Very respectfully,
JAMES TALBOT,
really fulfills all requirements, though one may consult his own taste
in making use of the two complimentary conclusions given above.
A lady in writing to a stranger should always suggest whether she is
married or single. This will prevent mistakes and annoyance, and can
be done in two ways. Respectfully, (MISS) FRANCES CLAYTON, Or, more
elaborately: Respectfully, FRANCES CLAYTON. Address, MISS FRANCES
CLAYTON, 21 St. Caroline’s Court, Chicago.
A lady never signs herself as Mrs. Helen B. Hayes, or Miss Gertrude
Vance, without, at least, putting the titles in a parenthesis.
Primarily, a woman is Helen Hayes or Gertrude Vance, and should sign
herself as such. The “Miss” or “Mrs.” signifies simply an incident in
her existence, and is added, as it were, in a note, to prevent mistake
on the part of others. A failure to observe this rule indicates a lack
of culture. Neither does a gentleman ever sign himself Mr. Brown, but
George G. Brown, or G. G. Brown.
Use of the Husband’s Name.
A married lady should always be addressed by her husband’s name
preceded by “Mrs.,” except in case of well-known names, such as Mrs.
Potter Palmer, or Mrs. Isabella B. Hooker. A widow is no longer
called by her husband’s given name, but reverts to her own christened
cognomen, preceded by “Mrs.” Thus, Mrs. James H. Hayes in her widowhood
is, to every one, Mrs. Helen B. Hayes. An exception to this would be
in the case of such well-known names as Abraham Lincoln, or James G.
Blaine, where custom grants the widow the right to bear the beloved
title.
The superscription or address should be written plainly (if speedy
delivery is expected) upon the lower half of the envelope, the flap
being at the top. The title and name form one line with about an equal
space at each end. The writing should be just below the middle of
the envelope. The street number, the name of the city and the state
each form a separate line, one below the other, and each should begin
a little to the right of the one above, so that the last line will
approach nearly to the lower right-hand corner of the envelope. The
county or number of post office box may be given in the lower left-hand
corner. Where there is no street number the county, or even the box
number, may be written directly beneath the name of the town.
The stamp should be invariably placed squarely and right-side up in
the upper right-hand corner. A request for return in a given time may
be written, if necessary, in the upper left-hand corner.
A physician is addressed thus: DR. ALBERT YOUNG, Watseka, Iowa. Or,
ALBERT YOUNG, M. D., Watseka, Iowa.
In addressing the wife of a doctor the following formula may be used:
MRS. DR. ALBERT YOUNG, Watseka, Iowa.
The strictest etiquette, however, would involve writing: MRS. ALBERT
YOUNG, care of Dr. Albert Young, Watseka, Iowa.
[Illustration: THE PLACE FOR STAMP AND SUPERSCRIPTION.]
Either of the above forms may be taken for addressing the wife of a
professor, an army or United States official, a minister or a legal
dignitary, always remembering that the longer is more elegant, as: MRS.
MELVILLE B. FULLER, care of the Hon. Melville B. Fuller, Chief Justice
of the United States, Washington, D. C.
The President, however, would be addressed: To the President, Executive
Mansion, Washington, D. C.
This is the simplest form, and as such, in the best taste, but it is
sometimes written: To the President of the United States, HONORABLE
GROVER CLEVELAND.
“His Excellency” was formerly used in addressing the President and the
Governors of States, but it is largely abandoned as inconsistent with
the lack of titles in our country. The same rule is observed in writing
to the Governor of a State: To the Governor, Gubernatorial Mansion,
Springfield, Ill. Or, To the Governor, ROBERT P. MORTON, Albany, N. Y.
A member of the Cabinet: To the Honorable, the Secretary of the
Interior, Washington, D. C. A State official has the following
address: DR. JOHN C. WYATT, Secretary of the State Board of Charity,
Springfield, Ill. In addressing one person in care of another the form
would be: MRS. JOHN DRAPER, Grand de Tour, Ill. Care Dr. I. S. Prime.
A note to be delivered by a friend is always unsealed and usually
addressed: MISS FLORENCE WARDEN, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Kindness of MR. G. A. RHODES. A still better form is to simply use the
address of the person without farther preamble.
Always fold a letter sheet so that the opening lines face the reader on
unfolding.
Punctuation Marks.
Punctuation and capitalization are very necessary matters in the art
of letter-writing, but in these days of common schools, and all but
compulsory education, it is to be supposed that some knowledge of these
important facts will have been gained. It will not be amiss, however,
to mention a few of the most necessary rules.
