The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness

S. E. LAW, WILLOW GROVE, NEW YORK. In writing to a dear friend or relative, where there is no formality required, you may omit the name at the top of the letter; put the date and address thus-- WILLOW GROVE, NEW YORK, June 27th, 1859. DEAR ANNA: I write, etc. It is best, however, to put the full name at the bottom of the last page, in case the letter is mislaid without the envelope; thus-- E. C. LAW. MISS ANNA WRIGHT. If you use an envelope, and this custom is now universal, fold your letter neatly to fit into it; then direct on the envelope. Put first the name, then the name of the person to whose care the letter must be directed, then the street, the city, and State. If the town is small, put also the county. This is the form:-- MISS ANNA WRIGHT, Care of Mr. John C. Wright, No. 40, Lexington street, Greensburg--Lee County. Mass. If the city is a large one, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, or any of the principal cities of the Union, you may omit the name of the county. If your letter is to go abroad, add the name of the country: as, England, or France, in full, under that of the city. The name of the state is usually abbreviated, and for the use of my readers, I give the names of the United States with their abbreviations: 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, Pa., or, Penn. 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. Indiana, Ind. Ohio, O. Michigan, Mich. Illinois, Ill. Wisconsin, Wis. Arkansas, Ark. Texas, Tex. Iowa, Io. Florida, Flo. Oregon, O. California, Cal. Minnesota, Minn. District of Columbia, D. C. If you are writing from another country to America, put United States of America after the name of the state.