Twentieth century culture and deportment, or, The lady and gentleman at home and abroad : containing rules of etiquette for all occasions ... . f he were discoursingwith the party to whom he writes, says Howell, and, ancient as thewords are, no better advice can be given to-day. Write easily, and never simply for effect; this gives a constrained,stilted style that will soon cool the correspondence. Let your thoughtsflow as they would were you conversing with your friend, but do notgossip ; give friendly intelligence only when certain of its truth. Thiswill not seem too much when it is remember
Twentieth century culture and deportment, or, The lady and gentleman at home and abroad : containing rules of etiquette for all occasions ... . f he were discoursingwith the party to whom he writes, says Howell, and, ancient as thewords are, no better advice can be given to-day. Write easily, and never simply for effect; this gives a constrained,stilted style that will soon cool the correspondence. Let your thoughtsflow as they would were you conversing with your friend, but do notgossip ; give friendly intelligence only when certain of its truth. Thiswill not seem too much when it is remembered how written wordssometimes rise up in judgment against their authors when the spokenwords would long since have been forgotten. A lapse of time willbrush the bloom from our sentences and nothing can bring back againthe tender grace that transfigured the over-sweetness of some littlewritten sentiment, or redeem it from the realm of the bombastic inour eyes to-day. Then let your communications be, not exactlyyea and nay, but do let them be such that you would not fear tohear them read aloud before you, for more than this cometh of 432 LETTER WRITING. Grammar and Orthography, These should receive most careful attention. A great author isone, according to Taine, who, having passions, knows also hisdictionary and grammar. And a good letter-writer, as well, mustknow his dictionary and grammar to render his missives presentable. Grammatical errors are almost unpardonable, and a misspelled wordis an actual crime in these days of dictionaries. Punctuation andcapitalization, too, must be looked after, and the whole letter giveevidence of thought and care on the writers part. Handwriting, Paper and Ink Are all of importance, and etiquette has prescribed certain formulasfor these adjuncts of a good letter, that, however the vagaries offashion may invade the outer borders of the realm epistolary, arealways correct and in good style. The paper in best taste is thick, white or cream
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidtwen, booksubjectetiquette
