Finer Points of Letter Writing

The girls said, “Mother didn’t lick the envelope, Miss Allen, honestly, she didn't.” They seemed to think that the teacher might believe that they had opened the envelope to read the note.

The Children Learn Fine Points Of Letter Etiquette

The two Green sisters had a note for teacher. Mother had sent it with them. As the teacher took it in her hands the girls saw her eyes fall upon the open flap of the envelope before she looked at the address on the envelope itself.

The girls said, “Mother didn’t lick the envelope, Miss Allen, honestly, she didn't.” They seemed to think that the teacher might believe that they had opened the envelope to read the note.

Miss Allen said, “I am sure you did not open this, girls. You see, your mother knows that it is not correct to close the flap when she sends a note by messenger. Suppose we talk about letter writing
when the last bell rings.” During the ensuing discussion the children learned the following things about letter writing:

• First, that simple, plain letter paper is better than any gaudy or heavily decorated stationery. Correct letter paper is always unlined and certainly not perfumed. 

• Fashions in monogramming change but rather plain initials, not too large, are always in good taste. 

• Gold edged cards, monograms heavily embossed or engraved in silver or gold are not as correct as the smaller ones, embossed in a color. 

• Any note should be enclosed in an envelope, not sent with a corner of the folded paper turned down.But when the note is delivered by anyone other than a professional messenger the flap of the envelope is left unsealed. 

• The envelope may carry the words, “kindness of,” but this is unnecessary. The recipient will know it has been brought by the bearer, so why state it on the envelope? 

• It is silly to use colored inks. There is nothing easier to read than black on white or cream. 

• Lavender ink, green ink, red ink may have their place on invitations for special affairs, such as a Saint Patrick's day party or a Christmas affair, but for every day use there is nothing nicer than black, or a blue so deep it looks black. – By Florence La Ganke, aka “Nancy Page,” 1936

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

When Irish Eyes Smile for Green

In the book of etiquette it says that all personal notes should be written in either dark blue or black ink. Well, how about a professional Irishman who uses nothing but green ink?

DEAR ABBY: I am enclosing a copy of a well-worn clipping that I've carried in my wallet for 15 or 20 years. I could be the person described here. It fits me to a “T.” I'm Irish and buy everything in green that I can furniture! - even my office

Please print that letter again. The Irish will love it. - R.E. MEVERS, CHARLESTON, S.C. -

DEAR MR. MEVERS: I saved your letter for St. Patrick's Day:

DEAR ABBY: In the book of etiquette it says that all personal notes should be written in either dark blue or black ink. Well, how about a professional Irishman who uses nothing but green ink?

This man is so proud of the fact that he is Irish that he never lets anybody forget it for a minute. His house is painted green. He drives a green car, and has cute little sham- rock designs on everything from his business stationery to his mailbox.

Don't you think someone ought to tell that Jolly Green Giant that using green ink for correspondence is not considered good etiquette, in case he doesn't know better? Sign me... KNOWS BETTER.

DEAR KNOWS BETTER: I'm sure it wouldn't faze him, but you can bet your shillelagh he's gained more by being a professional Irish- man than he's lost. – Dear Abby, Desert Sun, 1989

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Correspondence Ink Etiquette

The Romans used both black and red ink, because we find Pompeian inkstands with double receptacles. Nero, that uncommon brute, when he composed verses, wrote his lines in gold. – Depiction of Nero
-Photo source, Pinterest

Occasionally, the schoolboy, meddling with the sacredness of his father's writing table, finds the bottle of red ink, and indites a letter in brilliant carmine. Then his elders explain to him what a horrible crime he has perpetrated. The next unconservative urchin who does that may nonplus his parents by informing them that the Roman Emperors who were deities disdained commonplace black ink, and signed only in red. The Romans used both black and red ink, because we find Pompeian inkstands with double receptacles. Nero, that uncommon brute, when he composed verses, wrote his lines in gold.– The New York Times, 1897

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia