Letters, or notes, commenced in the third person, should be continued throughout in the same form. It is obviously incorrect (though of frequent occurrence), to adopt such phraseology as—"Mr. Small presents his compliments to Miss Jones," etc., and to conclude with "Yours respectfully, G. Small." This mode of expression (the third person), is only adapted to brief communications of a formal nature. No address and signature are required when the names of the recipient and of the writer are introduced into the body of the note, as they necessarily are. The place of residence (if written), and the date, are placed at the left hand side of the paper, below the principal contents.
Letters designed to be mailed—such as are written to persons living at a distance from your own place of residence—should have your proper mail address legibly written on the right hand side of your sheet, above the rest of the communication, together with the date.
Notes addressed to persons residing in the same place with yourself, require only the name of the street you reside in, and your number, with the day of the week—as "Clinton Place, Thursday P. M.," or, "No. 6 Great Jones
St., Monday morning"—which is usually placed below the other portions of the missive. It is usual to write short notes of ceremony so as to have the few lines composing them in the middle of the small sheet used.
Forms of signature and address vary in accordance with the general tenor of letters. When they are of an entirely ceremonious character, or addressed to superiors, usage requires an elaborate address and subscription; but the style of familiar epistles permits throughout every variety of language that good taste and good feeling may invent or sanction. Only let there be a general harmony in your compositions. Do not fall into the inadvertency of the person who addressed a missive full of the most tender expressions of regard to his mistress, and signed it—"Yours respectfully, Clark, Smith & Co."
Legibility, Intelligibility, and Accuracy are requisite in the direction of all epistolary compositions.
Correct taste demands some attention to the subject of Writing-Materials. It is now becoming the practice to use small-sized paper for communications of ceremony and friendship, continuing the contents through several sheets, if necessary, and numbering each in proper succession. It is, also, usual to write ceremonious letters on but one side of a sheet, and to leave a wide margin upon the left hand side, and a narrower one on the opposite edge of the paper.
The finest, smoothest paper should always be used, except for mere business matters; and, though some passing fashion may sanction tinted paper, pure white is always unexceptionable. All fancy ornaments, colored designs, etc., etc., are in questionable taste. If ornamental bordering, or initial lettering is adopted, the most chaste and unpretending should be preferred.
Except for mailing, envelopes should correspond exactly with the sheet inclosed. Envelopes sent by post should be strong and large-sized. Sometimes it is well to re-enclose a small envelope, corresponding with the written sheet, in a large, firm cover, and to write the full direction upon that.
Sealing wax should always be used for closing all epistles, except those of an entirely business nature. Stamps and seals may vary with taste. A plain form with an unbroken face, suffices; or initials, a device and motto, one or both; or hereditary heraldic designs may be preferred.