^, - ^ AV^ -> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I ut Uii 112.2 ^ 1^ 12.0 I );. ■ 1.25 II 1.4 1.6 "^ 6" ► /2 V. ^f /A Hiotographic Sciences Comoration 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSEO (716) 873-4503 •^ \ ^^ ^\ <^ 4^\ >;V' (f- 4^> CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquat at bibliographiquas Tha Inttituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua. which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction. or which may aignificantly changa tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. 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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont fiim6s en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparaltra sur la dernlAre Image de cheque microfiche, selon Ie cas: Ie symbols — ^ signifie "A SUiVRE", ie symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul ciich«. il est film« A partir de I'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche h droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant Ie nombre d'images nicessaire. Les disgrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 VC VA\ ■'%] I :^i •1 i; i< "il 4^ 13 y. Lr^S ¥.^iM iYif i^. AIDS TO . ^ ^ EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE; \ OR, If ■ FAMILIAR DIRECTIONS FOR WRI .LBTTE RS ON VARIOUS SUBJE ALSO : RULES OF PUNCTUAIIION. rOR THE USE OP THE PUPILS I CONVENT. K- PRINTED BY G. E. DESBARATS. 1865/ I ) r:-^M"!t _f ::.^i:-' ' j ■:( :>!"■' %_ ^fsi^tW*^**^', ■ AIDS TO EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE. Among the yarious parts of learning in which young persons are initiated, some serve chiefly to amuse the imagination, and furnish the mind with employment in solitude and leisure, being of little actual utility in the common intercourse of life ; but the ability of i^n7tng'/6/^er« clearly and to the pur- pose, finds an opportunity of frequent exertion and display in every department of business, in every profession and employment, and in all the endearing offices of social relation. ./ vVt^;/ /5 -^ /' ■• 1 ,.. The general rules which govern other styles of composition are, for the most part, applicable to letter- writing : ease and simplicity, an even flow of unlaboured diction and an artless arrangement of obvious sentiments, have been pronounced to be the qualities most frequently required/jh Brevity is often an object of the greatest importance in the epistolary style ; and that which it may be proper to elaborate in other modes of treating a subject, it is necessary to condense in a letter : the same arguments and expressions, also, which would be proper in a stat^ ment, or appeal to the public, might be indecorous if addressed to an individual. '1 \ , ..=, AIDS TO /'<^» I/. fy.. A correspondence between two personS) is simply ^ conversation reduced to writing ; in which one party savs all that she has to commiinicatet replies /to preceding inquiries^ and, in her turn, proposes ! questions, without interruption by the other ; who takes precisely the same course in her answer. We should write to an absent person as we would | speak to the same party if present. To a superior i we ought to be respe(?tral ; to a parent, dutiful and afieclioimte ; to a f )nd, frank and easy ; and clear and defini te in oi expressions to all. Ambi- guity in epistolar}' correspondence is a fault which ught, most scrupulously, to be avoided : a word laced in an improper part of a sentence, — a phrase hat has a double signification, — a passage so blotted or ill-written as to be unintelligible, — a careless mode of sealing, by which a portion of the manuscript is broken or concealed, will often render it necessary Ifor the party receiving the letter to write, and she . , * ' who is guilty of the fault, to reply to another epsUe, ^ 1 requirhig the necessary explanation,VThe delay thus occasioned is oftea of serious importance : besides, the person addressed may conceive that she has caught the import of the doubtful passage, when the contrary may be the fact ; and thus the writer, much to her own detriment, may be misunderstood on a most critical point. In fact, to be ambiguous, or un- intelligible, is to be wanting in duty to ourselves, and in respect to those whom we address. . Conciseness is one of the charms of letter- writing. ! We do not mean to say that a letter should not con- lain sufficient facts, ideas, and feelings; but tliey 1 \ ^ € e ▼ M a. n lo m foo ' th all ap •u in Uo tai as brc dei r m 1 7 1 ' BPXITOLAlir CORRBSPONDINCS. ply one I lies ! >8e»l vho }uld i jrior ' tiful and nbi- hich word irase otted elesB jcript 1 ssary \ \ she I r thus sidesy has in the mueh i on a or un- js, and ' Tiling. ot con- It tliey v-t.