My dear.... =I warmly appreciate your kind message of congratulation which has given me a great deal of pleasure, and sincerely wish that it were possible for me to acknowledge it in a less formal manner.= =Faithfully,= (_signed by hand_) An engraved form of thanks for sympathy, also from one in public life, is presented in the following example: Mr. John Smith wishes to express his deep gratitude and to thank you for your kind expression of sympathy _But remember_: an engraved card sent by a private individual to a personal friend, is not "stylish" or smart, but _rude_. (See also engraved acknowledgment of sympathy, pages 406-7.) =THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION= A letter of business introduction can be much more freely given than a letter of social introduction. For the former it is necessary merely that the persons introduced have business interests in common--which are much more easily determined than social compatibility, which is the requisite necessary for the latter. It is, of course, proper to give your personal representative a letter of introduction to whomever you send him. On the subject of letters of social introduction there is one chief rule: Never _ask_ for letters of introduction, and be very sparing in your offers to write or accept them. Seemingly few persons realize that a letter of social introduction is actually a draft for payment on demand. The form might as well be: "The bearer of this has (because of it) the right to _demand your interest_, your time, your hospitality--liberally and at once, no matter what your inclination may be." Therefore, it is far better to refuse in the beginning, than to hedge and end by committing the greater error of unwarrantedly inconveniencing a valued friend or acquaintance. When you have a friend who is going to a city where you have other friends, and you believe that it will be a mutual pleasure for them to meet, a letter of introduction is proper and very easy to write, but sent to a casual acquaintance--no matter how attractive or distinguished the person to be introduced--it is a gross presumption. =THE MORE FORMAL NOTE OF INTRODUCTION= Dear Mrs. Marks: Julian Gibbs is going to Buffalo on January tenth to deliver a lecture on his Polar expedition, and I am sending him a card of introduction to you. He is very agreeable personally, and I think that perhaps you and Mr. Marks will enjoy meeting him as much as I know he would enjoy knowing you. With kindest regards, in which Arthur joins, Very sincerely, Ethel Norman. If Mr. Norman were introducing one man to another he would give his card to the former, inscribed as follows: [HW: Introducing Julian Gibbs] =MR. ARTHUR LEES NORMAN= BROADLAWNS