Esq.,
New Brunswick, N. J.

.

.

Sm: ·

-

Yonr attenti<.'n is :respectfnlly called to
the inclosed statement of account, showing .a bab.:nce in onr favor of
one hlllldred a.nd fifty-three dollars and seveniy-five cents (8158 75).
By the terms of sale, this account is now past'diua It will, we trust,
Meeiv-e early at tention.
·
"'_ :'
·
.. ~
Respectfully 'Y~
.
.. ..

A._B. 8,A..'1'1>8 k Co.,
. -~ ·· _,. pt:r 0. L. G.

{REPLY.)
· NEW BRUNSWICK,

N. J., Jan. 5, 1863.

A. :B. Sill"DS k Co.,
·141 William St., New York.

for:it is- quite : enough to c~mmand your _frien~'s time
without taxing his ¥>cket. In a large city, like New
York for. iQ8tance~ it iB very easy for one unacquainted
With its .size, .to send a friend_ the .whole len~h or
breadth of the city, a distanc~ of ~ve or: te~ miles, on
some triiljng· errand, :to his senous mconyeruence.

.;·,:Tr;<· -.'. .· . .

JillESTOwN, N. Y:, Oct. 8, 1863.
.•~--:: ::FmIDn>·Wmson::·~ -::f · · ·
·· ·

,:·:-::."':.'

· : ,' ·. • May lp~ume so mnch npon yonr friendship, as to

~k y~u to. favor. ll}e.:oy::fuakuig a few ~nrchase~, not ~the line of
· ··· 1 'timate bUsine s81J'· I annex a list of articles which I greatly ·

o· hi h ill I thin,,.
0 ,w c w ,
"?'
be ·suffi.Cient ~to · pay al.I-expenses. .I need hardly assure ~on that 1t
will ~fford ~e pleasure:to~reciproc&te ·the fa~or at the earliest opportnnity: , ·wi~U' Jili.ld~t)~gards to yo!ll' family, I am,
- .
· . :_ · ·
As ever,
Your friend,

,. your . egi

,~

·
' __ .• .,....·
.n~~d, :ru.icf Cab~o~
€roc~~~ere. -_I inclose "5
ci

EDWARD--Cool!.E•B.----==--;:;;;:q

GENTLEMEN:

Your favor of 1st inst., covering statement of ac.connt, is at hand. On examination, I find it correct, and
ba.ve the pleasure to inclose my check for the amount fol' which
'
;pieai;e send- a r c-ce:i1.l, an u ohi igc,
Yours tru1y,
P... G. v A.'i P ELT.

IV.

·., · We · annex th ollowing form, sincerely hoping
that the reader y never have occasion to. make ~se
of it ; and that, if he should, he will receive a kin~
ancl favorable reply, and finally repay promptly, atHL
with :fitti11g t~nks 1 the sum borrowed.
SYRACUSE,

REQUESTING FAVORS.

. ;en the prosecution of business, it sometimes becomes

necessary to ask a favor of some friend who may_ha~.
pen to be, at the time, more advantageoiisly" sit uated
~an ourselves ; such, for instance, as making ·small
1_mrchases for us, or loaning money to meet an emer-·
gency. · In such cases, be careful that you do not
incommode, or subject him to"exi}en8e on your account-;
current? Write the. form of the letter inclosing such
~ ~r-~ ~Pl!·. · .
·.-

&

at&"t~~ent. Write the

··

Jan. 25, 1863.

FmEm> ATWATEi i'.
.
.
'.
I hav~ the misfortune, at this time, to be m_great

n~ of a small amount of money, which I find it difficult

to raise, ';·
and have, with great reluctance, concluded to ask of you the loan of , '.;_
fifty dollars for_one ~~nth, if you ca~ conveniently spare iliate:::t. ', "
Do not incommode yourself to oblige me, as I fear your g .
liy r;;,.
' · · ~ .h t
y be the result of this app - ,.,.
may prompt yon to~<?, 1or.w a e~e~ ma
.
-far as is \·2·
cation, ·1 shall not douj t yotll' ~n~ess to fa~or me as
: ':'. .
bo·nsistent with other duties and obligations.
_,
.
_.
.. - Be kind enough to let nie hear from yon soon, a~d believe me, .·: .
__: . _ · _ ... ..
' Very truly yours, -_ .,
:' ..: .:-. .
E. E. -EDMUND&

. '

201

200

v. .lN'rnODUC'l'ION

.

..

·

AND

REOO~ATION~

1 \ \ .

