TELEGRAMS
Perhaps the most important thing to guard against in the writing of
telegrams is a choice of words which, when run together, may be read two
ways. As there should be no punctuation (and telegraph companies do not
hold themselves responsible for punctuation) the sentences must be
perfectly clear. There are instances where the use of punctuation has
caused trouble.
In cases where punctuation is absolutely necessary, as for instance when
more than one subject must be covered in the same message, the word
"stop" is employed to divide the sentences, as:
Will arrive eight-thirty Wednesday stop telephone Gaines am
coming stop will be at Hotel Pennsylvania
Therefore write sentences so that when they are run together there is
only one interpretation.
Use no salutation or complimentary closing. Leave out all words that are
not necessary to the meaning. Omit first-person pronouns where they are
sure to be understood. Do not divide words in a telegram. Compound words
are accepted as one word. Numbers should be spelled out, principally
because it is more likely to insure correct transmission, and secondly
because it costs less. For example, in the ordinal 24th the suffix _th_
is counted as another word.
The minimum charge for telegrams is the cost of ten words, not counting
the name, address, and signature. Nothing is saved by cutting the
message to less than ten words. There is a certain fixed rate of charge
for every word over ten.
In counting the words, count as one word the following:
I--Every word in the name of an individual or a concern as:
Clive and Meyer Co. (four words) DeForest and Washburn Co.
(four words also, as DeForest is counted as one word).
II--Every dictionary word. In the case of cablegrams, words of
over fifteen letters are counted as two words.
III--Every separate letter as the "M" in "George M. Sykes"
(three words).
IV--Every figure in a number as 598 (three words).
V--Names of states, territories, counties, cities, and villages.
VI--Weights and measures, decimal points, punctuation marks
within the sentence.
To save expense in long messages codes can be used in which one word
stands for several words. The Western Union has an established code--or
private codes can be arranged. Five letters are allowed as one code
word. A word of six or seven letters will thus count as two words.
In cablegrams the use of codes is common on account of the higher rate
for cablegrams. Since the name, address, date, and signature are all
counted, code words are frequently used for the name and address. Code
language is allowed only in the first class of cable messages.
OCCASIONAL TELEGRAMS
A graceful, concise, pertinent, and well-worded "occasional" telegram is
frequently not easy to write. The following forms are suggested for the
composition of some of these telegrams. The longer forms can be sent
most cheaply as Night Letters or Day Letters. A Night Letter of fifty
words can be sent for the cost of a ten-word full-rate telegram, i.e.,
from 30 cents to $1.20, depending on the distance. A Day Letter of fifty
words can be sent for one and one half the cost of a ten-word full-rate
message, i.e., from 45 cents to $1.80, depending on the distance.
_New Year greetings_
Best wishes for the New Year. May it bring to you and your
family health, happiness, peace, and prosperity. May it see your
hopes fulfilled and may it be rich in the successful
accomplishment of your highest aims.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year.
May peace and happiness be yours in the New Year. May fortune
smile upon you and favor you with many blessings.
I (We) wish you a Happy New Year, a year big with success and
achievement, a year rich with the affection of those who are
dear to you, a year mellow with happiness and contentment.
What the coming year may hold we can none of us foresee. It is
my (our) earnest wish that for you it may bring forth a generous
harvest of happiness and good fortune.
May the coming year and all that succeed it deal lightly and
kindly with you.
May the coming year bring you happiness in fullest measure.
We think of you with the affection born of our long friendship
which the recurring year only strengthens.
May the New Year bring you health, happiness, and all other good
things.
Health, happiness, and contentment, may these be yours in the
New Year.
May health, happiness, and prosperity be yours in bountiful
measure in the year to come.
May the New Year be a good year to you and yours--full of health
and happiness.
May each of the three hundred and sixty-five days of the New
Year be a happy one for you.
The happiest of New Years to you and yours.
May the New Year find you in the enjoyment of health and
happiness.
_Easter greetings_
Our thoughts turn to you with affection and best wishes at this
Easter season with the hope that peace, prosperity, and plenty
may attend your life to-day and through all your days to come.
Easter Greeting from a friend who thinks of you with constant
affection.
This Easter Greeting carries to you the affection of an old
friend.
May this Easter Day find you in the enjoyment of health and
happiness.
Best wishes for a happy Easter.
Best wishes for a happy Easter Day. May your future ever be as
bright as the Springtime.
