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The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness
·
Florence Hartley
103
Letter
writing
is,
in
fact,
but
conversation,
carried
on
with
the
pen,
when
distance
or
circumstances
prevent
the
easier
method
of
exchanging
ideas,
by
spoken
words.
Write,
therefore,
as
you
would
speak,
were
the
person
to
whom
your
letter
is
addressed
seated
beside
you.
As
amongst
relatives
and
intimate
friends
you
would
converse
with
a
familiar
manner,
and
in
easy
language,
so
in
your
letters
to
such
persons,
let
your
style
be
simple,
entirely
devoid
of
effort.
Again,
when
introduced
to
a
stranger,
or
conversing
with
one
much
older
than
yourself,
your
manner
is
respectful
and
dignified;
so
let
the
letters
addressed
to
those
on
these
terms
with
yourself,
be
written
in
a
more
ceremonious
style,
but
at
the
same
time
avoid
stiffness,
and
above
all,
pedantry.
A
letter
of
advice
to
a
child,
would
of
course
demand
an
entirely
different
style,
from
that
written
by
a
young
lady
to
a
friend
or
relative
advanced
in
life;
yet
the
general
rule,
"write
as
you
would
converse,"
applies
to
each
and
every
case.
Neatness
is
an
important
requisite
in
a
letter.
To
send
a
fair,
clean
sheet,
with
the
words
written
in
a
clear,
legible
hand,
will
go
a
great
way
in
ensuring
a
cordial
welcome
for
your
letter.
Avoid
erasures,
as
they
spoil
the
beauty
of
your
sheet.
If
it
is
necessary
to
correct
a
word,
draw
your
pen
through
it,
and
write
the
word
you
wish
to
use
as
a
substitute,
above
the
one
erased;
do
not
scratch
out
the
word
and
write
another
over
it:
it
is
untidy,
and
the
second
word
is
seldom
legible.
Another
requisite
for
a
good
letter
is
a
clear,
concise
style.
Use
language
that
will
be
easily
understood,
and
avoid
the
parenthesis.
Important
passages
in
letters
are
often
lost
entirely,
by
the
ambiguous
manner
in
which
they
are
worded,
or
rendered
quite
as
unintelligible
by
the
blots,
erasures,
or
villainously
bad
hand-writing.
A
phrase
may,
by
the
addition
or
omission
of
one
word,
or
by
the
alteration
of
one
punctuation
mark,
convey
to
the
reader
an
entirely
different
idea
from
that
intended
by
the
writer;
so,
while
you
write
plainly,
use
good
language,
you
must
also
write
carefully,
and
punctuate
properly.
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