,. __

,

Letters of introduction and recommendation a-re
nsm&lly written to a second party in fa.v or of a third.
·.
~~· ~~¥.Pil.Rers of. ey~_ry large cit~·" and especially.
:Before writing such letters .you should be thoroughly
·~e~ York;_ W?~Y ~<?ntam a loi;ig list of advertise:. · ··
s
.
satisfied with regard to two thmgs:
. .m~P:!-8 . for_.,pers<:>~~: to · fill ·situations of every kind.
1. Whether you have any claims·upon the person
:~Th:ese ·prese.~t _irr_e§.~tible ' attractions to.the thousands
yom propose . to address, whether of fii;endship or for
. :~f'y8~g~~'pe~d~~who · are out 'of einpfoyment and ·
... ~f:.. !· .
>#-7~ ~?· , , ~ - ~·.;:'.('"·,.
•
,
· civilities. ren.dered, and.whether it will he for his inte~­
~.~~ 1f-~~c%~~~~!1Y .opportnmty for obtaining a liveest_to become acqnaint.ed with,the ~n y~n pro~e
. ,lih~~· . I~1 • ~ l!-~£Jl~ess to state, except for the benefit .
to mtroduce•
.· .
, ~.0· · ·
··
·.•. . ~
. . "St~ ~J?t;~~~~e~,~~e~.e ~~~~~? that~.a. ~arge _majority of these
. : 2. Whether the person intrOdnced;. is one ·~h~~
aj}Y~.~~~-~~!11i8 !~~~~ere delusions, mserted by designf'Omare . willing to claim 8S a frieiid ·snd for '~:h~e
:.i:ng.,.pe~<Ws)<;> ~H:t,!ap the· unwary into ari acquaintance
good conduct yon arewilling to be h:ld· res~nsible: ,
,·wt1i ,Sc?t*-i~~p~?,~~!lble .and ruinous scheme ; and that
Such I_etters sh~uld not be sealed, :.wh~n given· to
~--"'·,:they'feq~itiw~~:scrn~iri.ized. with the utmost caution
·before ·veiituRng ~&~re .. ·· · _.:._.-----------o'=-"--~
tlie . pe~on whom I~ concerns-. - The following brief- forms will suffice to illustrate this class :
··
.
· - -- .._ ,.
NEW YoRK, Nov. 1, 1863.

0

...·-

•

NEW Y~RK, March 4, 1863.

HON. VICTOR

M. RICE,
Albany, N. Y.
!fr DEAR Sm:

A1low me to introduce my youna
He visits your city upo~ business, which
h.~ will ~lf explain~ Anything you inay lo to advance his
Uhes will personally oblige,
Yours, very truly,

frien~ Mr: ~· P. Perrin.

. J. F.

STODD.ilID. . :

1>EAB Sm:.

.
BROOKLYN, Feb. 8, 1863• .
Permit me to recommend ·to your favorable notice·the
'beater, :Mr. W. H. Clark.
He has se.rved in~ as clerk and corr~ndent for three years, ~nd
has be
proved
m all respects' worthy· of the pos1
. •t·ion. ·shonld
• himsel~
eed
.you
mn
of a clerk, I am sure you will not reawiy find one
·more competent and faithful.
·
· ·
.-.
.
With sincere .esteem'
Your friend,
(O
}{y

J.
To PETER COOPER, ESQ., New York.

w.

BULKLEY.

~-

'<

~· ~- - . . • -

4' •

"H. w : E.". Boz 1352 Post Office, New Yoik.
Sm: ·
I opserve ID: this !llorning's Times that you advertise for a
der'k, and. desiring a Eiitu"t~on in th at car acity, take the liberty to
rcp1y.
I have been en~ in business in this city for several years,
and trust I posseB;S the experience, and other qualifications you desire. ·
For information respecting my character and ability, I would re- .·
fer you to ¥es8rs. Claflin, Mellen & Co., who can speak from a long .; ·
and intimate personal acquaintance.
; ·::
Should you deme an interview, a note addressed to "W. W. OI- , ..
eott, 131 Irving Pl~," will receive prompt attention.
i;:'. .

___

__::...,_

______________:....---~

~ ·

\ ·' ·
· •'

. Of what do the daily papers usually contain a long list? To whom do these p~ '.' .
11ent irresistible attractions?. Are they always what they appear? Should they ·

he answered without caution?

- - ·- - __,.,,,...
.PUNcmtr.A.Tll>N' AND

_LET!'EB ·"WBITING.-

.

