Page:Collier's Cyclopedia of Commercial and Social Information.djvu/207

Rh This is tautology. Do not underline unless in very extreme cases.

"You know, darling, how intensely I love you," is perhaps excusable. Never abbreviate except in business. Dates should be given in figures, and money, in parentheses, thus ($10,000). Date carefully.

Begin a letter this way:

or , Sept. 7th, 1882. Avoid postscripts. They are only embarrassing. Take your envelope, and having neatly folded your letter, place it in the envelope, close the envelope and write in the most legible manner:

Abbreviate the names of the States in the following fashion:

Maine, Me.; New Hampshire, N.H.; Vermont, Vt.; Massachusetts, Mass.; Rhode Island, R.I; Connecticut, Conn.; New York, N.Y.; New Jersey, N.J.; Pennsylvania, Penn. or Pa.; Delaware, Del.; Maryland, Md.; Virginia, Va.; North Carolina, N.C.; South Carolina, S.C.; Georgia, Ga. or Geo.; Alabama, Ala.; Mississippi, Miss.; Missouri, Mo.; Louisiana, La., Tennessee, Tenn.; Kentucky, Ky.; Bean: ind.; Ohio, O.; Michigan, Mich.; Illinois, IL: Wisconsin, Wis.; Arkansas, Ark.; Texas, Tex.; Iowa, Io.; Florida, Fla.; Oregon, On.; California, Cal.; Minnesota, Minn.; District of Columbia, D.C.

There is no greater mark of good-breeding and politeness, than the prompt reply to a letter, Never lose a moment, if possible, in replying to one. If the reply requires delay, write to acknowledge receipt of the letter. Never reply by proxy if you are able to write yourself.

Never write on a half sheet of paper.

Avoid pedantry. Never write a congratulatory letter upon mourning-paper, even if you are in mourning.

Never try to patch an. ill-formed letter.

If you add your own address to a letter, put it under your signature, thus: Never write an anonymous letter. Treat it with silent contempt.

Never gossip. Friendly intelligence, if you are certain it is true, may be communicated.