CHAPTER VII LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION A LETTER of introduction is a letter written by one person to another, introducing a third person, who usually presents the letter to the person to whom it is addressed. Thus, suppose A, living in Boston, is about to visit Chicago. B, also of Boston, who is a friend of A, has a friend, C, in Chicago, whom he is desirous A should meet while there. So B writes a letter addressed to C, introducing A to C. This letter is not mailed, but is given to A, who carries it to Chicago and presents it personally to C upon his arrival there. A letter of introduction should not, of course, be given unless the writer is well acquainted both with the person to whom he is writing and the person to whom he is giving the letter, for otherwise it would be presumptuous and impertinent to do so; neither should such a letter be written unless the writer feels that it will be agreeable to the persons introduced to meet each other, and that their relations will be mutually agreeable. Letters of introduction have in view either a business or a social object. While rather general in their 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. 6---- Your reason for seeking a change is that you desire a position where initiative and executive ability would have fuller play. (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 preeminent. 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 EXAMPLES FOR PRACTICE Exercise 38 Write a letter of introduction for Mr. Walter Haines, a friend of yours, who is about to visit Chicago, introducing him to your friend, Howard Fielding, of 335 Michigan Avenue, Chicago. Exercise 39 1. You once expressed yourself as desirous of serving your friend, Mr. Samuel Birch, of Altoona, Pa., in the way of an introduction. He now writes you, asking for a letter of introduction to some good builder in New York with the view of securing orders for building materials which he handles. Write the letter of Mr. Samuel Birch to you. 2. Then write a letter to Mr. Birch acknowledging his letter and request and inclosing a letter of introduction addressed to Mr. William Kilpatrick, Builder, 225 Broadway, New York. Inclose both in envelopes, properly addressed. Exercise 40 Your friend, Henry W. Wilson, 120 N. Third Street, Dubuque, Iowa, asked you some time ago whether you knew of a good bookkeeper and correspondent who wished a position. Since then you have learned that J. Horace Morgan, a friend of yours, is looking for such a position. He has had five years' experience, and you have personal knowledge of his efficiency and integrity. Write a letter of introduction for Mr. Morgan to Mr. Wilson. Exercise 41 Your friend, Samuel Dickson, has just finished the manuscript of a text-book on arithmetic, which he is desirous of having published. You are very well acquainted with Frank Jordon of the publishing firm of Hibberd & Hibberd, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York. Write for Mr. Dickson a letter of introduction to Mr. Jordon. |