1. 'Thie correspondence of fri~ndship is the great con·
iiclential publishing house o~ the human heart and brain
whose cir.eulating pages oontain the greater part of th~
originality of the people,-of their real -thoughf..'3 arid
feelings. The most remote and solitary:home has. had
at least the ad.vent of such a letter, and ·has sent away
a silent message sheet to the loved, wh~ are afar.
How important, then, that the '_ medium of such
cherished communion should be pure find attractive -_· that_no ment~ defo~mities be ezj>osed~to th~ gaze,of
those whose fnendship and esteem we desire to retfiln.
2. It is of the greatest importance in such letter8
\..__ we s.>tten d to those apparent trifles·
' in- the · obseI'V-' ·
tws:.~
anc:e. of which, consis~ th_e true art-of 'friendship~ ·
;wnting ~ absent friends, we should bear in mind
tba.t to them, nothing whick relates to hoine . scene~
and friends is trivial or uninteresting, and that the fart~:!" we :ar~ re:iioved from them the higher the~e little
tfil.ng3 n se ill rn1port
ance. Therefor-e
t roll
--, -,,11 · t /'\ , .., ,
.
- '
~-- J ~ ~1 5 ~~- J
~ freely ~.though your correspondent ·were by -your
s1?e--:-onnttmg not 'the boyish feats of Charley, the
wmnmg ways and wonderful performaiices ·of baby
May, .an~ ~ven the tricks of the dog Carlo, as well as
the discussion of matters of graver import.
3. Letters of friendship include the correspondence

~

-" ··~·4-.S

- . ' _,-,_

.~:i

--

-: i;;\_ -~~jghn ·R~rlljdo~h, 'of Roarwlce, to hw Nephew.
0

-.:,~.-;
'-·-

~-,•
• ·' : :~i. -,:J•":
"tl1
_, __ •

:

•

-

•.

';;.::.&'::i::-·

:MY DEAR .~2~¥

- , _

BIZARRE,
- . S ept. 11 , 1 806 .

·

:

~f ~,, • ~ - :~ -. ~- ··.. : i~l l thank you for your letter, which I received

.-'.~(~~~1 ~t:J ~~~~t ,my respects ~o Dr.

Haller,

a~d tell him I

- -will be obliged to h"!Dl' t0~ pf?Cure you shirts, handkerchiefs, and such
~:;:,

~

~

·d·.

..,,J.......

~

A>tl!edhin~· as ·you;may~stand in need of.
--' -~-We do not ~say,-- '~j..._8carcely nothing," but anything. Give my
Jove to "- Buona, an~ · ~\f him _that I shall forward bis letter to his
:bro~e_r J1'?_~e,ea~ly Lout tell him also, that a " tolerable long let_ter" is intolerable Englis . e should have used the adverb (tol- --..,.t
-~~~iyf fu~t~(j;fth'6 - jectiv~. I wish that, instead of a fictitious
.(
:co'rrespondent, y~u _ ould_. ad?-ress . your lett,e rs--I mean those
,.w_ lii~li Tu~ H~lier' r~uir~s' y~u to write weekly-:-to some one of your
·friends -or aci}wilii~nce;-_' It would take off from them the air of stiff·
ness-which ·now characterizes .them. If Buona had been describing

In

Wh

.

~f- relatives .arid fnenqs of every degree of intimacy.
The language -of friendship, though not usually so brief
_as tliat .o f business, should be not less clear and unmis-~ble::· :-·The ~rrangement of such letters is much less .
!~ii;t~?-n )ette~- of b:nsiness, anc;l is sufficiently illus-trate<l in the subjoined letter from

l i I

- _ (1.) Wb&t is said of the correspondence of friendship?
therefore?
.

.

"' ~"' \ .... ~ ..:. . . ;""~~;:"'="4.-:· ... ~ ~~. ~~~~·
- PUN<iruATION .ANp ·-LE'lTER -WRITING•

(._<;.-'!;

....... ,

'.""",'.-.

· motner
'
''
R 'ichmon d t o }ns
OT m y sctl,

1 . -- - 1 1 - . .. ~ l - ~, :,., •-Ai1nr<>r1
De
H ·~ ·- , _, ~--'" '- 1-- · ' ·-· -·" • -

'" "Lu

·

it with "I beu leave to wait upon you;" au a.wkw :i.:Ll. L:_:.:u d i um wi1 i,:h
'
0 '
even Mr. Expectation, of Norfolk, would not approve.
·
. Yon see, my sODS, that I make very-free with your performances;
out do not let this discourage•you. Write your letters just ns you ·
think them, and th~y will be easy, and any inaccuracy which creeps }:
in may be afterward corrected.
,
'. '.
'. · The partridges are so forward that we have begun to shoot ~~rly ~:'.
a month earlier than -D..sual. Carlo is an excellent dog for brmging >l
ill birCls, affur-· they are . shot, but . not so good fo~ fi.ndinl game. ri-:
Wish yon were 'With· m~ my-s0ns~ to enjoy the sport. ·Your skill, my'.·.
dear Theodore, would make amends for ~y clun:isines8, and ·dear
;B~~ria .would hold Miniken, :who D.OW runs away from uncle when• .

at is important,

. •~!.} - To_ what is. it or the greatest importance th&t we should attend p In
ld tell JOur story?
-.
1
1 B OU
JOU.
wnting to •*nt friends, what should.we bear in D:iind , . How then· -h

-tiieJ1dsllip p - The

-, _(3.) What do letters of friendship include? What is said of the language of
i)

..J

~.

