This is tautology. Do not underline unless in very extreme cases.
"You know, darling, how intensely I love you," is perhaps excusable.
Never abbreviate except in business. Dates should be given in figures, and money, in parentheses, thus ($10,000). Date carefully.
Begin a letter this way:
Richmond, Va.,
June 1st, 1882.
or
New York, Sept. 7th, 1882.
Avoid postscripts. They are only embarrassing. Take your envelope, and having neatly folded your letter, place it in the envelope, close the envelope and write in the most legible manner:
Put
Stamp
here.
Mr. George Bawen,
827 State Street
Chicago,
fll.
Abbreviate the names of the States in the following fashion:
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, Penn. or Pa.; 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.; Bean: ind.; Ohio, O.; Michigan, Mich.; Illinois, IL: Wisconsin, Wis.; Arkansas, Ark.; Texas, Tex.; Iowa, Io.; Florida, Fla.; Oregon, On.; California, Cal.; Minnesota, Minn.; District of Columbia, D.C.
REPLIES.
There is no greater mark of good-breeding and politeness, than the prompt reply to a letter, Never lose a moment, if possible, in replying to one. If the reply requires delay, write to acknowledge receipt of the letter. Never reply by proxy if you are able to write yourself.
Never write on a half sheet of paper.
Avoid pedantry.
Never write a congratulatory letter upon mourning-paper, even if you are in mourning.
Never try to patch an. ill-formed letter.
If you add your own address to a letter, put it under your signature, thus:
Very respectfully,
Robert R. White,
154 RSt.,
New Orleans, La.
Never write an anonymous letter. Treat it with silent contempt.
Never gossip. Friendly intelligence, if you are certain it is true, may be communicated.
