3l6 MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY PLANTS 



willing and cheerful giver instead of critizicing the organiza- 

 tion for calUng for support. As the letter now reads the re- • 

 ceivers of the donation are made to feel that they would rather 

 have been without his support. The letter might have been 

 written in such a spirit that it would have been appreciated 

 as much as the donation it contained, and the friendly feeling 

 thus created be of much value even from a business point of 

 view. 



More objectionable, however, are letters that contain sar- 

 casm or unfriendly remarks. At times a correspondent will 

 receive such a letter and will possibly take pleasure in using 

 similar terms for reply, but if these matters are given due con- 

 sideration it is readily understood that such a letter is always 

 injurious to a business concern as well as to an individual. 

 It is therefore a safe policy for any correspondent to keep letters 

 written in an angry mood on his desk until the following day. 

 They should then be reread and analyzed and should be re- 

 written if they will not tend toward creating a more friendly 

 feeUng between the writer and the addressee. It should al- 

 ways be borne in mind that there is nothing which will humil- 

 iate the writer of a sarcastic letter more than to receive a kind 

 and friendly letter in return. 



The volume of business and character of business done by 

 the firm to whom the letter is addressed and even more the 

 individuaUty of the one who acts on the letter, if such is known, 

 should be important guides for the writer. It at times appeals 

 to the reader if his name is embodied in the letter, as "We be- 

 Ueve you are aware, Mr. Smith, that our firm appreciates your 

 business very much, etc." The busy man wants a short letter 

 full of facts and information. The one who receives but few 

 letters will often take time to read a long letter and enjoy it. 

 It is the safest poUcy, however, to make a business letter brief 

 without sacrificing any of the essentials. 



Often a direct question is asked in a letter. It is convenient 

 to the writer to receive the reply to the question on the same 

 letter and a request should be made when closing the letter 

 asking a reply be made on the back of the letter. 



