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Number contains a Complete, First-Class Novel or Other Work by a Celebrated Author.
ors at Three and Six Cents Sach!
CHEAPEST. LIBRARY EVER ISSUED.—PUBLISHED SEMI-\WEEKLY.—BY SUBSCRIPTION, PER YEAR, 10 NUMBERS, $4.50.—AUGUST 2p, 1884.
Entered at the Post-Office at New York for Transmission through the Mails at Second Class Rates.
sunnnr.{ Price & Cents,
F. M. LUPTON, Publisher,
G3 Murray St., New York.
New Series.--Vol. L--No. B53.
TE
Sor Ladies and Gentlemen.
Preface.
Letren-Wrirers are often suspected of being
worse than useless, on account of the ridiculous
style in- which they were at one time written,
and the obselete epithets used in addressing
correspondents. Their examples, for instance,
of familiar letters, instead ot being conversa-
tienal, were formal, cireumlocutory and unin-
terestiag; -those addressed to relatives were
slavishly humble, tiresome and childish; and
what were called love letters were similar to
what I.ylie and other authors of inflated romance
might have written in their most extravagant
moeds. The use of a letter-writer hitherto has
therefore barely exceeded the limits of a small
circle of people, who, through either ignorance
ef the existing prejudice o: inability to construct
an intelligible sentence for themselves, have
recourse to a handbook of examples when the
uccessity of writing or answering a letter arises.
Untside this circle the want of a really good
compendium aiming at furnishing materials for
a large number of cases is no doubt felt, for
nowadays everybody’s object is to save time and,
trouble, whether in performing a journey or in
writing a letter; and, were it known that a book
ofthis kind was before the public, the prejudice
against Letter-Writers in general would most
assuredly disappear. With the want indicated
in view, the’ present handbook has been pro-
duced, and is given to the public as containing
a large number of useful letters, which may be
adapted to suit an indefinite number of cases by
8 few simple alterations.
—_+—~»
Introductory Hints.
Aux letters should bear the address of the
writer, near the top of the page on the right
hand; below, the date should be written, and
the vague announcement ‘Tuesday morning”
, or“ Friday evening” avoided. The salutation
should be on the left side, a little below the
date. The body of the letter should begin about
one-third from the top of the page. The first
word should commence nearly under the last
word of the salutation. The concluding lines
should gradually approach the right hand edge
ofthe paper, The name of the person to whom
the letter is addressed is usually placed on the
left side of the page, a little below the signature.
Formerly sons and daughters addressed _ their
parents as “‘ Honored Sir,” ‘‘ Honored Madam,”
or “Honored Parent.” Now the style is “ My
dear Father,” or ‘*My dear Mother.” ‘ Re-
spected Sir” is also obsolete; and we say “ Dear
Sir,” or “Dear Madam,” as the case may be.
In addressing a stranger, the word “Sir” or
“* Medam” is used. Aclergyman is addressed
** Reverend Sir,” ‘‘Reverend and deéar Sir,”
“e ear Sir,” according to intimacy. When
the superlative epithet ‘ dearest” is applied to
a special friend, son, daughter, brother, sister,
uncle or aunt, its use is quite proper. Formerly
the style Esq. was only given to persons of ac-
knowledged position, but it has become common
to attach it to the name of everybody one is
acquainted with. Those, however, who have a
right to it are only professional men. Ip ad-
dressing letters to persons entitled to more than
ordinary consideration, it is a common practice
to write, ete., etc., ctc., after the name and
designation. Letters should be written on good
paper and enclosed in envelopes; wafers ought
not to be employed, envelopes washed with gum
are better, but sealing with wax is better still.
Avoid epistolary blemishes, viz., apologizing for
a “scrawl,” excusing oneself for an abrupt ter-
mination on’ the score of- being “in haste;” un-
meaningly introducing a prpfusion of adjectives
and adverbs; underlining words—‘‘ every word
should be the right word, and then no word
would be more correct than another.” Avoid
long sentences swollen by parenthetical matters;
also dashes, for there is no rule as regards the
length of the dash to be used; too much atten-
tion paid to punctuation amounts to pedantry.
Avoid, also, repeating categorically every ques-
tion propounded before proceeding to furnish a
reply, unless in the caao of a business letter or
one on legal matters. Avoid crossing letters
and adding postscripts. Do not write your's:
the apostrophe should never be used in the pos-
sessive pronouns hers, ifs, ours, yours, theirs.
When the third perso@is used in a note 1t should
be retained throughout.
A GUIDE TO POLITE CORRESPONDENCE. ;
Ladies’ Correspondenee.
No. 1.
From a Lady inviting an Acquaintance lo vist
: her at the Seaside.
(Address
(Date in full.
——
My pear Miss . oe
Ifyou have not yet promised to join
our friends elsewhere, we shall be delighted te
have you with us before the season grows a day
older. We are quitesin order here, and have
really nothing to do but extract as much enjoy-
ment as possible from our surroundings while
the fine weather lasts. We are living close to
the beach, and not far from the fields, and, to
offer another inducement, the room you shall
have commands a view of the most attractive
part of the local ecenery, r, —-— and the
girls add their entreaties to mine, and beg that
you will fix an early day for traveling thither
lest you should miss seeing the lions of - a
their best. Write, therefore, that you aro com-
ing, say on the —th, and we will meet and vel-
come you at the station.
ieve me,
My dear Miss ———, ,
Yours sincerely,
(
5
No. 2. ;
Answer accepting an invitation.
(Address———_- ——-—_}
(Date in full —_};
My pear Mrs. ———: .
Your kind letter came as a most agrees
able surprise, and it would indeed be unpardon-
able remissness on my part were I to delay a
moment in thanking you for it, and accepting
with much pleasure the invitation which it con-
veys. I had no idea you were thinking of me or
of my wants, in the midst of the attractions of a
watering place so cheerful and pretty as ——,
and I dare say that while you were conspiring
with the young ladies to make things pleasant
for me juat now, I had concluded to content my-
self with a day. or two’s holiday ramble near
Sh ecco
satan