Just a message to a friend, to convey to you my wish that this
Easter may bring you happiness and good fortune.
May Easter gladness fill your heart to-day and may all good
attend you.
I (We) Wish you joy and happiness at this Eastertide.
May happiness and health be yours on this Easter Day and in the
days to come.
We all join in best wishes for a happy Easter Day to you and
your family.
Easter Greetings to you and yours.
May your Easter be a bright and happy one.
We all wish you and yours a happy Easter.
Love and best wishes for a happy Easter.
My (Our) Easter Greetings go to you. May the day be a joyful one
for you.
_Thanksgiving Day greetings_
Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving Day.
Good cheer and plenty, the love of your dear ones, the affection
of your friends, may all these contribute to a happy
Thanksgiving Day.
May your Thanksgiving Day be a day of happiness and contentment.
May your Thanksgiving Day be full of happiness and all good
cheer.
That I am (we are) not at home to-day to join in the festivities
is a great sorrow to me (us). Love to all the dear family.
I never forget the joy of this day at home. Love from one far
away.
Although I (we) cannot be with you to-day I (we) have the memory
of past Thanksgiving Days at home. God bless you all.
Think of me (us) as being with you in spirit. My (Our) love to
you all.
Let us never fail to be thankful that the years only increase
the strength of our long friendship.
It is with great thanksgiving that I (we) think of my (our) dear
ones at home.
My (Our) one wish this Thanksgiving Day is that I (we) might be
with you. Affectionate wishes for your happiness.
Though I (we) cannot be with you at the Thanksgiving Day board,
my (our) thoughts are with you to-day.
Around the family table think of me (us) as I (we) absent, shall
think of you. My (Our) love to all.
I (We) can picture you all at home. How I (we) long to be with
you. My (Our) love to all the family.
_Christmas greetings_
Every good wish for a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous
New Year. I need not tell you with what affection we are
thinking of you and yours at this Christmas season. God bless
you all.
Every good wish for a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous
New Year.
My (Our) very best wishes for a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
May your Christmas be a very happy one.
Merry Christmas to you and all the family.
We all join in wishing you a Merry Christmas.
All affection and good wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and
yours.
That your Christmas be a very happy one is the wish of your
sincere friend.
May Christmas bring you joy and happiness.
You are constantly in my (our) thoughts which carry to you
to-day all affectionate wishes for a Happy Christmas.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Love and a Merry Christmas to you all.
May your Christmas be a merry one and the New Year full of
happiness.
Affectionate greetings for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year.
May this Christmas find you well and happy. Love and best wishes
to you and yours.
May Christmas bring you naught but joy and banish all care and
sorrow.
---- joins me in very best wishes for a Merry Christmas.
A Merry Christmas to all the dear ones at home.
It is my (our) dearest wish that I (we) might be with you at
this season of happiness and good-will--Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year.
_Birthday greetings_
Many happy returns of the day. My (Our) affectionate thoughts
and every good wish go to you on this your birthday.
May each succeeding year bring to you the best satisfaction
which life holds.
Many happy returns of the day.
Best wishes for a happy birthday.
Best wishes for your birthday. May all your ways be pleasant
ways and all your days be happy days.
Birthday greetings. I (We) wish you a long life and everything
that makes a long life worth living.
Best wishes for your birthday. May you live long and prosper.
My (Our) thoughts are with you on your birthday. May all your
days be happy days.
I (We) wish you many happy years blessed with health, success,
and friendship and filled with all the best that life can hold.
We all join in best wishes for a very happy birthday and many
years of health and prosperity.
We all join in best wishes for a very happy birthday.
May your birthday mark the dawn of a year of health, happiness,
and good fortune.
_Wedding messages_
Sincerest congratulations to the bride and groom from an old
friend who wishes you both years of health, happiness, and
prosperity. May the future hold only the best for you that this
world can give.
Heartiest congratulations. I (We) wish you many years of
happiness.
Mrs. ---- and I join in heartiest congratulations.
Hearty congratulations. May your years be many and happy ones.
My (Our) sincerest and best wishes for your happiness.
We all join in hearty congratulations and best wishes.
May happiness, health, and prosperity be with you through the
years to come.
May all good fortune attend you, may your sky ever be bright,
may no clouds of sorrow or trouble shadow it, and may your path
be long and filled with joy.
Every happiness be yours dear ---- on this your Wedding Day.