The four chief punctuation points are the comma, semicolon, colon,
period. In the days of our grandmothers children were taught to “mind
their stops,” with this rule for a guide: “Count one at a comma, two at
a semicolon, three at a colon, and four at a period, or ‘full stop.’”
In punctuating the date, address, closing and superscription of a
letter, certain rules are necessary. One of these is that a period
follows all abbreviations, such as those of title, state and county,
and separates and follows all initials, whether abbreviations of names
or titles; while the slight pause occurring between such abbreviations
is marked by a comma, and the end of the date, like the end of a
sentence, is closed by a period; for example: 540 West Main St.,
Galesburgh, Ill. Or, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Jan. 10, 189—.
A colon suggests something more to follow, hence in the salutation of
a letter we find a colon at the end, signifying that the body of the
letter is yet to come, as: “Dear Sir:” or, where the communication
begins on same line of salutation, we find both colon and dash, as:
“Dear Madame:—Yours of,” etc.
Commas are used frequently to divide long complex sentences, and the
sentence is somewhat further broken by the use of the semicolon between
its more decided sections. Abraham Lincoln once said: “I throw in a
semicolon whenever I am at a loss what pause to use; it always fits.”
The complimentary close of the letter is followed by a comma and the
signature by a period. A period also separates and follows two or more
initials, as: Yours truly, (MRS.) ADELINE D. T. WHITNEY.
Writing the Superscription.
A very long complimentary conclusion should be punctuated like a
sentence, as: I am, dear madam, with the most profound esteem, Yours
truly, JAMES TALBOT.
The superscription on the envelope is to be punctuated according to
the above given rules. An interrogation point (?) should be used at
the end of all questions. It is in truth, as the small boy said, “A
little crooked thing that asks questions.” The exclamation point
(!) expressing astonishment, the dash and parenthesis, need only be
employed by those thoroughly understanding their use. Quotation marks
(“ ”) should always be placed at the beginning and end of words quoted
from another; slang, or any fashionable “fad” if written, should be
quoted.
As for capitals, one should begin every sentence, all names of persons
and places, all appellations of the Deity, the first word of every line
of poetry, and show themselves in the pronoun “I,” and the exclamation
“O.”
Sealing wax is to be used, or not, as inclination directs, but neatness
and skill are necessary in its use, or an unsightly blotch will result,
than which the self-sealing envelope is far preferable. A heavy
cream-white envelope sealed with a large, perfect seal of rich red,
or bronze-brown wax with a clear monogram or initial stamped thereon,
is always pleasing to the eye. To very slightly oil the seal will
prevent it adhering to the wax and thereby spoiling the impression. In
a foreign correspondence, the self-sealing envelopes are better since
in tropical countries the great heat often melts the wax, and it is
always liable, during transportation in the holds of vessels, to become
cracked and loosened from the paper by the weight of other goods, and
close packing in the hold.
Final remarks are scarcely necessary, but it might be suggested that it
is rather fashionable to write one’s full name, as more elegant than
initials. A lady never signs herself simply by initials. Mary Creighton
Cutter should so write her name, or, at least, Mary C. Cutter. Never
M. C. Cutter. A gentleman is privileged to do this in business or
formal letters, but in any others, instead of L. B. Bancroft he is
Lucius Bright Bancroft or Lucius B. Bancroft.
Points to be Remembered.
Margins are no longer a necessity even in the most formal letters.
Sometimes in writing a long, friendly, not formal, letter, instead of
utilizing one side only of the paper, it is written across the sheet
upon the first and fourth pages, and then lengthwise upon the second
and third, though of course it is perfectly correct to write upon the
pages consecutively.
Tautology, or a continued repetition of the same word, is a
disagreeable and inelegant fault in writing, as: “If John will _come_
home, we will all _come_, but if he fails to _come_, we will not _come_
until he can _come_ also.”
One other point remains to touch upon. Any one that has ever glanced
at the “Correspondence Column” of any paper will see how often young
women ask if it is proper to write to gentlemen who have requested the
favor of corresponding with them, and which should write first. This
point is rightfully one that should be settled by the mother or other
guardian of the girl; but let it be said here that while this is the
only country in the world where a so-called “friendly correspondence”
is or can be carried on between young men and young women with, or
without, any particular object in view, even here it is well to be
careful. Girls are sometimes a little too confidential, and all men are
not gentlemen, outward polish notwithstanding. A friendship too easily
won or too fully expressed is not always prized, and while manly men
are supposed never to boast of the number of their correspondents, yet
club-room walls, could they speak, would stamp many a man as less than
a gentleman.
