Originally Posted by
Short Final
French is a more formal language (sure on the "street" it can get cut down, but in business and elsewhere it remains staunchly formal).
For example, we've got "Yours Faithfully".... they've got "Veuillez agréer, Monsieur, Madame, l'éxpression de mes sentiments distinguées".
They're just a century or so behind. A common English-language valediction (bet you had to look that up!) in the early 1900s would have been something to the effect of "With kindest regards, I beg to remain, sir, your most humble and obedient servant".