Part 15

Yours sincerely, Mabel Potter

A similar form will suffice for the introduction of a man, whether to another man or to a woman. Discretion should be exercised always in the granting of letters of introduction, and it is well to write a separate letter giving details concerning the person thus introduced. The letter of introduction itself should be placed in an addressed envelope, which is left unsealed, to be presented in person by the one to be introduced.

Instead of a letter, a common practise uses the visiting-card of the person making the introduction. In such case, a line is written across the top of the card.

Introducing Mr. Russell Elliot

This card also is enclosed within its proper envelope, duly addressed, but unsealed, and delivered to the person for whose benefit it is given.

It is common for a man to call at the residence of the person to whom the introduction is addressed, and there give the envelope, still unsealed, to the servant, together with his own card. In the absence of the host or hostess, the caller places his own card inside the envelope, which is then sealed, and left. A woman never follows this procedure. She places her card in the envelope containing the introduction, which is then sealed, and dropped in the post for delivery.

One receiving such a letter of introduction, whether man or woman, is expected, if the bearer is a woman, to call on her within two days’ time, and to follow this up with some sort of hospitable entertainment. If, for any imperative reason, a call is impossible, a letter should be written in explanation.

The like procedure is followed when both parties are men. But when a man presents such a letter of introduction to a woman, she does not, of course, call upon him, but writes to extend her hospitable offers.

LETTERS

THE MOST TROUBLESOME detail in letter-writing is the matter of address. It should be noted that there is a distinction between Dear and My dear. In our country, the more formal style is with the pronoun, while the pronoun is omitted in writing to friends. A letter to a mere acquaintance begins with the words, My dear ............................. But the form for an intimate is simply Dear .............................

The usual address for business purposes and to those with whom no social relations are established is Dear Sir. The plural is used in addressing firms, Dear Sirs, or the one word Gentlemen, may be employed.

In addressing a man with whom social relations are established, the surname is used, preceded by Dear or My dear, according to the degree of intimacy. My dear Mr. Hudson; Dear Mr. Grant.

A woman who is a stranger may be addressed either as Madam or Dear Madam, whether she be married or unmarried. The form “Dear Miss” is to be avoided under all circumstances.

For the woman with whom the writer is formally acquainted, the address is: My dear Mrs. .............................., if she is married, and My dear Miss ............................, if she is unmarried. When the person is a friend, she should be addressed: Dear Mrs. ................, if she is a married woman, and Dear Miss ............................, if she is unmarried.

The full name should be signed to formal letters. The married woman should use her own Christian name, not her husband’s with the Mrs. prefixed. But, in business communications to strangers, she may very properly give her husband’s name with the prefix Mrs., below her usual signature, and inclosed in parenthesis.

Similarly, for the sake of clearness, a business letter by an unmarried woman may have Miss in parenthesis before the name.

Envelopes should be addressed to the recipient with the full name and necessary prefix—-Mr., Mrs., or Miss.

The Mr., however, must be omitted if Esq. is written after the name. The English custom limits the use of Esquire to those who are technically gentlemen. For example, Esq. is placed after the name in addressing a barrister, but it must not be used in writing to a tradesman, who is given only the prefix Mr.

The prefix Mr. is used when Junior or Senior is indicated after the name by an abbreviation. In such case, Esq. must never be written.

It must be noted also that in the case of addresses, as with cards, to which attention has already been given, the husband’s title must not be given to the wife. Mrs. Colonel, Mrs. Doctor, Mrs. Professor, and the like, are barbarisms, which are not tolerated in America or England. The Germans, however, use them.

The phrase before the signature to a letter varies according to the circumstances, and especially according to the individual taste. Thus, in concluding a very formal communication, it is quite proper to use the old-fashioned wording, I am, my dear Madam, your obedient servant. An ordinary convenient form that covers a wide field is, I remain, Yours sincerely, or Yours faithfully, or Yours cordially, writing I remain on one line, and the Yours, etc., on the line below. Thus:

I remain, Yours sincerely,

Yours truly, or Very truly yours, is best reserved for business communications. Yours respectfully is applicable for business communications, and also for letters addressed to superiors, and for use generally as a rather meaningless style.

Men of exalted position are commonly addressed as Sir without any qualifying word. And the form in ending is, I have, Sir, the honor to remain Your most obedient servant—Your, etc., forming a separate line.

A letter of a social sort would begin, My dear Mr. President.

The like form would suffice for the vice-president, except for a letter of social character, when he should be addressed by name, My dear Mr. .........................

A justice of the supreme court, a senator, a member of the house of representatives, a cabinet officer, the governor of a state, etc., all have the same formal Sir as the address and the corresponding phrase in conclusion. But there is variation in the address when the letter is of social import. The justice may be addressed My dear Justice ................., or Dear Mr. Justice ..................

The senator is addressed My dear Senator ........................ The representative in congress is addressed My dear Mr. .................