- 4* ought to be M briefly expressed as pertfpicuity and elegance will permit. If we encumber an idea with Tert>iage it lo^es its power. There ^are some persons who, when they expr ss a feeling, or. a thought, of whioh simplicity should be the charm, clothe it with all the verbal treasures they posseps. This is lik« wearing one's whole wardrobe at once, — the figure in lost in a mass of draper^f^engthened periods are asf much out of place ina letter as they would betn conversation, for they tire the reader even more than they would the hearer : when writteh, their faults are also perceived with much less difficulty than when spoken. Our style, of course, may rise with oUi •ubjeot ; but all parade of words should be dropped < in a familiar epistle. The death of a friend or rela- j tion, a calamity, or any circumstance of grave impor-f . tance, should not be communicated in the same manner as a trifling occurrence, or even a happy event tf brevity in these cases is beauty ; in those it would be deemed unfeeling and abrupt. " \^ BiU iu aiming at the aqquiremen,t of an elegant and i easy Vevity, it is incumbent on us> at once, to avoid ] falling into a rugged or an enigmatical style, and be^ [ coming so concise as to be unintelligible. This is a ^i ault whioh must be avoided ; it is even better to he i lolix and intelligible than brief and obscure. V To an absent friend an elaborate letter will be raobt elcome : /while 9 stranger, a superior, or a person oi il {whom the, writer seeks sometliin^ will recoil from a ; |» folio of' four pages," and, p*:frhaps, throw it aside j unread, or, at best, but slightly skimmed over. When 1 the party to whom a leiler is addiessed, is uninterested vj V h AXDI TO . I /in the subject on which it is written, the writer of it I should display a brevity which will attract attention I and insure a (lerusal : no unnecessary omannent I should be used) nur, in fact, anything introduced but I what \» iniix)itaut, and buari* Htrungly on the case ^ stated or tin? i'?u]iury rnnJo. All those little personal f ■i details uik! tiUlir.goirouinstanous, which are so delight^ / fui in a letter from a iriend. would fatigue and dit«gust ,. t astrangtir, or a hUi>uriory lo whom they are destitute of \interest. '^' ''^^, /(JDisplay is a fault of trrrut vvriiri]t/, fase is the grace ' f of kttt-i-wriiing ; far-fetclied words and studied phraseB, are by no means tol>o not.eptcd as legitimate ornaments in the epi:nal I ?ht- \ gust Le of jace idled mate rhich but it from bject, e cost 5r80ll8\^ on all ^. ood if ' )unt of! aturalir. obser- arning iguage^^ Lcn tlie jserves of laifr rer ele- lise ^i<» expr^tf ion ; whatever AlU us with hope, or terror, will] produce perturbation of images and some figurative] distortions of phrasep Whenuvor wo are studious ^to please, we are afraid of tiuhtinji^our first thoughts, and endeavour to recommend our opinion by studied orna- ments, accuracy of metiiod, and elegartoe of elyhi/ In all epistolary correspondence, the choice of embellishments, the language, mutter und r tanner In general, should, as in conversation, be governed ty the relative situations in life, an to age, rank, !!haracter, &c., of the parties addressed and address* t. ng. A lady neither writes nor speaks to a gentleman | as she would to one of herdwn sex. 'ihe language Df a mother to a daughter, is very different from that f}f a daughter to her mother. In our first letter to a person, as on our 6rst introduction, we should be i respectful, and by no means familiar. 1 he distance/ ' /which either age, rank, sex, or any other circum- >r^nce, occasions, ought always to bo remembere^^ • (Jve should never forget what we are, and wh^'^i^ /person is whom we address.^ We should say only) precisely what ought to be said ; and write, in fact, t with the same restrictions as we would speak, sup-j posing the party present whom we aildress ; we should! bear in mind, that our letters are, in every respect,, representatives of our persons, — that they may be| said to speak for us; and that an estimate 'of ^ur I j piaracter and manners is frequently formed from the! \|lfyle and language of our epistles!) \' ^^ AVhatever we should say to a person present, wej) write if absent. There is, of course, a choice ou ts to be mad«, and a proper mode to b# choson/l -_ii>. J i /' I i which are generally supposed to be the moBtdifficudt, are, in fact, the most easy of execution ; for the cir- cumstance which calls for the letter, afiorde us a^ ^subject A to this the letter must be restricted«7 It »j true, that there is a graceful manner of framing an ^^quiry, and making a compliment, and this manner itTSvjln vain to i^eek for, by labour, at the moment tfee letter is required ; if it be difficult to compose, it wiU seem studied, heartless, and inelegant in expresskH|. Simplicity and ease impart the chief grace tbat can be^iven to a condoling or complimentary note, v letter of congratulation should be as a thernless! ; the least appearance of enyy, or^ealously/nij the good fortune of those whom we felicitate, i^j^_^ ardonablcih^t should contain no hint of any h<^ that the aMmcement, or change of situation, upon which ^he compliment is made, may afford tke 'perten addressed the means of conferring a bone^t'bft'lilli _,.{ party writing. /it should^ in fact, %e Ia ttttmlMT \ m V-'. 4 XPI8T0LART COIUlISPOMI>EKC£. ,p tate,..,.