books, which should be far better.
Our standard of business letters is very low. It is rare to
find a letter of any length without one or more errors of language,
to say nothing of frequent errors in spelling made by ignorant
stenographers and not corrected by the business men who sign the letters.

But a change is coming over us. We have suddenly taken to reading
books, and while they are not always the best books, they are better
than newspapers. And now a young business man feels that it is
distinctly to his advantage if he can dictate a thoroughly good
letter to his superior or to a well informed customer. Good letters
raise the tone of a business house, poor letters give the idea
that it is a cheapjack concern. In social life, well written letters,
like good conversational powers, bring friends and introduce the
writer into higher circles. A command of language is the index
of culture, and the uneducated man or woman who has become wealthy
or has gained any special success is eager to put on this wedding
garment of refinement. If he continues to regard a good command
of language as a wedding garment, he will probably fail in his effort;
but a few will discover the way to self-education and actively follow
it to its conclusion adding to their first success this new achievement.

But we may even go farther. The right kind of language-teaching will also
give us power, a kind of eloquence, a skill in the use of words, which
will enable us to frame advertisements which will draw business, letters
which will win customers, and to speak in that elegant and forceful way so
effective in selling goods. When all advertisements are couched in very
imperfect language, and all business letters are carelessly written, of
course no one has an advantage over another, and a good knowledge and
command of language would not be much of a recommendation to a business
man who wants a good assistant. But when a few have come in and by their
superior command of language gained a distinct advantage over rivals, then
the power inherent in language comes into universal demand--the business
standard is raised. There are many signs now that the business standard
in the use of language is being distinctly raised. Already a stenographer
who does not make errors commands a salary from 25 per cent. to 50 per
cent. higher than the average, and is always in demand. Advertisement
writers must have not only business instinct but language i