10. grand rapids mich january 3 1904 12. 190 broadway new york n y january 31 1903 14. 217 main st syracuse n y december 3 1903 Mr. Esq. Messrs. Rev. Hon. THE USE OF TITLES The title of Mr. is given to all men who have no other distinctive title; as, Mr. Thomas Seabury. Use as salutation, “Dear Sir: " In the United States the title of Esquire is given especially to lawyers and justices of the peace, and very commonly to any man as a mark of respect; as, John Brandt, Esq. Use as salutation, "Dear Sir: " Never write Mr. John Smith, Esq. The title of Messrs. is given to firms. Thus, Messrs. Smith & Jones; Messrs. Jones & Co. Use as salutation, "Gentlemen:" or "Dear Sirs: " Clergymen have the prefix Rev., Rev. Charles H. Parkhurst. Use as salutation, "Dear Sir: " Judges, members of the Cabinet, members of Congress, mayors, and all other high officers of the government have the prefix Honorable. Hon. John Hay. Use as salutation, "Sir: " Dr. Prof. The title of Doctor is given to Doctors of Medicine, Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and others who have received any other academic doctor's degree; as, Dr. Franklin James. Use as salutation, Dear Sir: Never write, Dr. Hugh Hamilton, M.D.— Dr. James Houghton, Ph.D. or The title of Professor is given to one who holds a professorship in a university, college, seminary, or other institution of learning. When using the title do not add any title of courtesy to name. One may add, however, an academic title, as Prof. George Valentine Nash, Ph.D. Officers of the Government. There are no titles known under the laws of the United States as attaching to any of the Federal officers. Custom, however, has established certain rules which it is well to follow. The President should be addressed, “The President.” All correspondence relating to the different departments should be addressed to the heads thereof; as, for instance, "Secretary of the War, Washington, D.C. Sir:" The Vice President is addressed simply as "The Vice President"; | but when in his capacity as President of the Senate, the form should be, "To the Presi dent of the Senate." The Speaker of the House of Representatives should be addressed simply as "Speaker of the House of Representatives." It is not essential to use names, it being customary to address the office rather than the individual holding it. In addressing the purely military or naval bureaus of the War and Navy departments, the heads of bureaus should be addressed by their names, using specific titles; as, Brig. Gen. Henry C. Corbin, Adjutant-General, U.S.A., Washington, D.C. Sir: Superintendent, Agent, Cashier, Treasurer, Secretary. The titles Superintendent, Agent, etc., are written after the name; as, Women. Mr. Luther Bent, Superintendent, Mr. Samuel Myers, Agent, Ohio Implement Co. Franklin Marshall, Esq., Cashier, Tradesman's Bank. Mr. Henry Whelen, Jr., Treasurer, Academy of Fine Arts. Women corresponding with strangers should always indicate their sex, as well as whether married or single, by prefixing Miss or Mrs. inclosed in parentheses. In writing to a woman the salutation should be “Madam" or "Dear Madam.” In a business letter Madam and Dear Madam are equally appropriate in addressing married or single women. Signature. Do not append titles to signatures. If one signs a letter in a representative capacity, e.g., as agent, treasurer, secretary, etc., the title should of course be added to the name. When one signs a letter in the name of another, he should add his name or initials, preceded by the word "per," after the name of principal; as, Davis and Littlefield, per Geo. Beck. or Davis and Littlefield, per G. B. A signature is legally binding written in ink, or in pencil or printed with a rubber stamp. In fact, the law accepts any mark as a signature if it can be shown that the mark was adopted by the writer as his signature and that he intended to bind himself by it. One should always sign his name uniformly. Always write your correspondent's name as he writes it. Write your full name. If your name is Henry M. Johnson, do not write it "H. Johnson." If you do, Harvey Johnson may receive your mail. Many mistakes and delays occur in business because of disregard of such details. The following abbreviations are frequently used in correspondence, namely: Agent. meaning Ante Meridiem = before noon. April. Assistant. August. meaning cost, insurance, and freight; that is, the price includes the cost of the goods, packing, insurance, freight, etc. Corresponding Secretary. meaning free on board; signifies that the price of goods includes all charges up to and including placing the goods on train or vessel. meaning id est = that is. meaning instant = present month. January. Ms. or Mss. meaning Meridies = meridian or noon. Manager. Manuscript or Manuscripts. November. |