large part of the correspondence. You have had expe- Exercise 62 Address a letter to the Board of Superintendents of New York City, making application for the position of principal of Grammar School No. which is vacant. You are qualified for the position intellectually, as attested by a diploma from Amherst College, and a Doctor's Degree in Philosophy from Ilarvard University; morally, as attested by an upright life to which all who know you can testify; practically, as attested by eight years' service in the schools of Boston. Give three names for references as to your ability, proficiency, and success. Close with thanks for any consideration that your letter may receive. Exercise 63 1. Mr. John H. Holly has been informed by Mr. A. W. Applegate of (give an address) that the firm of Roberts & Liggett of (address) will shortly have a vacancy in their office for a clerk proficient in bookkeeping, stenography, and typewriting. Mr. Holly was graduated from a high school (give name), after which he took a two years' business course at (give name of a school), where he studied bookkeeping, stenography, typewriting, and correspondence. He has a working knowledge of these subjects and feels capable of satisfying the demand of an office clerkship. Write letter of application from Mr. Holly to Roberts & Liggett, giving the above facts; add the names of two references, and close with the observation that if his application is entertained, he will do his utmost to justify the confidence that may be placed in him. 2. Roberts & Liggett have before them Holly's letter and a reply from Mr. (one of the references), to whom they wrote upon receipt of Holly's application. The letter from reference gives a favorable account of Mr. Holly and satisfactory assurance as to his personal character. They take pleasure in informing Holly that they offer him the position of assistant bookkeeper and correspondent in their office at a salary of $500 per annum. He should report for duty on (give a date). Write letter from Roberts & Liggett to Holly to this effect. Exercise 64 1. Write newspaper advertisement "copy" for a bank clerk not over twenty years of age. Must be of neat appearance, good penman, rapid calculator, and have some knowledge of commercial law and negotiable paper. State that applicant should write letter of application in his own handwriting and inclose copies of credentials. 2. Then write letter of application from James G. Roberts (give an address), who has the following qualifications: he has been graduated from a commercial high school, where he received training in penmanship, rapid calculation, commercial law and negotiable paper, and other commercial subjects. His style of penmanship is shown in the letter he writes; he received special commendation for the rapidity and accuracy of his calculations from his teacher, Professor Samuel Huntington, a copy of a testimonial from whom he incloses, and he believes he has an intelligent understanding of the elementary principles of commercial law and negotiable contracts. He also incloses a testimonial letter from his pastor, Rev. Alexander Williams. Write letter. 3. Write general testimonial letter from Professor Samuel Huntington. Speak of Mr. Roberts's high standing in his class, both as regards his manly and uniformly courteous bearing toward teachers and fellow-students, and the intelligence, ability, enthusiasm, and determination shown in all his work. 4. Write the testimonial of Rev. Alexander Williams, who speaks of Mr. Roberts as a worthy son of a highly respected family; of his attractive personality; and of the regard in which he is held by all who know him. Exercise 65 Answer the following advertisement :· WANTED — TO TAKE CHARGE Embody the following qualifications: you are twenty-eight years of age. You have had seven years' business experience as a double entry bookkeeper and correspondent. You are also familiar with all the best methods of investigating credit, and have the tact and executive ability which you feel would enable you successfully to take charge of a credit department. You are at present head bookkeeper for to whom you are at liberty to refer. Your reason for seeking a change is that you desire a position where initiative and executive ability would have fuller play. --9 (After writing the preceding the teacher should prepare other exercises which will fit the needs and qualifications of the individual students.) CHAPTER XI TELEGRAMS AND CABLEGRAMS AMONG the wonders of the nineteenth century the electric telegraph stands preëminent. By this invention man ceased to be limited by the obstacles imposed by space. The effect of transmitting thought from continent to continent is apparent in the rapid development of international commerce. The first successful cable lines between the United States and Europe were put into operation in 1866. In that year our commerce with Europe amounted to $652,232,289; in 1876, to $728,959,059; in 1886, to $898,911,504; and in 1896, to $1,091,682,874, while our commerce with the whole world, which in 1866 amounted to $783,671,588, had by 1903 reached the enormous sum of $2,445,860,916. The methods of conducting business between merchants and financiers in the different. countries have been completely revolutionized by the telegraph, which now places the business man in touch with the markets of the world. Telegrams. Clearness and brevity are the standards in the writing of telegrams. Both are absolutely essential. To the extent that either is lacking the expense of this method of communication is increased. Expressions used in letters for the sake of politeness or ornament are omitted from telegrams; the latter should contain only the bare gist of what one has to say, and this stated clearly and unmistakably, but as briefly as possible. It is quite customary after a telegram is sent to follow it up with a letter of confirmation. Such letters generally begin as follows: "We wired you this morning as follows:" (then follows copy of telegram). This, then, is generally followed by more detailed information; or "Confirming telegram of this date," etc. The telegraph companies make a minimum charge for messages sent to any part of the United States. This minimum charge is generally upon a basis of ten words. Nothing is gained, therefore, by reducing a message below ten words, as the charge is the same for a less number; but an additional charge is made for every word above ten. There is no charge for the name and address of the addressee nor for a signature. Compound words are counted as one word, e.g., to-day, to-morrow, etc. Figures, decimal points, punctuation marks, bars of division, and letters (except pronounceable groups of letters, such as form codes) will be counted each separately as one word. In ordinal numbers, the affixes st, nd, rd, and th will each be counted as one word. Numbers, therefore, should be spelled out. A.M., P.M., F.O.B. (or fob), C.O.D. (or cod), C.I.F. or C.F.I. (or cif or cfi), O.K., per cent, cwt., are each counted as one word. I |