have to say clearly and quickly. Although the letter should be
written on the ordinary social stationery and follow the placing and
spacing of the social letter, no time should be wasted in trying to make
the letter appear friendly and chatty. The clerks in business houses who
usually attend to the mail seem to be picked for their obtuseness, and
do not often understand a letter which is phrased in other than
commonplace terms. Once I overheard a conversation between an Italian
shoemaker and a Boston woman over the repairing of a pair of shoes. The
woman wanted the soles fastened on with nails. The only word she knew
for that operation was "tapped." The only word the shoemaker knew was
"nailed." They were absolutely at a deadlock until the shoemaker,
knowing that the woman did not want the soles sewed on, proceeded to
demonstrate with hammer and nail just what he meant by "nailed." It is
well to remember that motion pictures do not accompany letters and hence
to take for granted that if a way exists for getting what you mean
wrong that way will be found. It is unfortunately safe to take for
granted that a personal business letter is going to be read by a moron.

_Ordering goods from a department store_

500 Park Avenue,
April 3, 1922.

L. Burton & Company,
Fifth Ave. & 39th St.,
New York

Gentlemen:

Please send me as soon as possible and charge to my account
the following goods:

1 doz. hemstitched huck towels, large size, from $12.00 to
$15.00 a dozen

2 pairs infants' laced shoes, sizes 4 D and 4-1/2 D. One
pair to be returned as I am not certain of the correct
size.

3 pairs children's rompers, size 2 years, band knee, 1 all
white, 1 white with blue collar, 1 white with pink collar.

Very truly yours,
Katherine G. Evans
(Mrs. John Evans)

_To correct an error_

500 Park Avenue,
April 3, 1922.

Caldwell Sons Co.,
8941 Fifth Avenue,
New York, N. Y.

Gentlemen:

May I call your attention to my account rendered on April
1st? There would seem to be two errors, as follows:

Under date of March 18th