Lord Chesterfield says in those inimitable letters to his son, that “style is the dress of thoughts, and let them be ever so just, if your style is homely, coarse and vulgar, they will appear to as much disadvantage as your person, though ever so well proportioned, would if dressed in rags, dirt and tatters.”
So true is this that graceful commonplaces, either spoken or written, are far more apt to produce a pleasing impression than weightier matter awkwardly uttered, or uncouthly expressed. Hence, the length and familiarity of the friendly epistle should never be carried into the short, concisely worded business letter, while the social note, though brief, should differ greatly in its gracefully turned phrases from the formal note of acceptance, regret, application, or introduction.
The following forms are to be looked upon, not as copies, but chiefly as suggestions that may be used to solve some doubtful point.
Social and Friendly Letters.
These are less subject to rule than any other class, and the models here given are simply to show how flowing and easy the style may be between friend and friend, or how gracious and instructive from parent to child. In the friendly letter great freedom of detail is allowable, especially among near relatives. “You do not tell me half enough,” writes H. H. from Europe. “I even want to know if the front gate is off its hinges.” But do not render a friendly letter so long as to tax the patience of the reader. “Samivel Veller” discovered one of the secrets of letter-writing when he made that famous love letter of his short, “so she vill vish there vos more of it.” Neither railing, nor fretfulness, nor too great egotism, is wise in letter-writing, for written words have a sad fashion of outlasting the mood in which they were penned, nay, even the hand that penned them.
Letters of Introduction.
These are left unsealed, that the bearer may be permitted to read the contents. They are brief, so that if read in the presence of the person introduced, the slight embarrassment may be shortened as much as possible. They usually contain a reference to the occupation or character of the individual in order that some slight clue may be given to the recipient in beginning a conversation, and usually conclude with some pleasant, complimentary phrase.
One simple form would be:
Evanston, January 1, 189—.
My dear Miss Kimberlin:
This letter will introduce to you my friend, Mr. Otis Van Orin, a member of the Corps of Civil Engineers, to be located near your home for several months during a partial survey of the new railroad. May I not be assured that you will extend to him some of the hospitalities of your delightful home, thus being to him that “friend at court” so desirable to the stranger in a strange land? Trusting that this will be the case, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
Charles H. Calcraft.
Another, from a mother introducing her daughter to an old friend, would read: