How to Speak and Write Correctly Part 14

Liberty, Sullivan County, New York.

215 Minna St., San Francisco, California.

There should be left a s.p.a.ce for the postage stamp in the upper right hand corner. The name and t.i.tle should occupy a line that is about central between the top of the envelope and the bottom. The name should neither be too much to right or left but located in the centre, the beginning and end at equal distances from either end.

In writing to large business concerns which are well known or to public or city officials it is sometimes customary to leave out number and street.

Thus,

Messrs. Seigel, Cooper Co., New York City,

Hon. William J. Gaynor, New York City.

NOTES

_Notes_ may be regarded as letters in miniature confined chiefly to invitations, acceptances, regrets and introductions, and modern etiquette tends towards informality in their composition. Card etiquette, in fact, has taken the place of ceremonious correspondence and informal notes are now the rule. Invitations to dinner and receptions are now mostly written on cards. "Regrets" are sent back on visiting cards with just the one word _"Regrets"_ plainly written thereon. Often on cards and notes of invitation we find the letters R. S. V. P. at the bottom. These letters stand for the French _repondez s'il vous plait_, which means "Reply, if you please," but there is no necessity to put this on an invitation card as every well-bred person knows that a reply is expected. In writing notes to young ladies of the same family it should be noted that the eldest daughter of the house is ent.i.tled to the designation _Miss_ without any Christian name, only the surname appended. Thus if there are three daughters in the Thompson family Martha, the eldest, Susan and Jemina, Martha is addressed as _Miss_ Thompson and the other two as _Miss_ Susan Thompson and _Miss_ Jemina Thompson respectively.

Don't write the word _addressed_ on the envelope of a note.

Don't _seal_ a note delivered by a friend.

Don't write a note on a postal card.

Here are a few common forms:--

FORMAL INVITATIONS

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wagstaff request the honor of Mr. McAdoo's presence on Friday evening, June 15th, at 8 o'clock to meet the Governor of the Fort.

19 Woodbine Terrace June 8th, 1910.

This is an invitation to a formal reception calling for evening dress.

Here is Mr. McAdoo's reply in the third person:--

Mr. McAdoo presents his compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wagstaff and accepts with great pleasure their invitation to meet the Governor of the Fort on the evening of June fifteenth.

215 Beacon Street, June 10th, 1910.

Here is how Mr. McAdoo might decline the invitation:--

Mr. McAdoo regrets that owing to a prior engagement he must forego the honor of paying his respects to Mr. and Mrs. Wagstaff and the Governor of the Fort on the evening of June fifteenth.

215 Beacon St., June 10th, 1910.

Here is a note addressed, say to Mr. Jeremiah Reynolds.

Mr. and Mrs. Oldham at home on Wednesday evening October ninth from seven to eleven.

21 Ashland Avenue, October 5th.

Mr. Reynolds makes reply:--

Mr. Reynolds accepts with high appreciation the honor of Mr. and Mrs. Oldham's invitation for Wednesday evening October ninth.

Windsor Hotel October 7th

or

Mr. Reynolds regrets that his duties render it impossible for him to accept Mr. and Mrs.

Oldham's kind invitation for the evening of October ninth.

Windsor Hotel, October 7th,

Sometimes less informal invitations are sent on small specially designed note paper in which the first person takes the place of the third. Thus

360 Pine St., Dec. 11th, 1910.

Dear Mr. Saintsbury: Mr. Johnson and I should be much pleased to have you dine with us and a few friends next Thursday, the fifteenth, at half past seven.

Yours sincerely, Emma Burnside.

Mr. Saintsbury's reply:

57 Carlyle Strand Dec. 13th, 1910.

Dear Mrs. Burnside: Let me accept very appreciatively your invitation to dine with Mr. Burnside and you on next Thursday, the fifteenth, at half past seven.

Yours sincerely, Henry Saintsbury.

Mrs. Alexander Burnside.

NOTES OF INTRODUCTION

Notes of introduction should be very circ.u.mspect as the writers are in reality vouching for those whom they introduce. Here is a specimen of such a note.

603 Lexington Ave., New York City, June 15th, 1910.

Rev. Cyrus C. Wiley, D. D., Newark, N. J.

My dear Dr. Wiley: I take the liberty of presenting to you my friend, Stacy Redfern, M. D., a young pract.i.tioner, who is anxious to locate in Newark. I have known him many years and can vouch for his integrity and professional standing. Any courtesy and kindness which you may show him will be very much appreciated by me.

Very sincerely yours, Franklin Jewett.

CHAPTER VII

ERRORS

Mistakes--Slips of Authors--Examples and Corrections--Errors of Redundancy.

In the following examples the word or words in parentheses are uncalled for and should be omitted:

1. Fill the gla.s.s (full).

2. They appeared to be talking (together) on private affairs.

3. I saw the boy and his sister (both) in the garden.