DEAR ABBY: You recently printed a letter encouraging letters of honest praise to often-overlooked workers. Sometimes, but not often enough, I try to do that.
A few years back, I tried to think of the most underpraised group of workers that I could sincerely compliment. So, I took a picture of our minimally dented 20-year-old metal garbage can sitting at its usual clean spot at the curb. I sent an 8-by-10 color print along with a complimentary letter to the head of sanitation for the city of Dallas. They have obviously been in operation for decades, and they have hundreds of employees who are often maligned for spilled trash, noise, etc.
A few days later, I received a letter in response. It said something like this: "Thanks very much for your complimentary letter. It causes a bit of a problem. We don't know where to file it. It's the first that we have ever received." -- KARL SOUTHWARD, NEMO, TEXAS
DEAR KARL: Your letter proves there's a first time for everything. Now clip this column and send it to the head of sanitation for the city of Dallas with a note: "How about filing it under 'C' for compliments? A letter like the one you received from me is a keeper!" (I'll bet they receive a dozen clippings of this column!)