|ii__ ly hckp« II, \ipc»ti |;^fMaL.'ll«l .M /txprewioQ of pleasure and congratulation on the j event that calls for its production/f' Carejaui8t,jjgyfii3;, I theless> he taken to keep within due hounds : to I exaggerate in our congratulations, is to hecome keenly \satiricaft In i)ine, the style must always correspond with the occasion. In a letter of congratulation we sho uld be ^ cheerful ^^m an epistle of condolence all pleasantry^ 0, thould be banished: to exhibit the wit which we^ ' ^ possess, at such a time, is like smiling at a funeral,/' to display a beautiful set of teeth. «*~^^ 11 When addressing a person who is labouring | under any grievous calamity,, it is >«id taste to make light of it ; by treating that loss as a matter which a little firmness would enable the party| who has suffered it to endure calmly, we irrit g^tei lather than soothe^ It is better to enter into the feelings of the mourner, — to eulogize the departed relation, — to rebuke the ingratitude of the false friend,— to confess the inconstancy of fortune, or otherwise, according to the circumstances andy| without magnifying, to lament the full extent of the condoled party's affliction : thus we seem to sharot wid, therefore, in some degree, lessen the sorrow^^ /the sufferer. /X celebrated lady, in a letter of condo", / lence to a friend, uses this language :— " The more "^~tfiink on the loss you have just met with, the greate I \% appears, and the more it affects me. He was, indeed, worthy of being the head of such a familv a^l . jrours, and can never be replaced ! We have everj Ic^aWQIL to believe that he is happy : we should wee] Ibr Qurteiy^s, therefore, rather than for him. M] N lb ^A.\) r. AIDft TO I /heart grieves for your situation : it will be long ere ; / you can console yourself for such a separation. If 1/ were mistress of my own actions, I would certainly! I abandon everything to be near yo!i." This language| I is balm to the wounded mind, which rejects consola-| ition from those who do not seem sensible of the! i^extent of the sorrow under which it labours^ ^'^iMli subject must, nevertheless, be treated witHa delicate hand ; for, by exaggeration, we should aggravate rather than console ; and a mere string of bitter r reflections, without any concluding ray of hope being held out ; or the least hint that the calamity has been occasioned by the neglect, or imprudence, of the parly suffering under its visitation, is like striking the / ^ sjricken deer. ~^/'"" — — ^ ^/? 7^ I') Letters of impn'ryf t.s their subjects are generally f .Tief, will bear a little verbiage^ To be too concise in our inquiries, as to the indisposition of an acquaint- ance, manifests a carelopsness, which may be turne^d, to our disadvantage : but a mere billet of compli- fiientary inquiries should not be lengthened iato a ^formidable epistle ; it then" becomes absuidtjQn an application to a superior in rank, or age, for a favor, neither gaiety nor familiarity is toleratedj A request rriay be made to an equal, and an acquaintance, with /BtlfiiLiles ;^riendship commands, even when she askii : a friend may, therefore, when soliciting, be pleasanT^" ( without impeachment"!|SrBrunel wroto thus Ho hii \ friend Fontenelle : — ^^lou have a'thousand crowns^-**' send them to me." To this request Fontenelle replied, as follows :— " When I received your lett| I. was about placing out my thousand crowns : J l .:-. T^sr,. EPISTOL/HT CORRESPONDENCE, U : er© If i; linly! uagel pola-| ' thej icate ivate bitter )eing been party r the •'A not easily find eu good an opportunity again,-^Voyez f done." Brunei's rejoinder was only " Send me your j thousand crowns," and Fontenelle sent them. — -^ The forms of complimentary letters of ihanks, for / inquiries, &c , are extremely simple ; being little more than an echo of the inquiries, with the writer's icknowledgements for the civility of the inquirer, [n letters of thanks for real favors conferred, lKe\ ^^,^ anguage ought to be simple and strong : It should|^v a3 ippear to be dictated by the heart : the principal subject must, of course, be the writer's gratitude. ^ The extent of the obligation should neither be raagni-| ^ 'ied nor treated as less than it really is. To hint that :he favour conferred shall be returned, or to express a wish that an occasion rnay offer, for the party benefited, to oblige her benefactress, is exceedingly! ndelicate ; and conveys an idea, that the writer fegj the favour to be nothing more than a loan, wl p. be repaid the first opportunity : although he feeling, it is not fit that it should be ex pi f< If we confer a favor, and announce the )arty whom we have obliged, it is necessarj my expressions that may tend to wound the t is possible to grant a favor in such a mannel tffend, rather than to delight j to create di^ jEither than gratitude. '.J*' ^A letter oi recommendation is a letter of busii ^nd should be composed with care : it is a guarantee,] the extent of its language, for the party recom- inended j truth, therefore, should never be sacrificed^ ^ condescension, false kindness, or politeness. Toi Irtkt a letter of recommendation coutiary to uae^> rs: /; I 12 ' i'-' AIDS TO ' "^ * C^ own opinion