evertheless put in a trying position when
reporting on an unsatisfactory servant.

Either a poor reference must be given--possibly preventing a servant from
earning her living--or one has to write what is not true. Consequently it
has become the custom to say what one truthfully can of good, and leave
out the qualifications that are bad (except in the case of a careless
nurse, where evasion would border on the criminal).

That solves the poor recommendation problem pretty well; but unless one is
very careful this consideration for the "poor" one, is paid for by the
"good." In writing for a very worthy servant therefore, it is of the
utmost importance in fairness to her (or him) to put in every merit that
you can think of, remembering that omission implies demerit in each trait
of character not mentioned. All good references should include honesty,
sobriety, capability, and a reason, other than their unsatisfactoriness,
for their leaving. The recommendation for a nurse can not be too
conscientiously written.

A lady does not begin a recommendation: "To whom it may concern," nor
"This is to certify," although housekeepers and head servants writing
recommendations use both of these forms, and "third person" letters, are
frequently written by secretaries.

A lady in giving a good reference should write:

Two Hundred Park Square.

Selma Johnson has lived with me for two years as cook.

I have found her honest, sober, industrious, neat in her person
as well as her work, of amiable disposition and a very good cook.

She is leaving to my great regret because I am closing my house
for the winter.

Selma is an excellent servant in every way and I shall be glad to
answer personally any inquiries about her.

Josephine Smith.
(Mrs. Titherington Smith)
October, 1921.

The form of all recommendations is the same:

---- has lived with me ---- months years as ----. I have found
him/ her ----. He/She is leaving because ----.

(Any special remark of added recommendation or showing interest)

----
(Mrs. ----)

Date.

=LETTERS OF CONGRATULATION=

=LETTER OF CONGRATULATION ON ENGAGEMENT=

Dear Mary:

While we are not altogether surprized, we are both delighted to
hear the good news. Jim's family and ours are very close, as you
know, and we ha