tian name alone or by initials; as, "John" or "J. G. S." Thousands of letters are destroyed annually at the dead letter office because the signatures of the writers are omitted and the letters can not be returned to them. Usually no title should either precede or follow the signature, but if the writer is acting in an official capacity he may use some name to indicate that fact; as, "Cashier," "Agent," etc., this title to be written on the same line as the name or on the line below. Respectfully, Howard Lane, Pres. A married woman may sign her name in either of two ways: by using her husband's name and prefixing the title "Mrs."; as, Mrs. George Wilkins, or by signing her own name with the title in parentheses; as, (Mrs.) Ella Wilkins. The latter form should be used by a widow. An unmarried woman should always prefix the title "Miss" in parentheses when signing a business letter. Very respectfully. When one person signs for another, as an agent for his principai, he should so indicate by writing his own name on the line following, with the explanatory word by or per. When a firm name is signed by one of the partners, he need not sign his own name unless it is desirable to show by whom the letter was actually written or to distinguish the letters written by the different partners. Respectfully yours, Charles S. Page, by George L. Rosa Yours truly, Anderson & Brown, per A. G. Brown Punctuation. A period may be placed after the signature or it may be omitted. The tendency is to sign without it. If a title follows the name, set it off with a comma and follow it by a period. When a person signs for another, a comma should follow the first name. EXERCISES. Write a complimentary close and signature for each of the following: A letter to a United States Senator. A letter to a friend. A letter to a firm, signing as agent of a freight company. A letter ordering goods. A letter requesting payment of a bill, signed for a firm by yourself. A letter applying for a position. A letter from Moshier & Williams, signed by R. G. Williams. A letter from Mrs. E. C. Dewey. A letter from the cashier of a bank. A letter from Miss Winnie Marr. A letter from H. F. Adams & Co. A letter from the Densmore Typewriter Co., signed by one of its officers. THE ENVELOPE LESSON V. Superscription, or Envelope Direction. Comparatively few persons are able to direct a letter in a neat and pleasing manner. To do so requires a great deal of very careful practice. Some one has said that the character and habits of an individual may be learned to some extent by carefully scanning a few envelopes which he has directed. Two things are absolutely necessary in the superscription: that it be complete; that it be legible. Care should also be taken to keep the lines of writing straight and parallel and with uniform spaces between lines. On an ordinary envelope (No. 6, size 64x31⁄2 inches) the name should be written a little below the middle of the envelope and so written as to leave the margins at the right and left about equal. Let the name of the place extend farther toward the right, and the name of the state should be written at the extreme right and near the lower edge. Always include the street and number, if known, when directing a letter to a person in a large city. This rule is sometimes disregarded when writing to some prominent person or business firm; as, John Wanamaker, New York; Marshall Field & Co., Chicago; Jordan & Marsh, Boston. The name of the state, also, is sometimes omitted when directing a letter to a large city, as shown in the above examples. The better way, however, is to make the direction complete in every case. Never abbreviate the name of a city or town. Phila., Wash., Balt. are wrong. N. Y. City, When the street and number are to be written, place them directly below the name, leaving the same margin at the right usually. Mr. Geo. B. Webster, If the letter is directed to a very small town it is well to include in the direction the name of the county. This may be written in the lower left corner of the envelope, on a line with 'the name of the state. Mr. Delmar S Peterson! Spencertown! New York! Columbia Cos |