, let us hope you are an adept at making an even and
smoothly finished seal. Choose a plain-colored wax rather than one
speckled with metal. With the sort of paper described for country houses,
or for young people, or those living in studios or bungalows, gay sealing
wax may be quite alluring, especially if it can be persuaded to pour
smoothly like liquid, and not to look like a streaked and broken off slice
of dough. In days when envelopes were unknown, all letters had to be
sealed, hence when envelopes were made, the idea obtained that it was
improper to use both gum-arabic and wax. Strictly speaking this may be
true, but since all envelopes have mucilage, it would be unreasonable to
demand that those who like to use sealing wax have their envelopes made to
order.

=FORM OF ADDRESS=

The most formal beginning of a social letter is "My dear Mrs. Smith." (The
fact that in England "Dear Mrs. Smith" is more formal does not greatly
concern us in America.) "Dear Mrs. Smith," "Dear Sarah," "Dear Sally,"
"Sally dear," "Dearest Sally," "Darling Sally," are increasingly intimate.

Business letters begin:

Smith, Johnson & Co.,
20 Broadway,
New York.

Dear Sirs:

Or if more personal:

John Smith & Co.,
20 Broadway,
New York.

My Dear Mr. Smith:

=THE COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE=

The close of a business letter should be "Yours truly," or "Yours very
truly." "Respectfully" is used only by a tradesman to a customer, an
employee to an employer, or by an inferior, never by a person of equal
position. No lady should ever sign a letter "respectfully," not even were
she writing to a queen. If an American lady should have occasion to write
to a queen, she should conclude her letter "I have the honor to remain,
Madam, your most obedient." (For address and close of letters to persons
of title, see table at the end of this chapter.)

=CLOSE OF PERSONAL NOTES AND LETTERS=

It is too bad that the English language does not permit the charming and
graceful closing of all letters in the French manner, those little flowers
of compliment that leave such a pleasant fragrance after reading. But
ever since the Eighteenth Century the English-speaking have been busy
pruning away all ornament of expression; even the last remaining graces,
"kindest regards," "with kindest remembrances," are fast disappearing,
leaving us nothing but an abrupt "Yours truly," or "Sincerely yours."

_Closing a Formal Note_