and knowledge of the person rec — ^professions of ajttachmetity and an expression of earnest desire to recover the good opinion of the person o^ncied,^are,4he elements of a letter of ea^cuse, — modified according to the fact,^ JiinOf and persons interested.jf It is sometimes neces- sary to make excuses for offences not yet noticed, such as delay in reply to a letter, or in executing a commission : in these cases they generally commence letters on other subjects. A reason should be given for the delay ; or the neglect candidly confessed, and indulgence solicited. If the apology appear forced, or made unwillingly, it cannot be effective. Frank- ness, in all ordinary cases, will ensure forgiveness. Tit is wrong to imagine that in a. familiar or playful^ correspondence, or letters of intelligence, the slip-shod^ jmuse is to be paramount False grammar, in good society) is not tolerated, even en famille, neither can jLbe in a letter. « In the most familiar epistle, wet should recollect what we owe to our language, to onr^ correspondent, and to ourselves. We ought not to write anything of which we may hereafter feel ashamed. [For the benefit of the young and very lively, it laaay, perhaps, be well to observe, that even in the jnost familiar letters, pertness and flippancy are, to: persons of good sense, neither agreeable nor amusing. In a letter oi inteiligence, whenever tfie^nati^ of (h^ jiews communicate^ will permit, cull witli taste^ and elate without preamble. Select suoh facts ae yoo know will be most interesting to your conee^KmdeBt, |nd relate them, if of a pleasant nature, gaily, but titboi^ maiie^ ; if serious, adopt a style 8iutiU»i« te Ike ciieumttanceer^ '■ S i '■.-■ ! J ^ f h 5 rAM,- Ht 4. t > EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE. 15 ' ^^ Notes written in the third person, are frequently used, on ordinary occasions, between equals in age or rank, to make a refjly to any request ; to convey ciyil inquiries, or compliments, &c. For these and similari purposes, this form is elegant and unexceptionable)!) It is also generally adopted by superiors, when ad 4 dressing inferiors on subjects of little importance ; but it is improper when an inferior addresses a superior, or when the subject is serious or important It ifl also too cold, distant, and reserved, for ep istolar y cor respondence between near relations or friendsIHf •A individual be addressed by her equal, whetner upon \^ terms of intimacy, or otherwise, in l^e third person, it is usual to reply in the same form ^,but if, in answer to a letter which is commenced an^ concluded with . the endearing epithets used by parties who entertain a friendship for each other,^r the respectful terms and expressions of regard, sanctioned by custom, between acquaintance or pnrADnal strangers, the third person be adopted, it is equal, in the strongest cases, to an insult ; in others, it in accepted as a hint that the writer is offended, or wishes to close the correspondence ; and, under other circumstances, it amounts to a slight degree of incivility. Every letter, that is not ini^ulting, merits a r^ep/j if it be required, or necessary. All the precedi] observations, with regard to rank, age, &c., are, course, applicable to replies. If the letter contain< a request, accede to it gracefully, and without osten* tation, or refuse without harshness. An answer to letter of condolence, or congratulation, should b^ gsatefol. The lubjects should succeed ei^sh other ti^ * 16 AIDS TO i J « 7 /proper order ; and the questions put, be consvctttive lyN |( answered. In familiar correspondence, a greater j latitude of arrangement is allowed ; but even in this* no question should be left unanswered. In all repliefl/ it is usual to acknowled^ the receipt, and to mention; ttie date of the last letter received : this should be an 1 invariable rule ; by neglecting it, yonr correspondent! j may be left in doubt ; or very properly deem youl i guilty of offensive inattention. — -^-— ■«r - "l*** In answers to/letters op business, the^bbs^anc^ o^ the commnniomion, to which tjje writer i^^boiii lb replyi i^ geperally staled. Th^ manner i^f' doing tfiis is uiiua^ly^s follows-: — " In Feply tO'yoi» iettfT^r, diitedy &0;, in which you'state thair, &c., fori^iny si^ttidg forth Lthe principal points which you are about to answeri} I beg to say, fcc.'