;

arrangeme-~t of such letters? - Reti.d aloud the subjoined letter.

. . . ·.

·'

205

- 204

~e

jcitt

lia& an _opportunity: But, 'thank' God, .my childreD,1
are mon profitably engaged. This alone reconciles me to the fosa o_!
19mr society. I hope to see you both by the last of ~ lll01lt~

enr

I-0ther :bill had an ague, and Sally ve.ry sore fingers.
Your friend and kinsman,
.

·

JOHN ltumoLPH.

p~ s. Do not make a flourish under my name in the SDperseription. o.f :J'oor Iretteis. It is not customary to do so; .:,«
.:-!·!"'.·

... ;
~ r.~

.

-

:-. ·,

. ;..;;~
'~~-

NOTES.

Nons, in genera}, are brief letters intended to be
sent but a short distance. Official comill:nnicatfons are
gometimes: called notes.
,, i
•
1d h... e n- lE
. 't.en upon s:ma....1-512-:::d
j• •
•
'
.tiv~ ffiOJll
ell:::er.=,
adapt ed io the purpose, called note paper. Notes of
a lm.sin.ess· character have the same arrangement as
letier:s.. Notes of Invitation or Ceremony should be
written ID: the third person o~ly, as .Mr. &itlt present.!J
hi.a 'l'e.!ip-tct-!J to 1'Iiss Jcmes, &c. The- date and address
folloi7 the body of the note, ancl should be phce<l at
the left Fide of the shi :(:t.
It ~ 3 r'11e in epilito1a.r)~ .correspondence, t hat the
name of the writer should always be sub.scribed to the
letter or· note when it is written in the for8t person;
but never when written in the third. The date should
be "?itum at .the beginning, when the letter is ~tten
in tlie first person, and at the enil when it is Written in (-'
the thiid.
.
-. ~

· : ~ ~ahre 11~11, in general? WhAt are 8onietimes styled notea? Upon what
aboald
be -written? What forms have notes of a business nature' In
w~ Pezscjn-~ n~ or IllVitAUon or· Ceremony be written? : Give an ~um-.
-.,
._,

· "="-~ Letters of introduction should contain, in the same
place~ llistead .o f ihk .above, the name of the person
.· intrpducec( as, ~'lefProducing Mr. - ·," or simply
'If.

- - .

..J.H'r. -

- "

•

-

•• ; . '.,

·1? .

~~"'::_· ·~--'.:7~·-

.

.

.

-~~WJien '""$!'...,
·_the~·r~$i4~nce
of the person for whom the
.•.
•__ .....
letter or~ note ·is\"iritebded is in · the same town or city
in; wbi;h
~~:D~~it~~Y.~~ci
.
.
' - . . is w·e n known to the · bearer,
wora~~ ''Pres~r~' ;iS_ fre;qn~ntly written in place of
th? resideP.:ce,-~_n~p~~~. s~~~cri~tion.
...._....

-.... ,;._;

.aces

at the lower .corner on th.e left, included in some such .
· _-_. ," "Oourte8y of ·
.phrase ·a8·: -'~f'oliiene8s of Mr.:Mr;,_8. · ~~- _~ ,"_~r -_,\Fa~~eil by_Mis~ -.- ."

"

LB5soN IV.-·Note& and Oaitlk.
I.

- .. When a.le~r or·· no~ iS _to be delivered by a friend
~r·:·a.<:qtiam~ce, it jS. customary.to acknowledge the
favor by plOOing the name of the bear~r on the outside,

~·

,,. __•..;

)i?'~...,.~~ ...

.l<-.

tne

.

·'

"' '"

"

• •

-

•

•

.

.

.xE>~ORY .NOT_~ :

.

.. Und~r this.* c£ ' is.- inc1~ded all promises. t-0 pay
value ..recei~ea: .A.cctiracy of language is of the utmost
importance in wntrng _proIDlSSory notes, i!E . werr Y~1ic1ity often depen ds entirely upon the words employ ed ,
The customary fo rms arc as follows:
• ,.

-

-

--

~ • •

•

~

A

•

.

•

•

•

. •

•

.

