Glorious. Exhibiting attributes, qualities or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds.

Glorious weather.

A glorious vacation. A glorious ride. A glorious picnic. Perhaps the expression, "glorious weather," may sometimes be allowed, but usually some other word would better express what is meant.

These are only a few samples of words misused daily in common speech. Many a girl might make her presence in the office much more agreeable by abstaining from the use of such extravagant language. In these days, when so many business men have a college or university education, the office assistant who is careless in his spoken language is neglecting one of the great factors of success.

Let these few words be suggestive of others misused and help you to improve your everyday language.

LESSON LV.

It was decided, when your store was enlarged, to sell some of the old office furniture, if a purchaser could be found, and replace it with new and improved fixtures. H. L. Cheney has agreed to buy your old safe, two roll-top desks, one letter press, one filing cabinet, four chairs and one typewriter. He is to pay for the same, $175.00. (Note. See form of bill of sale in a Commercial Law text.)

The Right Word.

129. Quite a little snow fell during the-over night.

130. Quite a number-several people-persons were present.

131. All his worldly possessions were tied up in a pocket handkerchief-handkerchief.

132. I do not believe-think you studied a particle-any last evening.

133. If I were he-him I would except-accept the offer-proposition.

134. Edith Wharton is an authoress-author.

135. I met him while-whilst-when I was walking down Main st.-street. He expressed his pleasure to meet-at meeting me.

136. I sold my horse at-by auction.

137. He pointed out to me the location-situation of his house.

138. I was led-induced to help him because of my sympathy for-with him in his trouble.

139. Two positions were offered to him and he accepted-excepted the better one-best-best one.

140. I have an awful-terrible-bad-severe cold.

141. It was perfectly lovely-very nice of you to say so.

142. The people looked at each other-one another.

143. I came at a quarter of-to eight.

144. I do not doubt but-that it is true.

Without the qualities of honesty and accuracy, no business man or woman can hope to succeed.

LESSON LVI.

Some time ago you ordered of The Stevens Company, Albany, N. Y., Ico Pineapples for a local customer of yours. The goods have not been received and your customer notified you yesterday that if they were not delivered that day he could not accept them. Write to The Stevens Company, countermanding your order. Prepare an advertisement calling attention to the fact that on the first of next month your entire stock will be placed on sale preparatory to closing out business. Make it effective. Allow for halfpage space in paper.

General Suggestions.

Always be particular to spell your correspondent's name correctly. To be sure, many men sign their names in such a way that a person not familiar with the names has difficulty in deciphering them, but oftentimes a man is very particular or even sensitive about the way his name is written. He is liable to regard it as evidence of carelessness on the part of the writer if it is misspelled.

It is an excellent plan for one who has many letters to write about the same matter from time to time, to have a model letter. That is, to write out the very best letter he is capable of regarding

this matter and then to pattern each letter after this one, making such changes as the circumstances in each particular case require. From time to time improvements in this letter will suggest themselves, until the letter becomes a model fixed in the writer's memory, and his letters on that subject are concise, pleasing, clear and effective. Letters ordering goods, enclosing payment, inquiring about terms and prices, requesting payment, etc., may be written in this way.

Letters to strangers, making inquiries or asking favors which benefit the writer alone, should always enclose a stamp for reply. Only the briefest communications should be sent on postal cards. It is usually much better to write a letter.

Where a contract is being entered into and the preliminary arrangements are being made through letters, care should be taken to so construct the letters that they will not be construed as forming a binding agreement, unless that is what is intended. Letters intended to ask about the price, quality, etc., of certain goods have been construed as orders, and the goods have been sent.

We often hear it said that we should write letters as we would talk. This is dangerous, as very few of us talk accurately; and, besides, we use more words in talking than we would in writing. In talking, we can repeat a statement in other words, if we do not make ourselves understood the first time, but in writing we must choose our words with care so that there can be no possibility of a misunderstanding.

We should be just as original in writing as in speaking; in fact, the chief charm of many friendly letters and the effectiveness of many business letters is due to the original and characteristic way in which they are written.

Do not attempt to use long and unfamiliar words. Use the short, common words that you use in speaking. It is generally true that the more cultured and educated a writer becomes, the more simple is the language he uses.

Never use foreign words or phrases except so far as is necessary in writing about goods of foreign manufacture.

LESSON LVII.

You have already had considerable practice in the writing of circular letters and your attention has been called to the fact that such letters should not be too long. A short circular letter oftentimes results in an inquiry, when a long letter would not be read through. When the inquiry is received and you know the writer is interested, then send him longer letters and circulars and catalogs if you wish.

If the first letter does not result in a sale or an inquiry, a second letter, sent a few days later and mentioning additional facts, may secure the desired result. Even three or four letters may be sent. A certain manufacturing concern sends out, in answer to an inquiry, eight imitation typewritten or "form" letters, in the endeavor to sell a five-dollar article. All letters except the first are sometimes called "follow-up" letters.

The following is a set of form letters sent out by a company which makes loose-leaf books for all purposes and illustrates a very good way to follow up an inquiry. Each letter contains some new explanation or proposition and so tends to increase the prospective customer's interest in their goods.

(1)

(Dated January 25, 1905.)

Mr. Frank C. Irwin,

Dear Sir:

Boston, Mass.

As per your request, we are forwarding you a copy of our booklet, "Blank's Modern Methods,” and would suggest that you refer to the Table of Conrents, on page 2, and also to the descriptive matter on pages 3 to 11, inclusive. We enclose herewith a circular of our new special One Dollar introductory offer; one of these books will do more to convince you of the value of our methods than anything we could write; if it does not, we shall be very glad to return your dollar to you. We furnish extra bond sheets, your choice of any of the printed forms shown in Blank's Modern Methods, to fit this binder at $2.50 per thousand, or 25 cents per hundred, assorted as you desire.

If you would prefer an Outfit equipped with 400 Printed Stock Forms, we can furnish it to you as per circular of our Special $2.00 Outfit enclosed here

with. This Outfit has twice as many sheets and two more sets of Index Sheets than the $1.00 Outfit, the binder being three inches thick instead of one and a half inches.

If you desire special forms, to meet your individual requirements, we can furnish them printed to order, from your copy, on Linen Bond stock, size 8x5, in one color, on one side, at $3.50 per thousand.

If, after looking over our printed matter, there is anything which is not clear to you, we shall be very glad to write you more fully on the subject. Anticipating a favorable reply, and assuring you of our prompt and careful attention to all orders, we are,

Not having had the pleasure of hearing from you since sending our catalogs, we are wondering if they reached you; if not, we shall be glad to send duplicates.

We are confident that a careful comparison of our methods with other systems will convince you that there are no records which can be kept well with Card Indexes or Bound Books which can not be kept better and found quicker in our Loose-Leaf Binders.

If you will advise us for what purpose you are willing to give our goods a trial, we shall be glad to ship you one of our Special Outfits or any of our other stock goods, with the distinct understanding that if they do not come up to your expectations and satisfy you thoroughly in every respect, they may be returned to us and the amount paid will be promptly refunded.

We trust that under these liberal conditions we shall be favored with a trial order, as we know that you will feel as well pleased upon receipt of the goods as we shall upon receipt of your order.

Anticipating a favorable reply and assuring you of our prompt and careful attention to all orders, we are,

While we do not wish to appear unduly urgent in bringing our wares to your