^f . This practice will give a formal air to a familiar epistle, if strictly purf«ued ; but somer attention should be paid to it in all epistolary corres- pondence, as it insures clearness, which is one of the greatest beauties, as obscurity is the chief defect, of S^ieJlSf-writinn. ■ ,'/h n fit is almost needless to say, that in epifitolftry, as V/ J bU as in every other style of composition, the raids ^f grammar should be strictly observed. As to ortho- graphy, it will be sufficient to repeat, that although to spell correctly be no merit, to spell incorrectly is a great disgrace. A parenthesis is objectionable, if itj break the sense and distort the senten6e7\ Comparisons are sometimes very felicitous ; but they must be made with care : their merit consists hi the unity of their terms. A metaphor may also h^ used with advantage, if it occurs naturally; afid aa ¥ % ; : I / H V r If «] mi h 5$ 18 th •J al IB- of ? IPIITOLAkT CORRESPONDENCE. IT IS 0- to ut fill i4 •j ■ , ■- ■i.. V anecdote may be ai happily applied in a letter as in ) familiar conversation. Allusions are elegant, when I introduced with ease and they are firell understood by I those to whom they are addressed/ An allusion may I be made to some pictorial, poetiqal, or mythological relation ; to an anecdote of society ; to an adventure \ -with some well-known person^e ; or, indeed, to any subject of notoriety. The| antithesis renders a passage piquant ; but those who use it too frequently are apt to become enigmatical. : Proverbs, and jeux- de-mots are inelegant ; if the latter be admitted, it must be sparingly. y'^'The usual contractions in the English language ar* /permitted in letters between friends, relations, and * I equals. They are unobjectionable, also, in letten* on ] business ; but held disrespectful, even by those who . ^are not exceedingly rigid, when used by an inferpi I addressing a superiorj f ^ Irrunctuation is a matter of the utmost importance in f every species of literary composition; it has been i properly termed, the very marshalling and arrangirte/^ I of the words of a language; without it there ifl "<^/f iplea rness, strength or accuracyJLlts utility consisitf^ m separating the different portions of what is written. . in such a manner that the subjects may be properly classed and subdivided, so as to convey the precise meaning of the writer to the reader ; to show the rela- tion which the various parts bear to each other ; to unite such as ought to be connected, and keep apart >IU}h as have no mutual dependence. -^^ 11 order to show the necessity of not merely usin^ | •jnt0> but punctuating properly, the following pae-j / A-' 18 •u;cu AIM TO >vyiTtii»- flage from a work on this subjecti in which it is given I as a study, but without any key, is submitted to the| f reader : — I '' The persons inside the coach were Mr. Miller a. o1ergyman|his son a lawyer, Mr. Angelo a foreignetl^ his lady ^nd a little child." . -^- -^ : As this passage stands, without points, it is unin> '. f telligibie : by different modes of punctuating it, | H several alterations may be made in its senseiji not I only as the number of persons in the coach, but also, jl as to their country, professions, and relationship to Jleach othen) fiy a change of points, the lady may be I describeSTas the jleimH^~oi either one of two per- ' jL sons : Mr. Miller's son may be made a clergyman, or a lawyer, at will ; or his son may be taken from him and given to a clergyman, whose name is not entioned. ,„,^ f'^^^he most usual and proper situation of the address of the party writing, with the date beneath it, is on * the upper part, and on the right side of the paper, I ^midway between the first line of the letter and the I Supper edge. Notes, written in the third person, are. 'vt m / r./^. '•^ ^casionally, dated in the same manner ; but \ these, the most approved manner is to place the ad- \ dress and date on the right side, n little below the \^last line of the noteA loth letters an^ notes in the third person, should be addressed to the party for whom they are intended, on the left side of the lower part of the paper ; the place of abode it is unnecessary to addr The 4etter, or note, should never be finished so near the bottom as not to leave sufficient room for the usual cpncluT; ^ f . ■Q et n-'. K'- EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE. Id t fsioDf signature, &c. It is better to carry over a line ^ I or two to the next side, than to squeeze the signature j of the writer, and the name of the party addressed, I down to the paper's edge, even if a little more than the usual blank be lelt beneath the last line of the first side. The signature should always be written ; towards the right edge of the page. The language ^-adopted at the conclusion of letters, varies acccording to the rank, age, and other circumstances of the writer and the person addressed. It is disrespectful to be too concise in this part of a letter, especially when addressing a superior. The forms ascend, by various grades, from the plain ** I am, Sir, Your humble servant," even beyond " I have the honor to be. My Lord, whh great respect, Your Lordship's most obedient, And very humble servant," &o. It is usual to display the conclusion in two, three, or more lines, according to the terms used by the writer. "^^ ^ Postscripts are, for the most part, needless, and in|| ad taste. jj^ Some attention must be paid to the superscription :{ 'Jt should be neither too high, nor too low: but a! prifie below, and to the right of the centre of thej^ fenvelope ; the beginning of each succeeding linef should be nearer the right edge than that of the linef . j^^hich precedes it^ - ^ ^^"^Ke following examples will serve to illustrate more fully, the directions that have been given with regard to the mechanical execution of letters, and nett« in the third penon. .. v ;. i 80 AIDS TO A LITTIE, WITII ITS PARTS. (date.) {body of the letter,) Q/ nave eni/eavoiea ^o /lie^enl a jKU^ Auun (mectiond' /ou ^ttei -mutt^, limionj Q/no/iej mtu^e i^t(//(ctenlm mtee- ^^u^^ fmmoul mucn m^oiea ea^ff/ana- twn. QJVl nou^^uei, 0/ nave un/oitte- naie^ ne^afectea a^^ mateiia/Aom^, 0/ mauv&hu auuCm ^Mm tm ae/iciencuj ^ yoa un{/ na/ve Me rincme66' to men- tion tij efYnet /i&l4onaumj, oi ^u note. (style, or comjdimentary closing.) ^&c6id ies/iect/uttUj (sigTiaturc.) (tk9 eddresSf or superscrtption.) ^pon. Jif^med' (^a/^iei. # 4 \. ' < Parker*s Aids to Composition,^* # Thiti M^i'.ttl, vfixh. those that folioW; i« tiiken fram ** F«rk«r>9 Aid* to Composition," *m i m HPISTOLARY OORMiVOIfDKNCI. 