The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness Part 12

E. C. LAW.

MISS ANNA WRIGHT.

If you use an envelope, and this custom is now universal, fold your letter neatly to fit into it; then direct on the envelope. Put first the name, then the name of the person to whose care the letter must be directed, then the street, the city, and State. If the town is small, put also the county.

This is the form:--

MISS ANNA WRIGHT, Care of Mr. John C. Wright, No. 40, Lexington street, Greensburg--Lee County.

Ma.s.s.

If the city is a large one, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, or any of the princ.i.p.al cities of the Union, you may omit the name of the county.

If your letter is to go abroad, add the name of the country: as, England, or France, in full, under that of the city.

The name of the state is usually abbreviated, and for the use of my readers, I give the names of the United States with their abbreviations:

Maine, Me. New Hamps.h.i.+re, N. H. Vermont, Vt. Ma.s.sachusetts, Ma.s.s. Rhode Island, R. I. Connecticut, Conn. New York, N. Y. New Jersey, N. J.

Pennsylvania, Pa., or, Penn. Delaware, Del. Maryland, Md. Virginia, Va.

North Carolina, N. C. South Carolina, S. C. Georgia, Ga., or, Geo.

Alabama, Ala. Mississippi, Miss. Missouri, Mo. Louisiana, La. Tennessee, Tenn. Kentucky, Ky. Indiana, Ind. Ohio, O. Michigan, Mich. Illinois, Ill. Wisconsin, Wis. Arkansas, Ark. Texas, Tex. Iowa, Io. Florida, Flo.

Oregon, O. California, Cal. Minnesota, Minn. District of Columbia, D. C.

If you are writing from another country to America, put United States of America after the name of the state.

On the upper right hand corner of your envelope, put your postage-stamp.

If you send a letter by private hand, write the name of the bearer in the lower left hand corner, thus:

MRS. E. A. HOWELL, Clinton Place, Boston.

Mr. G. G. Lane.

In directing to any one who can claim any prefix, or addition, to his proper name do not omit to put that "republican t.i.tle." For a clergyman, Rev. for Reverend is put before the name, thus:--

REV. JAMES C. DAY.

For a bishop:

RIGHT REVEREND E. BANKS.

For a physician:

DR. JAMES CURTIS.

or,

JAMES CURTIS, M.D.

For a member of Congress:

HON. E. C. DELTA.

For an officer in the navy:

CAPT. HENRY LEE, U. S. N.

For an officer in the army:

COL. EDWARD HOLMES, U. S. A.

For a professor:

PROF. E. L. JAMES.

If the honorary addition, LL.D., A. M., or any such t.i.tle belongs to your correspondent, add it to his name on the envelope, thus:--

J. L. PETERS, LL.D.

If you seal with wax, it is best to put a drop under the turn-over, and fasten this down firmly before you drop the wax that is to receive the impression.

Cards of compliment are usually written in the third person. I give a few of the most common and proper forms.

For a party:

Miss Lee's compliments to Mr. Bates, for Wednesday evening, Nov. 18th, at 8 o'clock.

Addressed to a lady:

Miss Lee requests the pleasure of Miss Howard's company on Wednesday evening, Nov. 18th, at 8 o'clock.

For a ball, the above form, with the word _Dancing_, in the left hand corner.

Invitations to dinner or tea specify the entertainment thus:

Mrs. Garret's compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Howard, and requests the pleasure of their company to dine (or take tea) on Wednesday, Nov. 6th, at 6 o'clock.

The form for answering, is:--

Miss Howard accepts with pleasure Miss Lee's polite invitation for Wednesday evening.

or,

Miss Howard regrets that a prior engagement will prevent her accepting Miss Lee's polite invitation for Wednesday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard's compliments to Mrs. Garret, and accept with pleasure her kind invitation for Wednesday.

or,

Mrs. Howard regrets that the severe illness of Mr. Howard will render it impossible for either herself or Mr. Howard to join Mrs. Garret's party on Wednesday next.

Upon visiting cards, left when the caller is about to leave the city, the letters _p. p. c._ are put in the left hand corner, they are the abbreviation of the French words, _pour prendre conge_, or may, with equal propriety, stand for _presents parting compliments_. Another form, _p. d. a._, _pour dire adieu_, may be used.