LETTER-WRITING. It is impossible to lay down any precise rules for the composition of letters. As letters embrace every variety of subject, the style of writing will vary accordingly. In every case, however, the main point, and the one to be constantly kept in view, is to express what you want to say simply, clearly, and naturally. There should be no straining after effect, no use of obsolete or far-fetched expressions, but the style should be easy and flowing. As regards the contents of the letter, it is a very simple rule not to write for the sake of writing, i. e., say what you want to say, and no more. If the subject be business, use as few words as are necessary to express your meaning with clearness and accuracy, and then stop. If your letter be one to a friend, tell him what you think will interest him; but do not think it necessary to fill so many pages. A short and full letter will be far more welcome than one spun out merely for the sake of producing a long letter. One important point to be attended to is the beginning and the end of a letter. To a perfect stranger it should begin either "Sir" or "Madam," and end with "Yours obediently" or "Your obedient servant." To a person with whom you have a slight acquaintance it should begin with "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam," and end with "Yours respectfully," if to a superior in position (as from a boy to his master, or maid to her mistress); but if to an equal in position it should end with "Yours faithfully" or "Yours truly." If to any one you know fairly intimately, it should begin with "My dear Sir," and end with "Yours very truly " or " Yours very sincerely." To a person known more intimately, if in the same rank of life, begin with "Dear Mr. Jones," or "Dear Mrs. Smith," or "Dear Miss Brown," and end with "Yours very truly;" while to a very intimate person you may put " My " before the "dear." To relations or exceedingly intimate friends you may leave out the " Mr.," "Mrs.,” or Miss," and write " My dear Uncle, Aunt, or Cousin," and end "Yours affectionately," or "Very affectionately." But common sense will be the best guide.. It is a good old rule to avoid beginning your letter with the word "I." Always finish one subject before beginning another, putting the most important subjects first. 66 Always head every letter with your full postal address, and the complete date; and in business letters put your correspondent's name and address at the foot. 1. The following are specimens of different kinds of letters : 4, Alma Cottage, January 16, 1871. SIR,-Having heard that there is a vacancy for a Junior Clerk in your Warehouse, I venture to offer myself for the situation. I was educated in the Cheal Parochial Schools, where I remained ten years, and acquired a very fair knowledge of English Grammar, Geography, and History. I am fond of Arithmetic, and can work sums in Vulgar and Decimal Fractions. I have also a slight knowledge of Book-keeping. My hand-writing will speak for itself. I am allowed to refer for a character to Rev. W. Jones, vicar of this parish, and Mr. Smith, of Woodlands Hall, our Squire, both of whom have known me from childhood; and my father has worked as gardener at the Hall for more than twenty years. Should you appoint me to this situation I will promise to do my duty to the very utmost of my power. I am not afraid of work, and like to make myself useful. I am 15 years old. I am, Sir, 2. The Bellevue Hotel, Bristol, August 26, 1869. MY DEAR SIR,-Your letter of the 19th has been forwarded to me here. I am much obliged by your prompt attention to my request. If not giving you too much trouble, might I ask you to see that the birds are properly fed during my absence from home, and the pigs attended to? The weather hitherto has been very favourable for our holiday, and my sister and I have enjoyed our trip much. With our united kind regards, Believe me, yours very truly, ཉ་ E. Ruskin, Esq. 16, Burlington Street, W.C. DEAR SIR,-My mother desires me to write and say that it will give us much pleasure if you will join us in a picnic we are thinking of making next week at the Swinley Woods. We propose starting at eleven and returning not later than ten. We shall be a party of about sixteen. I do hope you will be able to come. With our united kind regards, Believe me, yours very truly, FANNY HILL. July 16, 1869. 4. Christ Church School, Birmingham, February 9, 1870. DEAR MR. SMITH,-You asked me to write you a line to say how the school was getting on during your absence. I cannot say very well, as we miss you dreadfully, and are very sorry to hear how ill you still are. We all do our best to supply your place, but it is hard work. The children so soon take advantage of a pupil-teacher, and want a master's hand over them. I do not write this to complain, but only to show you how much you are missed, and how glad we shall be when you come back to us. There is no news to tell you, except that Mr. Jones, the new manager, came to see us yesterday, and said we were wonderfully quiet. Oh yes, the lightning struck the old pear tree in your garden, and one branch is quite spoilt. I remain, your affectionate Pupil, 