21 tn Tery fonnal lettetK, thii addrem shmiM praeoda the letter and tiia li^atiuti, no that the individual i» dd feeaed may, at fir»t Hight, p«re«ive that the com- munioation is intended for him, before he hat taken the trouble to read it through. In this oaae, alto, the date ahottlfl be writtea below, in the place of the adifpss, A FOaaiAL LBTTIB. ^y dfo ^ Q^on, Q^. JMommei, Q4^or 0/ I^oiton^ ^/ ^M/^ ipt uM^tne^, ana to i^^/om in ti. M>i4^. Q^. Sd. /id J. The folding* of a letteri though in itielf a thing of 22 /:.:}■ A^f AIDS TO iri^^i ':Tr{ FORM OF NOtES OF INVITATION, WITH TH« REPLY. INVITATION FOR THE EVENING. Omj'. <^rmM^ ieaue^i^ me h^ctduie tjf OMt. an(/ QMu. ^nc^man's conb. haovu on Q/nuuda/u (b'i^e a.^ Me JM eaeon Q^ua. 2(/. apparently trivial importance, is still deserving of attention. * Official documents and very formal letters liave, some- times, but two folds ; and these are made by doubling over the top and bottom parts of the whole sheet, or open letter, in the mannerin which papers are generally kept on file. The whole is then enclosea in an envelope. V \ - -^ (1.) The phrases "Kespecied Sir," "Honored Sir," ad- dressed to straugers are obsolete. ;, ^. ,^ ^ (2.) These phrases "Yours truly," "Your obedient ser- vant,'* and the like complimentary forms, are not considered as conveying the sentiments of the writer ; but when other than such common phrases are made use of, they should be well considered. * * (3.) In addressing any but intimate friends the name should be signed infuU at the close of the letter. f As the lady is generally considered the head of the tea- table, there seems to be a propriety in the invitation to tea, or tho fvoninvi coming from the lady of the houm alone. n ^-^^-y:-.:.,^.-^ :-i^^.i^..^^ _*li -;>i- , BMlitOLAltT CORKISPONDINCB. THS REPLY. 2S . ana QMu. ^nahman accent ♦ When notes or letters are addressed to gentlemen of the same name, they should be addressed, '< The Messrs.," c>r "Messrs."; if to two single ladies, " The Misses,'^ not the " Miss." Thus, « The Misses Smith, or, " The Misses Davies," not, ** The M»s Smiths," nor, " The Miss Davises." I Or, Mr. and Mrs. Chapman regret that a previous engagement unll deprive them of the pleasure of accepting Mrs. Smith's poiite invitation for Thursday evening y ths bthinst. ^^,. , V v The address of a gentleman to a lady's invitation may be : Mr. Chapman has the ho7ior of accept i^igf &c., or, regrets that a previous ^gagemeJit will prevent his having the honor, ice. / ^• f '"♦f:. ^v ( ;^ jttt:- ST! i ' i '.;... i ~0'',>^,. -A 0$_\j^.,\ ''^m: .^•MiaMimai U jjmr TO INVtTATIOlf TO DSlfNBX. d^nnH on ^^^u&m nSoifij tut ^ THX REPLY. Notes are written upon note paper, or finely enam^ elled cardt^ and enclosed in suitable enrelopes. BPISTOLAKT COKRESPONBCIfCB. is Another fonn of notes of inritation is the following QM. cmc/ QSu, Victim, ant/ ie- aue^U Me h^tuuie c/ me^ eom/uinu on ^ue^aau (D^enma neo^. This is more formal, and used when the parties are not intimate. ^ -- ^ /> r ; . * ." . ''r^' ■ -1 ■' ' ♦■> ^ i. Ml •^•••^'^»''» » ^r/i"*;^. \'S ,w. ;**w*t' ,V-?> »s.m'"'>''' ^* K V. », xr RULES OF PUNCTUATION. 4 1. Punctuation is the art of dividing written lan- guage by points; tiiat its meaning may be readily understood. 2. The points used in punctuation are thes3 :— • Period, . SemicoloNi ; In?;brroqation Point ? Comma, , Exclamation Point ! Dash, — Colon : Parentheses ( ) Brackets, [ ] Be.*«ides these, the following characters are used :— Apostrophe, ' Hyphen, Quotation Points, « >' 3. A Period must be placed I. After every declarative and imperative sentence j as, '*" Beauty is fleeting." "Take heed." II. After abreviations ; as, Dr. for Doctor ; P. S, for postscript. 4. An Interrogation Point must be placed after every interrogative sentence and member ; as, " Is not nature beautiful ? " " Nature is beautiful, shall we not, then, enjoy it? " , ^-^^ 08 RULlt Of w ^;ar ^0. it sets off t^e f -^ o, uul... H i- II. After every f'^^^'^^J, other word ot^otd*, « Hail, virtue ! " .:„„^in«andexctam.UoniK.inU I«erl periods, i"»«"°«"trUwing ">'"»«• "m, wherever they .re n^^e^'nrmili* ^^^^Were Mr. Air is 828 times l>gWer than ^^^g^^th Jones and his son Ch- aUje ^r^^^,,^ has Kone to Nyact, RocWm"'^.' t ^„„,,o»- t«f first used in Germa^7^f;i,Lwh*t a fin. Where were lookmg-S^«f^»^i„deed that's pss- .ight is a sun-me »» *«f,"','^„t unow who spoke- sing strange-Who spoke-i ^^^ ^^^ Lie is well, is heUou.s XIV^ o^ ^_^_^ ^^^eve ted military '•"^fo^^''^^^ MohammedV-How true this^What an -P^-^^Xxhe Alps ahound m is the ^y'^'^^^^M like to visit them,' fine scenery -, how 1 worn 6. A Colon must be f'^ „j sentences, when I. Between the great d^^""" ^,^ie„lon, as, « I .ubdivisions °o««.