Page:Hill's manual of social and business forms.djvu/18

 vi letter; the letters of introduction, of recommendation, excuse, sympathy, and business —all these practical epistolary forms, such as enter into the every-day transactions of life, should be thoroughly taught in our schools.

The gathering of news for the press, the rules and typographical marks for proofreading, the illustrations of printing types, visiting and business cards, notes of invitation, etc—all these exercises and more, can be introduced with great benefit to pupils. In short, nearly every chapter of this Manual, much of which has never been published before in any form, can be used to supply practical lessons in the schoolroom.

In the business walks of life, a work of this kind has long been required. In penmanship, use of capital letters, punctuation, letter-writing; the forms of notes, bills, orders, receipts, checks, drafts, bills of exchange, articles of agreement, bonds, mortgages, deeds, leases, and wills; in selecting the kind of type in which to print the hand-bill or card; the marking letters; the law of the different States concerning the limitation of actions, rates of interest, usury, and amount of property exempt from forced sale and execution,—all this and much more contained herein, will be of especial service for reference in the transaction of business.

By the lady, much will be found in a Manual of this kind that will particularly serve her in the writing of her social forms. As a text-book and self-instructor in writing, it admirably serves to give her that delicate and beautiful penmanship which pleases the eye as does fine music the ear. The rules of composition, writing for the press, the letter -writing, the marriage anniversaries, the notes of invitation to the cotton, paper, leather, wooden, tin, silk and other weddings; the fancy alphabets for needle-work; the selections for the album, lists of common Christian names, and synonyms, abbreviations, foreign words and phrases, the rules for writing poetry and the laws of etiquette—all these will meet her especial favor.

The mistress of the household will find here the form of the testimonial suitable to be given the servant upon his or her departure to seek a situation elsewhere. The mother will find the written excuse to the teacher for the non-attendance of her child at school; the servant, the form of letter when applying for a situation; and the bashful, blushing maiden, the cautious, carefully worded letter, that will aid her in giving expression to the hitherto closely guarded secrets of the heart.

The sign-painter has daily use for a reference book of this kind, arranged and adapted, as it is, to the comprehension and wants of the knights of the pencil and brush, with the rules of punctuation, prepared for his especial use, and abundant examples of signs, so as to enable him not only to paint the letters and words beautifully, but to punctuate the same correctly. In this department is given a large number of plain and fancy alphabets, while the book throughout contains beautiful emblems and different kinds of lettering. The fine specimens of penmanship and pen-flourishing, including round-hand writing, old English, German-text, and