5. Mr. Thomas Smith. WILLIAM BROWN. Weston Cottage, York, It was MY DEAR ANNIE,-Mother thought you would like a letter from me, as you were unable to come home for Christmas Day and see us all. I need hardly say how much you were missed. We talked of you often, and drank your health after dinner. a very fine day here, and after attending service in the Minster in the morning, where the Anthem was "Arise, shine, for thy light is come," we had a delightful walk till dinner was ready. I need not describe to you the turkey and plum pudding, but you will like to hear about our games in the evening. Uncle John spent the evening with us, and taught us some new games; then we had Hunt the Slipper, and finished with Snapdragon. We hope you will be able to come home for New Year's Day; indeed, you must. All send their best love to you, and so does Your affectionate Brother, HENRY TOMPKINS. ESSAY-WRITING. ALL composition may be divided into three kinds. I. Descriptive, which deals with objects, scenes, and pictures, either actually seen or imagined. These it describes, delineates, or pictures out. II. Narrative, which gives an account of events connected with the history of nations or the lives of individuals. III. Didactic, which embraces philosophy, science, morals, and religion. It takes up principles rather than events; it reflects and argues. In all writing something more is required than mere grammatical correctness; the sentences must also be expressed in a becoming manner. The manner in which a writer expresses his thoughts is called style. Style differs from mere language or words, which may be proper and faultless, while the style may have grave faults. Style always has reference to an author's manner of thinking; it is a picture of the ideas that arise in his mind, and of the manner in which they rise there. In giving the general characteristics of style it is often described as nervous, florid, diffuse, concise, polished, &c. A nervous style is one in which every word seems to ring through the nerves, so full of force and power is it; and this quite apart from the subject written about, which may be poor and uninteresting. A florid style is one ornamented with a great many figures of speech or other ornaments. A diffuse style is one in which the subject is extended by description to an undue length. A concise style is one in which every unnecessary word and expression is cut off, and the subject described with brevity and terseness. A polished style is one in which every word in the sentence is the very best that could possibly have been chosen,-the sentences are all of just the right length, and properly balancing each other; and the whole is faultless as a specimen of composition. Lord Macaulay's Essays and History are excellent examples of this style. Different subjects will of course require different styles to describe them. Thus we should expect conciseness in a description of a plant; a more florid style in an account of a wedding; a nervous style in describing some thrilling scene of adventure; and a diffuse style might be allowed in writing a story for a child. The qualities of a good style may be ranged under two heads, viz., PERSPICUITY and ORNAMENT. I. Perspicuity. This is the art of conveying our ideas clearly to the minds of others. The study of perspicuity requires us to pay attention both to single words and phrases, and also to the construction of sentences. To be perspicuous, words and phrases require three qualities, viz., Purity, Propriety, and Precision. (1) Purity is the use of such words and expressions as belong to the idiom of the language we speak, instead of employing other words and phrases imported from other languages, obsolete and newly coined words, &c. (2) Propriety is the selection of such words in the language as the best and most established usage has appropriated to those ideas which we intend to express by them. 66 (3) Precision is of all the qualities mentioned most essential to perspicuity. The exact meaning of the term may be seen from its etymology. It means a cutting off," and signifies a retrenching of all superfluities, and a pruning of the expressions until they contain nothing more nor less than the exact ideas intended to be conveyed. To write with precision two things are especially requisite : first, that the writer's ideas be clear and distinct; and secondly, that he have an exact and full comprehension of the meaning of the words which he employs. Aristotle's definition of a sentence is "a form of speech which has a beginning and an end, and is of such a length as to be easily comprehended at once. Length of Sentences.- The construction of a simple sentence presents no difficulty. A compound or complex sentence or period, however, always consists of compound parts called its members; and as these may be few or many, and may be connected in several different ways, the same thought may be either expressed in one long sentence or in two or three short ones. The precise length of a sentence, viz., the number of words or phrases that it may contain, cannot be fixed by any definite measure. Sentences that are immoderately long not only always trans |