; .1. l._

•

- $500
l~E\Y YoRK, Oct. 3, lSG 3.
For value r~ceivecl, I promise to pa)' Thomas Hunter, or order,
Five Hundred Dollars on demand. .
HENRY KIDDLE.

This note is due whenever payment is dem,,anded,
pie. Where ·should the date~and address be placed f What is a ?ule in ·episto- ,.
lary correspondence? · How is it customary to acknowledge «the favor when a
note _is delivered by ·a friend f What should letters of introduction contain in
th~ iiame place? When is the word Preaenl to be used? What is incl~d_ed .
~oder the bead of Pro.ryNotes? ...What is said of the ~portance or~u::. i
. rate language in . wrlti~g .them f . Write
·example of a Negotiabl4 Not4. NOft"

an

· ~ ";I., t•
-

_;..

~ _}_§f:.,~·-;:, ~

.

-..

but ·l'equires Thomas Hunter's name across the back
of it upom the receipt of the money, or upon disposing
of it fo. amother party.
·
Non-Negotiahle Note.
$750
.
NEW YoRK, Jan. I, 1863.
Sixty dayB after date~ for value received, I promise to pay
AloDZ<> Elop_per, Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars, with interest.
MYRON FINCH.

The above note can be paid, at the expiration of
eixty day~, only to Mr. Hopper.
·
NOTES OF

.......-

Th-vITATION'~

-.:./

MIES H.AWLEY presents her compliments to Mifis Will~d, and
solicits the favor of her company to dinner on Tuesqay next, at four
o'clock.
123 W. 16th St., Monday.
REPLY,-Regretting.

Miss Wn.LARD regrets that a previous engagement will deprive
her of the pleasure of accepting Miss Hawley's kind invitation for
this evening.
GRill:ERCY

·

PARK, Tu.esday .Morning.

:Mn. FlsnER presents his respects to Miss Sparling, and begs that
he may be allowed to wait on her this evening to the Italian Opera,
at the Academy of Music.
14th St_., September 30.
REPLY,-.Accepting.
MlBS SPARLING presents her. compliments to Mr. Fisher, accepting ·
his polite invitation for this evening.
LoNDON TERRACE, Sept. 30.

.·- Mrs. ' Halsey may invite he~ intimate friend Miss

Lozierfl~ an evening party, very appropriately, 'thus:
My DEAR CABRIE :

We are to have a little social party on Thnrsday
evening nex~ which will be ~ery incomplete without yon. Pray
co_me, and bnng your brother with yo.u. He will not, I trust, require
a more formal invitation, &!J he knows he is always welco~e.
· · · Your true friend,
- . Wednesday morning. .
Lizzm DEANE HAU!EY

~

"\ - '--_{°'?~-

Ma. McNARY regr~~:1ihat he was absent when Mr. Wandell
call_ed, ~d _hopes ..that . M,r. Wandell will name some time when it
will be oonvenient to recei; e a call from him in return.
•

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· •

•

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~ A'-~~~

II.

CARDS,

Cards are small .pieces of pasteboar~ upon which
is written or prl_nted some~brief announcement. There
are folir kinds in:Fmmon use, viz: 1. Autograph
Cards. 2. Addre.-cards. 3. Business, Cards, and 4.
Wedding CardS. . , .
1. Autograph cards, as their title imp1ies, contain
merely the autograph or signature of the person.
Upon such cards, it is inappropriate to use any title
except when necess,a.ry to distinguish the wife or the
eldest daughter of aJamily. The following forms will
serve to render clear the autograph card appropriate
for any member of a family; If the gentleman's name
be Gray, his card will be,
\ -•

'

Negot~e. •When. ~ note contains the words "or order," what is necessary
upon ~g oC it? Where these words are not included what ls the case?
"\V~te a Note oC Invitation.. Reply, regretting. .!cceptin~. .· Write a Corm
which may _be uaed &mong intimate friends. Acknowledgment of ·a call.
.·

II. What are cards? How many kinds of cards are in co=on use? Name
them. . What are. .Autograph ~ards? · What ia' inappropriate upon such cards?
Write the proper form for your autograph card. Write one for Mr. Corydon
L. Gi-ay. Bia Wife. . ~dest daughter. Next. · Next. .

- --

-- -

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... - 4

~

-

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·_J

·.• •

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~

•

...;...,

-_

•

:

-

2; The ~~~ Cards ~f the saitie parties:will not

·

differ from the Autograph Cards, except that the re8i. ~ence will be· added, as in the following arrangement :
~OlrUm 2. ~·
· - ·aa Kadfson_SQ.U&re.

