e, proper to give your personal
representative a letter of introduction to whomever you send him.

On the subject of letters of social introduction there is one chief rule:

Never _ask_ for letters of introduction, and be very sparing in your
offers to write or accept them.

Seemingly few persons realize that a letter of social introduction is
actually a draft for payment on demand. The form might as well be: "The
bearer of this has (because of it) the right to _demand your interest_,
your time, your hospitality--liberally and at once, no matter what your
inclination may be."

Therefore, it is far better to refuse in the beginning, than to hedge and
end by committing the greater error of unwarrantedly inconveniencing a
valued friend or acquaintance.

When you have a friend who is going to a city where you have other
friends, and you believe that it will be a mutual pleasure for them to
meet, a letter of introduction is proper and very easy to write, but sent
to a casual acquaintance--no matter how attractive or distinguished the
person to be introduced--it is a gross presumption.

=THE MORE FORMAL NOTE OF INTRODUCTION=

Dear Mrs. Marks:

Julian Gibbs is going to Buffalo on January tenth to deliver a
lecture on his Polar expedition, and I am sending him a card of
introduction to you. He is very agreeable personally, and I think
that perhaps you and Mr. Marks will enjoy meeting him as much as
I know he would enjoy knowing you.

With kindest regards, in which Arthur joins,

Very sincerely,
Ethel Norman.

If Mr. Norman were introducing one man to another he would give his card
to the former, inscribed as follows:

[HW: Introducing Julian Gibbs]

=MR. ARTHUR LEES NORMAN=

BROADLAWNS

Also Mr. Norman would send a private letter by mail, telling his friend
that Mr. Gibbs is coming, as follows:

Dear Marks:

I am giving Julian Gibbs a card of introduction to you when he
goes to Buffalo on the tenth to lecture. He is an entertaining
and very decent fellow, and I think possibly Mrs. Marks would
enjoy meeting him. If you can conveniently ask him to your house,
I know he would appreciate it; if not, perhaps you will put him
up for a day or two at a club.

Faithfully,
Arthur Norman.

=INFORMAL LETTER OF INTRODUCTION=

Dear Claire:

A very great friend of ours, James Dawson, is to be in Chica