«.«Pr I love you : but you most admire you, my fnend ^ to 7^ „ not expect me to «''^« '^ \^,„^«eration of p.^.^" II. Before a l^otaUon or ^n e^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^. 1- "^^-^ "'^i • Z « The fcllowing benches ^"^^ ::;'"£So^^ History, Grammar," ««• ; PUNCTUATION. 129 t a fin* XH pa«- LO Bpoke. ^t adop- low lr>ie t)ound m « eg, when on, as,** I you mttbt of partieu- fr branches I. Between the members of a compound senteitMy unlesis they are very closely connected ; as, " Doubt and distraction are on ealrth ; the brightness of truth is in heaven." ' '^ II. Between the great divisions of sentences, even though closely connected^ When subdivisions ocotn*, separated by the comma ; as, << America, otherwise called the New World, was discovered in 1492 ; but it was not settled till some years afterwards." III. Before the conjunction aSf inlroducing an ex- ample, as in the last two paragraphs. * ' Insert colons and semicolons wherever they are required. One thread does not make a rope.'one swallow does not make summer. — The Esquimaux feast on rancid fish ; the Russian peasants consider themselves well ted: if ibSsy have rye-bread and cabbage soup^ut more civilized nations are not so easily satisfied. — Our stock of defensive weapons was as follows one old sword, dull, jagged, and rusty one musket without a lock and two pitchforks, which my grandfather had received from his ancestors. — He reasoned thus ^* All men are mortal I am a man therefore I am mortal. — The poem begins with these words "Arms and the man I sing," &c. — He is my friend who tells me my faults^he is my enemy who speaks of my virtues. — Trouble neglected becomes still more troublesome a stitch in time saves nine. — There are eight parts of speech the noun, the pronoun, &c. , ' v- :- 8. The Comma indicates less break in the connec- tion than any other point. It must be used according to the following rules : — ^' v^ -* ■•■■ I. Phrases, adjuncts and clauses that are not restric- \ 1 ; t I i ■I t « ' ^^ , Wt out without injury to ,^e,^that is, that may be lo^^^^ so as to br^ tence, «ust ^ «>» J" , »„ «ee the world. Mjr *otd. ore aUo ^» f J^„„>i„g for the struggle. fa«,e«r, was first ma ^.^g,^ ^^f^f' «nle»ce, Phrases. a,>j«ncts, cla»«s^ ^„„,„e«cement of « •«»« ^« Jibed al«ve, siandmg a the ^^^^^ '»»^''«""'"'f j' t iesonueu them; as, •"' ,. young torgei tla ri-^ t "S before an., or, f '-'; ,T Aoomm'^^'^^^^P'n order tAo*), and some J« fwhett equivalent to - °^;^;,,,„otwords,but thlr conjunctions, wben ^ey "J (.^^ •,„ sense, other conj i dauses, closeiy « Spring short tnembets a"^' ^^ ^„me pomt ; as, J ::^y^y*-'^Sri*e place otaverb.. Til A comma otten w^ avoidmg repev eon unction, omitted tor the sake of ^^^^.^^^^^^,^ tS •, as, " SoiUvau com-n^^ ^^^ ^,, ^l^e Greene, on the left, I PUNCTUATION. 31 njury to to break >f a sen- cotftttia ; « Mary* it Rome) the mea- tibed above jomma; **» g» c* ^:^^ id, (yr, i/, &»*«» at), and some not words, but lied in eei^s®'! . as, ** Spring! , brigbtly iM may not be led| e of a verb or avoiding repetij the right ftanki :ing Ibe place ^ the verb commanded, omitted after Oreene. " He came, saw, and conquered ; " a comma takes the place of the conjunction and, omitted after cam£, IV. A comma is placed after the logical subject of a verb, when it consists of a great many words or ends with a verb ; as, ** The anarchy that had grown up in England among all classes during these long and bloody wars, now bore its fruit." " Whateyer breathes, lives." ? . r r; t ';«f y. Words used in pairs take a ^omma after each pair ; as, '* Brave but not rash, prudent, but not timid, he soon gained the respect of his soldiers." "^ < VI. A comma sets off a noun in apposition with some preceding noun, when it is accompanied with several modifying words j as, " Harvey, the disco- verer of the circulation of the blood, was an eminent English physician." VII. A comma generally separates words and clauses expressing contrast or opposition ; as, Liberal, not tavisht is kind nature's hand. Though deep, yet dear ; though gentle, yet not dull. Insert commas where they are required by the preceding rules. When the graces of novelty are worn off admiration is succeeded by indifference. The ox knoweth his ownor and the ass his master's crib. He who pre- serves me to whom I owe my being whose I am and whom I serve is eternal. We hear nothing of causing the blind to see the lame to walk the deat to hear the lepers to be cleansed. The miseries of poverty of sickness of captivity would whhout hope be insupport- able. To err is human j to forgive divine. His wis- 3$2 RULBS OF I ' dtom not his talents attracted attention, f^arth and sea rain and snow night and day summer and winter seed time and liarvest show forth