sum, which varies according to distance, and as each word over ten adds just so much to the cost of the telegram, there is an economical incentive1 to the utmost brevity consistent with clearness. The thought is therefore cut down as much as it well can be, and articles, prepositions, conjunctions, and other unimportant words are omitted wherever they are not absolutely needed to make the message intelligible. The message is also freed from dependence on punctuation marks, since the latter often change places or disappear altogether in the course of transmission.

Exercise 59

1. Write a postal card to the editor of your local paper, and ask him to stop sending you his paper.2

2. You are about to leave for Cleveland, and you want your uncle, who lives in that city, to meet you on your arrival. Write him a postal card, and render a suitable apology for not writing a letter.

3. Your class, of which you are the secretary, is to meet next Friday to choose a class pin. Send a postal card notice of this fact to a member who has been absent from school for several days.

4. You are a subscriber to The Youth's Companion. Write to the publishers, Perry Mason Company, Boston, Massachusetts, and ask them to change your address. Unless you give your old address, as well as your new address, your name cannot be found in the publishers' index. This is because most publishers of periodicals index their subscribers by state and town, and not by name.

5. Write a postal card to a hackman, and ask him to call at your house in time to take you to a certain train.

6. The Overland Limited, on which you are a passenger bound for San Francisco, is wrecked a few miles out of Ogden, Utah. Walk to Ogden, and telegraph your father that you are unhurt.

7. A real estate agent sends you the following telegram: "Have

1 Aside from the matter of economy, however, it is in questionable taste to be diffuse in a telegram.

2 For postal cards use paper 3 × 51⁄2 inches.

offer of four thousand cash for your house in Mayfield, less five per cent commission. Wire 1 my expense." Telegraph your reply.

1

8. You are on your way to New York. Telegraph your cousin, who lives at Lake Forest, Illinois, to meet you at the Union Station, Chicago, where you will be delayed for three hours. Be explicit about the time of meeting.

9. Reduce the following telegram to ten words, or less; place, date, address, and signature are not charged for:

Mr. G. P. BAKER,
Rutland, Vt.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 13, 1902.

On account of a serious railroad accident just outside of this city, I shall not reach Baltimore to-night.

C. W. GORHAM. 10. Telegraph to John Wanamaker, Philadelphia, and ask why certain goods have not been forwarded.

11. Telegraph, congratulating a friend who has won an oratorical contest at college.

12. Telegraph, ordering a lower berth in the sleeping-car that leaves Chicago for Denver, the 15th instant.

13. You are in St. Louis without money. Telegraph your father.

(1) Wanted.

Young man to do typewriting, stenography, and clerical work; must have high school education, and live at home; chance for advancement. Apply with references, to F. Bodler, United Railroads, Market and Valentia Streets.

(2)

DEAR SIR,

432 PINE STREET, SAN FRANCISCO,

Dec. 10, 1902.

I have read your advertisement in to-day's Chronicle, and herewith present my application for the position in typewriting,

1 Colloquial.

stenography, and clerical work in your office. I am now working for Messrs. Goldenberg, Bowen, and Co., at the above address, and work here will prevent my calling on you until four o'clock to

morrow.

I am eighteen years of age, and live with my mother at 1642 Fulton Street. I was graduated in May last from the Lowell High School, where, during my senior year, I took the regular commercial course in typewriting and stenography. I am not yet able to take rapid dictation, but I trust I shall improve with practice. My work here has been wholly with the typewriter.

Mr. Goldenberg has very kindly given me permission to refer to him. Last May, Dr. Hudson, Principal of the Lowell High School, gave me a letter of recommendation, which I enclose.

Regretting that I cannot call before four o'clock to-morrow,
Very respectfully yours,

I am,

For the last four years Henry E. Hadley has been a pupil in the Lowell High School, from which he has just been graduated. He has always been punctual in attendance, faithful in the discharge of his duties, and, in scholarship, a leader of his class.

During the past year he has given special attention to commercial studies, taking, in addition to the work required for graduation, the regular course in typewriting and stenography. He has done this with the object of fitting himself for business life, and he is now as well qualified for office work as a high school graduate is likely to be. He is to be commended also for his unfailing courtesy and for his manly independence. He is, in the best sense of the word, a gentleman.

FRANKLIN HUDSON,

Principal, The Lowell High School,

office employees, Mr. Henry E. Hadley, who has my consent to better his condition, if he can. His work here has been satisfactory in every way, and, from what I know of Mr. Hadley, I can assure you that he will appreciate any kindness you may do him.

This morning I gave a young fellow named Hadley a letter of introduction to you, which he will probably present some time this afternoon.

Hadley has been working here since June last, with the understanding that he was to leave as soon as he got a better paying position. When he came here my office force was full, but he was so highly recommended by Dr. Hudson, the Principal of the Lowell High School, that I gave him the work he has been doing. He is one of those fellows who do more than they are paid to do, and, if you can find a place for him, I have no doubt you will be well pleased with him.

Mr. F. BODLER,

Market and Valentia Streets,

Faithfully yours,

GEORGE F. GOLDENBERG.

San Francisco.

Exercise 60

1. Write a letter applying for one of the positions advertised below. In stating your qualifications, it is well to be modest in your claims, for the best praise is the praise that comes from others. Be scrupulously attentive to the little things in letter-writing, such as spelling,

1

punctuation, the folding of your letter, the kind of ink and paper 1 you use, etc. Employers think, and rightly too, that a boy's or a girl's character is pretty likely to come out somewhere in a letter of application.

1. Wanted. Stenographer and typewriter; state age, experience, salary, in own handwriting. Box 5831, Chronicle.

2. Wanted. - An educated, intelligent, and refined young woman to act as an attendant in a business office; state wages and give references. Box 5707, Chronicle.

3. Wanted. Boy to learn the grocery business; should be about 16 years old, bright, active, and live at home. Call after 9 o'clock Monday, Goldenberg, Bowen, & Co., 432 Pine Street.

4. Wanted. - Two drug clerks; one with 2 to 4 years' experience, about 20 years old; other must be licentiate; must have good references. Apply to J. M. Wright & Co., 508 Market Street.

5. Wanted. Fence letterer to accompany camping wagon through California; state experience and pay expected. Apply by letter, A. B. Thomson, San Rafael, Cal.

1 "Within the author's knowledge," writes Mr. Carpenter, "a young man was recently refused an excellent position because his letter of application was on ruled paper. The employer decided, quite properly, that one so deficient in knowledge of the customary practice in such matters, would be deficient also in his knowledge of men and social customs in general." — G. R. CARPENTER, Elements of Rhetoric and English Composition (Second High School Course), 25, note. "When a young man's card comes to me," writes Mr. Walter S. Carter in Ways that Win, "I know him before he enters my room; if he should send in a printed one, I want to express sorrow for him here and now. The visiting card is the one infallible test of that quality which is expressed by the word gentleman; no other is so unerring, no other can be so implicitly depended on. Query if the printed visiting card make a young man a duffer, what does a printed professional card do for a lawyer? I would give up law practice, if I couldn't make business communications on engraved letter heads, and I would be ashamed to send a printed professional card into any lawyer's office or any business place whatsoever."