That of his wife should be:
.·,.,...~

~-

;:

· ~-· · ·Autograph Cards.· should b~ used only among those
. ~q~afutances ~- wh,~m your residence is well known.
,. · __ 3 . .'Busi.Iless,~:"C.a~~s usually contain the business
address of tlie-iridiVidual, or the firm with which he is
_cO~?J?t~~' tog?t~~fa~ith the title of the profession or
character of . his ibD:S.~ness. Frequently the names of
··--·-· w TI .:.known· i.Ilai~dftals are also added, by permission,
as _refe~en.ces, when) he person · or firm is not widely
-·;«:·~~--

His eldest daughter's should be:

knoWn: · ~
..

-:· -

""'1i--

'· -

·-z-.:r.- ~

~= - < - •· - ·, -_
· · .
. _,_FORM ~FESSIONAL ~ARD.

'---hi
. -~~:
Wm. N. BLAKELEY,
His second daughter's IDight be:
[

.

.

Reference.
DL V 4LDTn<J: Xon.

13

·

M.D., ·

w; TENTH ·sT.

FORM FOR BUSINESS CARD •

. 1( ' APPLETON &
Pv.bllshe_~

co.,

Importers, and Boowllen,

4:43 & 446 BROADWA.Y,

His third daughter's might be:

' . N:EW

YOR~.

(2.) How will the address cards of the same parties be written or printed?
Where, only, should autograph cards be 1,1Sed?
·
(3.) What do Business Cards usually contain P What is frequently added?
Write a forn:i for a Professional Card. Busines8 Card. What should Business
Carda always contain? ·

~···{.

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·· · ~·· ~-··· -

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..PUNCTUATION .AND

LmTEB

w:RITING.

Business Cards should always contain ·the·naniel of
the place of business and State ; while it is not ne~
sary upon address cards, except-when travelling.
' ·-\ .
4. Wedding Cards .~nsist of the single cards of
the intended bridegroom and bride, fastened .with
ribbon.
These are usually accompanied by another announc~
ing the place where the ceremony is to be performed.
If it take place at the home of the brid?, this card will
co!i.ta1n the names of the brid-e's parents: and date of
the ceremony.
Thus, if Mr. Edward Dumont , and Miss Emma
Demarest are to be married at home, the cards may .
be as follows :
0

g\.f

o/f-"ulnuda;;

;!!nll'.!

@",,~. if.-'. .flf,

·211

I

- ...

at J' o·~d.

(4.) Of what do Wedding Cards consist? How are they fastened? What
are these cards nsually accompanied by 1' . If the ceremony take _place at the .
h.ome of the b".de, what will this card contain? How will it be if the ceremony
take place at_church? In such a case, what will the "At. Home,; card contain? .
What is sometime11 retained and sometimes omitted in addre8aing ·married ladle~? '
With whom does its retention find favor 1' What title should be uaed in ad·
dressing two or more un:inarrled ladies of the 8ame name ?

·: . l.ff,the ~ereinony is to take place at church, an adclJ~i<?I).al card ~nnouncing the fact may be arranged
thus: .
·- _,

.~-,,

-

-

,
-;:;; ,,.·

'':-:

~

:;:-

-: -~_ in- ·such

":'"

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:;~~:,;-.-_::.-

-a ·ca.se,'!t]ic n .i\.t Homo'' card will contain
... .- . .
.
·
:. the ·names pf the 'rii}wly married parties, and announce
.:. the -·nlace ~and- time'Jor receiving calls after the marnage. · -·· -··
: In addressing -niarrieQ.__ladies, the title of the hnsh.md is -son1etfrnes . retained and sometimes omitte d.
Its retention finds favor ·with many ambitious l adi es,
who thus endeav,io sanction its use. For instance,
the wife of Dr. John Smith is freqm:ntly addresser} as
l\Irs. Dr. J ohn Smith; bnt Mrs. John Smith, Esq., or
lt.ll'S. 1Ir. John _~piith, is ridiculous.
In addressing two or more unmarried ladies of the
same name, the title lili..c;,ses should be used ; n.s "The
l\fisses Chcgravc,"
"Misses Anna and :Mary ~nite,"
if we wish~ particulari.zc. The eldest daughter will
be addressed as Mi_~ White, the second as ~fi..<;g Mary
· "\Vhite, the third asJ·fiss Celestia White, &c. On the
marriage or death of the eldest daughter, the second
'•

.... A

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oi

"}):ecomes Miss White, &c.
:._ How is the eidest daughter addressed? The next? Next!
.
second become Miu I

'.

