Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-01-13
From The Boston Post.
Spicy Correspondence-A True Wife.

We are assured by friend who is personally
cognzant of what he states that the following pi-
ouant correspondence is genuine. A gentleman
whose business calls him good deal from home,
is accustomed to give the custody Of his cores
pondence to his wife, an intelligent lady, who,
in obedience to Instructions, opens all letters
that come in her husbands absence, answers each
of them as she can, like confidential clerk, and
forwards the rest to her liege lord as he may
have designated at his departure During re-
cent absence of her husband, the lady received a
letter, of which the following (omitting names,
date and places) is true copy:
"My Dear Sir ri saw fine picture of you
Yesterday aud fell in love with it, as did with
the original in W last winter, when saw
you more than an hour, though l suppose you
did not see me among so many. fear you will
think me forward in thus addressing you but l
trust you are as noble and uDsuspecting as You
are handsome and brilliant. Perhaps you would
like to know something about me-your ardent
admirer! Well, am not very good at descrlp-
ton, but will say | am not lDarried-(thou
you are, am told) My friends tell me | have
not pretty face, but only good figure. am
rather petite, have black eyes, black hair and
dark compexion-that is, am what is called
'brunette.n / am stopping for few weeks with
my brother-in.law and sister in this.town, and !
dearly wish you would meet me there before
return to W. At any rate do not fail to
write me at least few words to tell me wheth-
er shall ever see you again, and know you
lieve me. ''Your friend, -"
To this letter the wife, who by the by, has
not the least knowledge of the person'to whom
she was writing, made the following answer -
''Mademoiselle Your letter OF the - lnst.'
addressed to Mr.. -, was duly received. Mr'
-, who is my husband, directed me when De
left home some days ago, to open all his letters,
and to answer any of them that conveniently
could AS you seem to be rather impatient! l
will answer your letter myself: 40 not thinK
your description ofyourselt will please MI
happen to know that he dislikes black eyes,
and hates brnpettes most decidedly. 1t is quite
true (as you seem to suppose) that ne Judges SI
women as he does of horses; but 40 not thinA
your inventory of your points IS comple.e o.
nough to be satisfactory to him.. You o1iis u
mention YOUR height, weight. wind, speed, ana
there the word is illeeible.l Taking yonr charms
at vour own estimate, doubt whether they will
nrove sufficiently attractive to draw him SO Tar
as B merely for the satisfaction OF COM
narinp them with the schedule. You say you
trust my husband is 'unsuspecting. l think
that is his nature, but yet he is used to drawing
inferences, which are sometimes as unk1nd ,as as
suspicious. You say you are unmarr,eu; ny ~
advice to you is that you marry some9ouy, 40
soon as possible In most cases would not re, re-
COM commend haste but in yours, I am convinced ID
there is truth in the proverb which speaks S'
the danger of delay. Should you get a husband,
(which may God mercfully grant, my oPlnlT,aa P.,a
Is that YOU will consider any woman, VINO woula
write him such letter as this OF yours, imPer'
tinent, and, perhaps, iminodest.
81 will deliver your note to Mr.. when ne re-
turns. and also q copy of my reply, which am
sure he will approve, am, with as much res 7,
sao. sa,t ~ ~ ,.o,, rarn;t "Mrs-.
This was the end of the correspondence.