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309
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness
·
Florence Hartley
109
LETTERS
OF
ENQUIRY,
especially
if
they
request
a
favor,
should
contain
a
few
lines
of
compliment.
If
the
letter
is
upon
a
private
subject,
such
as
enquiry
with
regard
to
the
illness
or
misfortune
of
a
friend,
avoid
making
it
too
brief.
To
write
short,
careless
letters
upon
such
subjects,
is
unfeeling,
and
they
will
surely
be
attributed
to
motives
of
obligation
or
duty,
not
to
interest.
Letters
of
enquiry,
referring
to
family
matters,
should
be
delicately
worded,
and
appear
dictated
by
interest,
not
mere
curiosity.
If
the
enquiry
refers
to
matters
interesting
only
to
yourself,
enclose
a
postage-stamp
for
the
reply.
In
answering
such
letters,
if
they
refer
to
your
own
health
or
subjects
interesting
to
yourself,
thank
the
writer
for
the
interest
expressed,
and
answer
in
a
satisfactory
manner.
If
the
answer
interests
your
correspondent
only,
do
not
reply
as
if
the
enquiry
annoyed
you,
but
express
some
interest
in
the
matter
of
the
letter,
and
give
as
clear
and
satisfactory
reply
as
is
in
your
power.
LETTERS
OFFERING
FAVORS--Be
careful
in
writing
to
offer
a
favor,
that
you
do
not
make
your
friend
feel
a
heavy
weight
of
obligation
by
over-rating
your
services.
The
kindness
will
be
duly
appreciated,
and
more
highly
valued
if
offered
in
a
delicate
manner.
Too
strong
a
sense
of
obligation
is
humiliating,
so
do
not
diminish
the
real
value
of
the
service
by
forcing
the
receiver
to
acknowledge
a
fictitious
value.
Let
the
recipient
of
your
good
will
feel
that
it
affords
you
as
much
pleasure
to
confer
the
favor
as
it
will
give
her
to
receive
it.
A
letter
accompanying
a
present,
should
be
short
and
gracefully
worded.
The
affectionate
spirit
of
such
little
epistles
will
double
the
value
of
the
gift
which
they
accompany.
Never
refer
to
a
favor
received,
in
such
a
letter,
as
that
will
give
your
gift
the
appearance
of
being
payment
for
such
favor,
and
make
your
letter
of
about
as
much
value
as
a
tradesman's
receipted
bill.
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