When does the

.\ ·

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i·~~-'!~· ~ ·~-;;~ >_:--'·-'
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--~~~FOR~;WR:rrhf<};•'t'.c:":"f . ~ c'.t>, • ~<, ., ,(..;;>

with a separate sheet to be used as trial paper for the
pen, copy, or such exercise ~. ma!. be given J:>Y the
teacher. Letter paper, large size, IS best for this purp<>S;lotting paper is an essential material, and should
always be supplied to every p upil.. The co.mmon red
paper sbcJnld be procured) cut wto_p~1e~s ~ ~ttle ~arg~r
than the band, and distributed 1v1th the lllJUHct10n to
never touch it ·with a pen.
J-Irwina t hus spoken of the various requisites of
writ irF" ;aterials, we wi1l again mention the articles
witb ~hich every pupil should be supplied b efore
0

.
t
attempting
to wn' t .e :
- 1. ~ Pen, Holder, and Pen \Viper.
2. Ink.
3. Writing, Blotting, and Trial Papers.
BLOTI'ING.

H()1,{) to Prevent Bw~, and How to Era.se them.Blom are nearly always the result of careless handling
of the pen, filled with ink, and are universally con.-_• sidered the indication of carelessneS& or slovenly habits.
Indeed, the first in~ications of advancement in the .art
of miting among beginners, is the absence of these
unsightly stains, together with a general appearance
of neatness and order in their work · To prevent blots,
do -n~t take too much ink upon the pen at ·once, and
ne;er· allow yourself to hold the pen in your mouth,
or carelessly by the end of the holder.
.
.·
..
. .But as blots will sometimes occur, even :with . the
, ; ~~;, _ ~ utmost care, it is important know h()w. to erase them
in the. best manner~
·
~!'

to

ES. -, :-2

': · · FmsT.-Take your blotting paper and lay it lightly
upon .the ·blot. Do not press upon it or lift it until
the ink is all absorbed.
·
'
_ SECOND.- Then change the paper to a new place
a~d ·rub it over the blot. Leave the spot until th~
_ink is dry.
· - '. TmRD.-When
thorou~hlvdrv.
.
........
....
"' take a knifP.............. inl.....
'""C,..
n
'
rl
"'
~
t'
;
7
;/
.
t
"1
er <>o , , .. r,u SC1a11e lv Mjtu '!t Ull t a. Jj co1or 1'i rcmo1·ec!
after which ·1:uo the spot v;ith the handle of tl1e knife:
or eraser, until smooth anu hard. You can theu write
over it if necessary.
Ne;er pu~ blotting paper upon your writing if yon
can wait for it to dry, as the color is much better if
all the ink is left in the marks.
()r-

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.,

III.-HINTS AND D~~CTI.ONS FOR CONDUOTrnG
.
WRI'-fNG CLASSES.

-1. The plan here presented for conducting classes,
renders writing an eminently concert exercise. Such
. a plan, strictly carried' out, must prove beneficial to
the pupils as a discipline, and will commend itself to
every teacher who desires complete system and order
in each exercise of the school room.
This .plan is, adopted by the author in his own
teaching, and has given the utmost satisfaction to every
oil~ who ha.s witp_essed its workings. This, or a similar plan, adapted to the circumstances, cannot be too '\'
str_ongly recommended_ for adoption in every school in ·
which writing is taught..
2. Each pupil should be fun.iished with the requisite materials, after which the f()llowiI?g directions
1

4!

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I;
1,;.

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should be gi~en by the teacher~ and practised by the
class until every pupil understands exactly the position
to · t~ke, though the number of the direction only is
spoken, or indicated by a stroke of the bell.
. ~ · Thrf- least violation should be noticed and reproved,
and the whole gone over and over again, until it i9
performed with military precis~on . .· .~t the teacher's
mott<> be, "Begin to write . arig71:t-; " ' and, as gooa
\Yriting it~elf lS made nr of the observance of apparently trifling things, let not .strict on~~r and discipline
be laid aside for a single moment, if he~ would succeed.
Diffieulties and obstades will doubtless·be encountered,
and the advantages of this over the .~5?mmon method
may not at first be apparent; but 'all_. difficulties a?d
obstacles will disappear, and the gooq results will be
rendered certain ~1ucl satisfact<:n·y, if the-work be undertaken with determination.
3. Before commencing, each pupil should lay the
ren -upon the front of the desk, and plac~ the book in
the mic1c1lc of the (lc~k, p::mi.11e1 wit11 the front cage.
Then sit erect, and fo1d the hands ready to olJey.
Sw-:\AL 1.-Sit cl1rect1y forward until the body
touches the edge pf the de.:ok, keeping it ,s/i'ai~;lit anc1
·erect. At the same time, place the .left hand upon the
desk, in such a w·ay that the· fore0;rrn is parallel with
· its edges, and the fingers touch the book ; then drop
·the right arm by the. side. · · . ·
··
SIGNAL 2.-Place ·the right hand upon the ink~
stand.
·
·
· ··
SrnNAL 3.-0pen inkstan·as.·.
SIGNAL 4.-Touch books.
SIGNAL 5.-.Ope~ books:
SIGNAL •6.-T_~uch ·pens.
'._"{_,.'

