final selection. "A very excellent letter" is his com- . ment; "well written, aptly phrased, correctly punctuated, and altogether attractive." And the writer of that letter receives an appointment that means opportunity and liberal compensation.

In brief, the ability to write a good business letter cannot be overestimated, for already a large part of the business of the world is done by correspond

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Moreover, this method of transacting business is yearly increasing, because of the constant development of the postal service. Its most recent enlargement is the new rural free delivery. service will benefit all the people of the United States: the farmer, by increasing the value of his farm products through closer touch with the markets; the merchant, by enabling him to reach more readily so profitable a customer as the farmer; and all, in enlarged business, social, and educational benefits.

Since, therefore, the post offices are the means of carrying on correspondence, extending social and educational intercourse, and stimulating all departments of trade, knowledge of the manner in which they are conducted should be general. Such knowledge is not as common as it should be, for statistics show that people display an amazing ignorance and carelessness in the use of post-office facilities. They confide to the ordinary mail, jewelry and valuable papers with

perfect confidence in the integrity and care of the postal officials, and with profound faith in the certainty of receipt by the addressee. To illustrate: recently an ordinary letter containing $1400 in currency reached the Detroit office, and it is one of the traditions of the same office that an envelope containing $36,000 in unregistered United States bonds was safely delivered, although it was both unsealed and unregistered.

The need of clear letter writing, and of a more intelligent use of the postal facilities, is evident. The present work has been prepared in the hope of contributing to the means for better instruction in letter writing, and also to a wider knowledge of the postal system.

CHAPTER II

THE TECHNIQUE OF A BUSINESS LETTER

IN writing a letter the most natural course is to consider first what is to be said, and then what is to be the mechanical form or arrangement; but in presenting the subject here it is more logical to consider first, the form or arrangement of the letter; and, secondly, the subject-matter with its phraseology and diction.

The manner of arranging the various parts of a letter may seem unimportant when the document is considered merely as a medium of communication; yet certain forms of arrangement are recognized as convenient and customary; and since these forms have become established, and the observance of them facilitates correspondence and secures method in letter writing, it is important that the writer should be made familiar with them and understand their purpose.

The first essentials of a good letter are clear writing, neat arrangement, and correct spelling. One who writes a distinct, legible hand, observes good forms, and spells correctly may indeed make serious rhetorical blunders, and express his ideas in a con

fused way; but he has at least made sure of three important and easily acquired habits. A letter deficient in these essentials always makes a bad impression. Too frequently letter writers are indifferent to, or ignorant of, the value of these essentials. Excellence, therefore, should be exacted in these three things. The student should be impressed with the thought in letter writing that what is worth doing at all is worth doing with care, and care includes at least a plain hand, correct spelling, with adequate punctuation and neatness of general appearance.

The widespreading use of the typewriter has given an importance to the technique of letter writing which it did not formerly possess. Errors in form, punctuation, spelling, etc., which in the hand-written letter are often unnoticed, in the printed letter become glaring and irritating.

For convenience in considering the form or arrangement of the letter it may be divided into five parts, namely:

1. The heading.

2. The introduction.

3. The salutation.

4. The body of the letter.

5. The complimentary close.

Model forms for arranging and punctuating these various parts are shown in the following illustrations in outline and in full :