p. 175 | BUSINESS LETTERS by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 17, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 11.

BUSINESS LETTERS.

By Editor

ABOUT one person in every ten that writes to this office on business omits to give the name of the State in which he resides. Now as there are many post-offices in the United States bearing the same name, it is quite difficult and sometimes impossible for us to tell in what State the writer lives. He has sent his money for books or paper and in about two weeks we hear from him again complaining that he does not get what he ordered—but he still forgets to give the name of the State from which he writes; and if the postmark on the envelope is illegible, as is often the case, it is impossible for us to fill his order or answer his letter, and pretty soon we get another letter from him denouncing us as swindlers, etc.

By this time our careless correspondent is so much in earnest that he actually puts down his County and State after his name, but very likely leaves off his post-office. But by this time we have become familiar with his penmanship, and by comparing his letters we make out his correct address and fill his order. Is it any wonder that we take pleasure in returning to him his original letter (only we add the State in red ink) in explanation of why his order was not filled promptly.

For some time past a man at "Clio" has been trying to get the Pacific Health Journal. He has paid for it, and writes about it regularly every few weeks, but he does not succeed in getting it. Strange, isn't it! How can you account for it? He fails to give us the name of his County and State. There is a "Clio" in Barbour County, Ala.; in Wayne County, Iowa; in Livingston County, La.; in Genesee County, Mich.; in Iredell County, N. C.; in Marlborough County, S. C.; in Guernsey County, Ohio; in Brown County, Texas, and we don't know in how many other States. Certainly we cannot be expected to write to each of these places to ascertain in which State this man lives.

Then there are numerous individuals who send money to this office, and no letter of any kind with it. How are we to know the manner in which the sender wishes the money applied? We have no objection to receiving donations providing the sender will kindly inform us for what object he wishes the money used. Perhaps some of these persons desire books, tracts, or periodicals in return for the money sent to us, and are wondering why they do not get them. We now have on hand letters from Iowa, Missouri, Montana, and Nevada City, Cal., inclosing sums ranging from $1.00 to $100, with no hint of what the money is for.

The above-mentioned items are but samples of what we receive nearly every day. When you have finished your business letter, look it over carefully to see if it reads just as you wish it to; then be sure to sign your name and full address. For example: John Jay Smith, Jonesborough, Washington Co., Maine.