Why can't we get these templates in Microsoft Word?
June 2, 2016 9:52 AM   Subscribe

Letter-Writing Manuals Were the Self-Help Books of the 18th Century. Need to kindly but firmly chastise your son for buying a horse? Read the manual.
posted by cynical pinnacle (13 comments total) 31 users marked this as a favorite
 
"A letter to a friend who is curious on the wholesomeness of herring, left in the sun overlong"
posted by rebent at 9:58 AM on June 2, 2016 [29 favorites]


Why read a manual when you can copy and paste? Sample Business Letters.

Here's one, kinda at random ("Collateral Decision, Request for Preparation of Loan Documents"):
Dear

It was a pleasure having the opportunity to meet with you
yesterday to discuss the proposed loan on the

After reviewing the alternatives you suggested, I believe
that it would be best to collateralize this loan with
(form of collateral)

I am instructing my secretary to prepare a package
consisting of all necessary documents and to mail them to
your attention today. I would be most appreciative if you
would arrange to have the loan documents drawn as soon as
possible.

I wish to thank you for your cooperation in this matter
and am looking forward to the continuance of a long and
mutually beneficial relationship between us.
Thousands more to choose from, covering every possible business situation. Plus, Wisdom and Life Skills to learn and master. Too bad you can't really copy paste those.
posted by notyou at 10:07 AM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


"A Letter From A Frothy Rascal To A Malevolent Paterfamilias Regarding The Safe Passage Of A Cheese Wheel O'er Rough Seas."
posted by Bob Regular at 10:08 AM on June 2, 2016 [7 favorites]




This stuff was my jam in grad school. It's really interesting how the rise of the middle/consumer class led to this whole industry of instruction. Cookbooks and household manuals are part of the same thing.
posted by apricot at 10:16 AM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]


The entire text of "Letters Written to and for Particular Friends" is available online [Full text in one page]
posted by youknowwhatpart at 10:19 AM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


Letter writing guides previously on MetaFilter.
posted by jedicus at 10:22 AM on June 2, 2016


Just the table of contents alone is a gem:
  • XLVII. From a Son reduced by his own Extravagance, requesting his Father's Advice, on his Intention to turn Player [i.e., actor].
  • XLVIII. The Father's Answer, setting forth the Inconveniencies and Disgrace attending the Profession of a Player.
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:44 AM on June 2, 2016 [5 favorites]


My dad has a book like this from the 60s with sample letters in English and Greek. It's quite an amusing read!
posted by Calzephyr at 11:47 AM on June 2, 2016


"I see that you are drafting a missive cautioning a Young Relative on the risks to ones Social Standing by associating with Artists, Publicans, Nonconformists, & other Disreputable Types. Might yr Humble Servant Clippy render you some assistance on this matter?"
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:17 PM on June 2, 2016 [14 favorites]






Shut not your Ears to Reason; forget not yourself; and be sure to remember, that the Pleasure of an Hour or Two, and of Twenty, Thirty, or Forty Years, or a whole Life, must arise from very different Sources.
Use a condom and don't marry her? Or maybe he's advising against the Hour or Two of Pleasure... I'm tempted to find bits of this that work in ask.me relationship questions.
posted by Margalo Epps at 7:38 PM on June 2, 2016


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