Let an old family friend send his (her) love and congratulations
to the bride and groom.
May all good fairies watch over you. May they keep far from you
all care and sorrow and brighten your path with sunshine and
happiness.
To the bride and groom, love and congratulations from an old
friend.
May this day be the beginning of a long, happy, and prosperous
life for you both.
_On the birth of a child_
Love to the dear mother and her little son (daughter).
Heartiest congratulations and love to mother and son (daughter).
We rejoice with you in the happiness that has come into your
lives. Love to mother and son (daughter).
My best wishes to the newly arrived son (daughter) and to his
(her) mother.
We are all (I am) delighted to hear the news. Hearty
congratulations.
A warm welcome to the new arrival and best wishes for his (her)
health and happiness.
To the dear mother and her little son (daughter) love and every
good wish.
Hearty congratulations on the arrival of the new son (daughter).
_Messages of condolence_
You have my heartfelt sympathy in this hour of your bereavement.
I wish I might find words in which to express my sorrow at your
loss which is also mine. May you have the strength to bear this
great affliction.
You have my (our) heartfelt sympathy.
My (Our) heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow.
I (We) want you to know with what tender sympathy I am (We are)
thinking of you in these days of your bereavement.
My (Our) sincere and heartfelt sympathy.
I (We) have just heard of your great affliction. Let me (us)
send to you my (our) heartfelt sympathy.
My (Our) sincere sympathy.
In the death of your dear father
(mother--wife--sister--brother) I (we) have lost one whom it was
my (our) privilege to call my (our) friend. My (our) heartfelt
sympathy goes out to you in your sorrow.
---- joins me in the expression of our deepest sympathy.
My (Our) love and sympathy go out to you in your great sorrow.
I (We) share your sorrow for I (we) have lost a dear friend. All
love and sympathy to you and yours.
I (We) send you my (our) heartfelt sympathy. To have enjoyed the
friendship of your father (husband--brother) I (we) hold one of
the greatest privileges of my life (our lives).
My (Our) sincere sympathy goes out to you in your heavy
affliction.
My (Our) love and sympathy in your sudden affliction.
I am (We are) greatly shocked at the sad news. You have my (our)
deepest sympathy.
My (Our) deepest sympathy in your great loss. If there is
anything I (we) can do, do not hesitate to let me (us) know.
_Congratulation to a school or college graduate_
May your future be as successful as have been your school
(college) days. Heartiest congratulations upon your graduation.
I am (We are) proud of your success. May the future grant you
opportunity and the fulfillment of your hopes.
I (We) hear that you have taken class honors. Sincerest
congratulations and best wishes.
May your Class Day be favored with sunny skies and your life be
full of happiness and success.
Sincerest congratulations upon your graduation.
Congratulations upon your school (college) success, so happily
terminated to-day.
I (We) regret that I (we) cannot be with you to-day to see you
take your new honors. Sincerest congratulations.
_Congratulation to a public man_
Heartiest congratulations on your splendid success.
We have just heard of your success. Sincere congratulations
and best wishes for the future.
Heartiest congratulations on your nomination (election).
Your nomination (election) testifies to the esteem in which you
are held by your fellow citizens. Heartiest congratulations.
Congratulations on your victory, a hard fight, well won by the
best man.
Your splendid majority must be a great satisfaction to you.
Sincerest congratulations on your election.
Congratulations upon your nomination. You will have the support
of the best element in the community and your election should be
a foregone conclusion. I wish you every success.
You fought a good fight in a good cause. Heartiest
congratulations on your splendid success.
Nothing in your career should fill you with greater satisfaction
than your successful election. I congratulate you with all my
heart.
No man deserves success more than you. You have worked hard for
your constituents and they appreciate it. Heartiest
congratulations.
Your nomination (election) is received with the greatest
enthusiasm by your friends here and by none more than myself.
Heartiest congratulations.
I congratulate you upon your new honors won by distinguished
services to your fellow citizens.
Your campaign was vigorous and fine. Your victory testifies to
the people's confidence in you and your cause. Warmest
congratulations.
Congratulations upon your well-won victory and best wishes for
your future success.
You deserve your splendid success. Sincerest congratulations.
I cannot refrain from expressing my personal appreciation of
your eloquent address. Warmest congratulations.
Your address last night was splendid. What a gift you have.
Sincerest congratulations.
Heartiest congratulations on your splendid speech of last
night. Everybody is praising it.