Titles.
The proper use of titles forms an important item in letter-writing. The
slightest hesitancy on this point shows a lack of culture on the part
of the writer that lowers him at once in the eyes of the recipient.
The ordinary social titles used are simple and familiar. These are:
Mrs., Madam, Miss, for women; Mr., Esq., Messrs., Sir, for men, and
Master for boys.
Of course, in writing to an acquaintance, while the outer address
retains all its formality, the commencement will be whatever is
warranted by the degree of friendship between the parties.
Domestic Titles.
By the constitution of the United States it is provided that no titles
of nobility shall be granted by the government. Neither shall a person
holding a governmental office accept any title from any king, prince
or foreign state, except express permission be given by Congress. The
President of the United States and the Governor of Massachusetts are
the only citizens possessing as officials a title by legislative act.
This title is the same: “Excellency.” Governors of other states are
given this title by courtesy only. However, this title may be omitted
at discretion, and indeed the simpler form given is far more suited to
our Republican simplicity of manners.
The following list will be found a complete guide in the use of all
honorary titles sanctioned by custom in the United States:
Ambassadors, Foreign, to the United States, are addressed officially
by the titles recognized in their own countries, and if they have
no title, as “Mr.——,” followed by title of office. United States
ambassadors to foreign countries, officially as “Mr.——” or “Hon.——,”
followed by title of office. There are but four ambassadors sent out by
the United States, the ministers to Russia and England having been but
lately invested with that title.
The Hon. John Jones, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, or to the Court of St. James.
Archbishop (Roman Catholic)—Letters addressed: “The Most Reverend ——
D.D., Archbishop of ——.”
Associate Justices—Addressed with: “Hon., name and name of office”, but
spoken of as “Mr. Justice ——.”
Bishop—Addressed: “The Right Reverend —— D.D., Bishop of ——.” The
address of Protestant Episcopal and Roman Catholic Bishops is precisely
the same. Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church are addressed as
the “Reverend Bishop ——, D.D.”
Cabinet Members—Addressed as: “Honorable,” usually contracted to
“Hon.,” as: Hon. James Johnson, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Cardinal (Roman Catholic) is addressed in writing, and spoken of as:
“His Eminence——, Cardinal (Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, according to
rank) of the Holy Roman Church,” spoken to as, “Your Grace.”
Chief Justice—Addressed as: “Hon. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States.”
Chief Justice’s Wife—Addressed as: “Mrs. Chief Justice——,” by virtue of
a social custom that is largely observed. This custom does not extend
to daughters.
Clergymen—Addressed as: “The Rev. ——,” spoken to as, “Mr. ——.” If a
doctor of divinity, addressed as, “————, D.D.,” or “The Reverend ——,
D.D.,” and spoken to or of as, “Dr. ——.”
College Degrees.—All recipients of regular or honorary degrees should
be addressed by name followed by abbreviation of degree: A.B., A.M.,
Ph.D., M.D., D.D., as, “————, A.B.”
Congress, members of—Addressed: “Hon. ——, M.C.”
Esquire.—Justice of the peace, as well as some grades of lawyers are
addressed in writing and spoken of as “——, Esq.” Any gentleman may be
so addressed, but “Mr.” is preferable.
Government—Official communications from—Always begin “Sir.”
Governor.—May be addressed as “His Excellency the Governor of ——.”
Spoken to, “Your Excellency.” See, also, other forms given before.
Governor’s wife is by courtesy addressed, “Mrs. Governor ——.” This usage
does not apply to daughters.
Judges—Addressed by courtesy with the title, “Honorable,” contracted to
“Hon.,” and the name of the office usually follows, as: “Hon.——, U. S.
Senate.”
Legislature, members of.—Address as, “Hon. ——,” followed by name of
office.
Mayor.—“The Hon. Mr. ——, Mayor of ——.”
Minister, American—Addressed as: “Hon. ——, American (or U. S.) Minister
to France.”
Municipal Councils, members of.—Courtesy grants the title “Honorable.”
Officers of Army and Navy.—Addressed by name, followed by title of
highest rank attained, and, if in command of a military division, naval
squadron or station, or on retired list, by a signification of the
fact, as: “————, Major General U. S. A., Commanding Military Division
of the Atlantic;” “————, Rear Admiral U. S. N., Commanding European
Squadron;” “————, General U. S. A., Retired.”
President.—Addressed as “His Excellency the President of the United
States.” Spoken to as, “Your Excellency.”
President’s Wife.—Addressed by courtesy, “Mrs. President ——.” Usage does
not apply to daughters.