.... .

~

. .. At . closing, the followi~g directions
b b
· .
may e o · .

~erved:
(1°'

·-

~··'

· . ~ ., SIGNAL 1.. Wipe pens.
..c- : ~·~'.· S~~~A~ 2.· ~t~up p·ens.
..... - SmNAL 3.-To\tch inkstands
~;
~- • . A ~ _:.;~'" -~ •
• .
•
u.a.G.:.rn.L '± . .._--~l'"'lQ2i8 rnkstarn}s.

·~ ~~ S~?~~L ~5.~i~~~ck ( ~ at opening).
_ ·.:_S1q:~~L. :6.. ]'yl9Jntors arise.
.:· S1G.:NAi, 7.-c2f!¢~t pens.
.,__. ~·-s~~~~. ·s .. ?:Y~~h 'books (the class).
SIGNAL 9.-Close books
"
.- ·S1GNAL-:-}O>-~'Q~llec~o~ks.

I
,,

. _ 4. It. is of ~ge~~ost importance that the whole
~lass . 'Yr1te . after~~ same copy at the same time
This enables a~single teacher to superintend a class ~
1' ryt
·.., ,11·"l;
forge
as can be a.ssemblec1 in a11v
rClom
'
.,
.
. l 'q-1111
.
l 1
mstruction, by means of the blackboard, in a11 the
general features pertainin? to the lesson, as effectually
il.:8. to n. dozen .. J]ly sp ccp1 a ttention nn c1 in:::truction
~eeded by each . pupil ' can be imparted by assistants
".·
each. having charg~9f a single section of the cl.ass, and }.
. passmg around "t°:.<~ach individual, as in the ordinary , :.
_'!~Y: ; at. the sam~·{,time illustrating and enforcirig the . ,,
- general directions ..-,
'):f .
5. In order to ~ake up for _the differences of speed :~ ';
a~ong .t he writers, and ·keep .them together, each pu- :~:­
p1l should be provided. With ·a blank trial book; ·or
.
.
· ~ ·· · . . .· .
sheet of p~per.
.

-

'·
'i. \

.

.Then Jet· the whole cla5s be brought together1~t _ ·
the beginning of every page,'by req~iring those w?o
have finished , the previous one to write upon the tnal .
aper until permission is given to commence a new .
p
.'
.
.
page.
.
.
..
L
. In this way, pages written by the class dnnng t11e
b~enc.e of members will be left blank, and must be
a i:itted until the l~sson for the ·day is accomplished.
;ack pages may then be written up, i~stead of using
· the trial paper.
. .
· £. Thu5, it wi11 he seen: no pupil need remam idle
for a moment; there is no inducement for those ~dis­
posed to hurry beyond _the ~ve:·age sp.eed of the class1
as they can gain nothrng by it; while the slow are

----- - - -- ___,_..

morning
:hour is ,.preferable for writinO'.
1rlore' can be
.
.
0
ac_c_omplished.l?y this method in thirty or forty minutes
t~_an by the _old meth.od in an hour; while the workillg energies of a class cannot be profitably kept up for
a .longer period without relaxation.

nr!!ed forwar<l.
-~ 7. Before beginning a new copy, the who1e or the

.

-.':.~-

-

I;. /

~­

h.,.,.

-r...:-·
~~~

-.

most imrortant part of it should be written upon th_e
blackboard, and the attention of the whole class directed t~ it, while the teacher explains the lesson it is
intended to convey
. ·' analyzes
. the new or difficult letters referrinrr each letter to the class to w11ich it
'
0
.
belong.3, the principle and manner of its formation;
dweliin(1'0 particularly upon its characteristic portion,
•
and anticipating ·common errors in its formation;
the whole interspersed with frequent interrogations,
reviewing previous instruction:
·
8. · No teacher who prizes success should allow the
interest of the writing exercis~ to :flag for one moment,
for when the interest in any ' exercise is gone, all ben·
efit is likewise gone. Life and energy-~hould characterize the writing hour, and the teacher should throw
intO it ~tra exertion to relieve it from the monotony
which is apt to characterize it. For ·this reason a
..._.,,,..,

.

'

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~~~~ti~±~£i::,/~£~2-f;'.:ii~~;,~~;,r~~~;~::i,_;~~f::~;~f-i~~~~J<.l~;{~-{;;~:.-;~tt.