the wisdom and goodness of the Creator. He was gigantic in know- ledge in virtue in health. ;, Johnson had repeated a psalm which he had trans- lated during his ailiiction into Latin verses. Cowper the gifted poet died in the year 1800. Miltiades the son of Cimon was an Athenian. Self-oonoeit pre- sumption and obstinacy blast the prospects of many a youth. Translated to heaven Enoch knew not death. Far down in the depths of the ocean the mermaid plied her song* I will tell the story that you may know how I have been injured. A man so insensible to kindness as not to manifest the slightest gratitude for the many favors you have bestowed on him is un- worthy of any further notice. Those who w^Qro grounded have died. 9. The Dash is used I. To denote that a sentenpe is unhnishedy from hesitation in the speaker or writer, or some sudden intemiptioB ; as, ^< Pardon me for wounding your feelings, but — " II. To denote a break in the construction; as, '^The bpy— oh ! where was he ? " HI. To denote an unexpected transition from grave to cmdo style ; as, ** He had a manly bearing and — jui exceedingly red nose." lY. After other points, to make them denote a ■omewhat higher degree of separation ; as, ''To be ^▼erlodced and misunderstood, to be envied and |«r- Meufetdi— ittch is, too often^ the fate of genius." W-.->*i»r'**-t**ipi»"» PUNCTUATION. on; w, "The 10. Parentheses are used to enclose words that explain or add to the leading proposition of a sentence, when introduced in 6»uch a way as to interfere with the harmonious flow ; as, *' 7'he alligator (so the American crocodile is called) abounds in the bayous of Louisiana." 11. Brackets are generally used in quoted passages, to enclose some word improperly omitted by the author, to correct a mistake, or to introduce some observation or explanatory word that does not belong to the quotation ; as, " Few good men [the author might have said none at all] can escape calumny." EXERCISE. Insert dashes, parentheses and brackets, wherever they are required. Some men are afflicted with a grievous consump- tion of victuals. She is very intelligent, very refined, vei^ affable, and withal very fat. " Here comes " " Your obedient servant," broke in my friend. You are a a a I know not what to call you. This ignis fatuus for so we might rightly call it led many to their destructilSn. Byron and the same may be said of many a better man was the cause of his own un- happiness. This admitted and admitted it will have to be by honest minds I proceed to the next point of the argument. My brother is eager after for going. The finest oranges which that I ever ate came from St. Michael's. Just as the twig is bent alas ! it is too often bent the wrong way the tree's inclined. -?.«;/ 12. The Apostrophe is used - - .- .^^ >;vt. 2 fi RULES OF I. To denote the omiHsion of one or more letters in a word ; as, o\r for ovet, ^mid for amidf thro^ for through, II. As the sign of the pnnsessivo case ; as, man^H, men's, 13. The Hyphen is used I. To connect simple wohIh, nuilin;^ to form :i cnin> pound ; as, nut-broum, ever-to-be-remembered, ill- naiured. ,^ When the compound comes into very commuii iisf, thtif hyphen is often omitted ; as iw firemauy myself, railroad. II. To connect the syllables into which u word is separated, particularly at the end of a line ; as ** In- tegrity is its own reward." In-ieg-rl-ly. When there is not room to get the whole of a word in d line, it musil be divided according to syllables, ai^d, the hyphen having l)een placed after a complete syllable, the rest is car- ried over to the commencement of a new line. •. ' ' r ,, 14. Quotation Points are used to enclose a passage quoted from a writer or speaker in his own words ; as, Cowper says, " Oh for a lodge in some vast wilder- ness ! " ' ' ^ Single Quotation Points (< ') are used to enclose a quo- tation within a quotation, or one in Which the words of the writer or speaker are slightly altered ; as, " Cowper says, ^ Ij •.r.r^^t. T '■■•i ■; ^•';' •1\-'N EXERCISE. -j^. . ^ .^t; X*-; T- ,'fj? ' " Insert apostrophes, hyphens and quotation points, where- ever they are required. • " Well sit neath willows by the waters edge. Id not give a hapenny for such an ill tampered cur. Een ■■■^ PUNCTUATION, 35 letters in thro^ for beredy iU- loii use, ihtf a wold is Irt word ill tt 1, the hyphen ae rest is car- f . p 1/''. a passage words; as, ^ast wilder- nclose a qUo- words of Ihe per aays, *Oh . loints, where- tho the heavens nV.ould fall, 1 11 have no fear. As we approached the citys gates on that never to be forgot- ten day, my companion's courage forsook him. Char- less hat is better than Moses. The oftquoted passage, God tempers tne wind to the shorn lamb, is taken from Sternes Sentimental Journey. I will say to you, continued my friend, what an old philosopher once Haid, Know thyself. Tired nature's sWeet restorer, as Young poetically stylos sleep, is oerpowering me. A gtun, says a Chinese proverb, is not polished wllj^out rubbing ; nor is a man perfected without trials. TS •^ V. w f ■^,7 / y- # .^■•y '. #' -a^ii^ fh^a^-cA^^^' Jge. Id not cur. Een