The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-04-14
How to Write Letters.

probable that the change will be nc
complished one of these days Aud
when this is effected, tho last plea for
the franking privilege will be abolished.
a letter that is "uot worth a cent"
need not be frankcd, certainly. Mean.
while it occurs TO US toquestion whether
the mails are used half SO freely as they
should be Arc there no. thousands Of
people who might write, and ought to
do it, neglect it, 4 single line from an
absent friend or connection would often
saycanxiety, ii'not pain and unhappincss.
But with many persons writing is a
dreaded task and there are others who
invest the act of penn;ng letter with
such an air of formality, that they dis
like to touch pen to paper. Writing
should be as easy as talking in land of
cheap postage and free schools. But it
is very well after all to be more careful
how you write then how you speak and
the habit of writing letters reacts on
expression in conversation, making
speech more guarded and correct. 4
good letter,writer is generally good
talker. Many letters are very unsatis.
factory, from the neglect of few
obvious rules. Perhaps our readers
will tolerate the recupitulation or few
simple hints upon matters small, but
really important Nobody now heeds
all the minor rules that should be OBJ.
served, though everybodys letters
would be more satisfactory for attention
even to minute particulars.
First, then, as to date. If you live
where streets are numbered, give street
aud number as well as the town, aud il
in the country give post.office, county
aud State. The day OF tha week, as well
as the day Of the month and the year
should be specified Much may depend
on date, aud the day of the week often
serves to verify or correct careless
figure. Write your signature carefully,
legibly aud fully. Form the habit, aud
care is as easy as carelessness. To n
friend who knows your writing uosigua-
ture is necessary. But stranger is often
puzzled by the hopeless ambiguity ofthe
marks which arcsupposed to represent
mans name. BE particular about the
direction also, giving 10 writing exact
and easily read the residence of your
correspondent. And next as to subject
matter. If business, let it be clearly
expressed. If yours is the opening let
ter, state in:elligibly what you wish to
propose; anticioating such inquiries as
your correspondent will probably desire
to have answered. If your letter is a
reply to another, let your correspondent
ses what is your understanding of his
letter. In the careful times Of or fore
fathers, letter usually commenced
with recapitulation of the points to be
replied to. We can hardly expect such
cxactncss in these days Of hurry; but
where there is any chance to under
stand thing in two ways, your cor
respondent should be advised which
way you apprehend his words. Do not
travel out Of the record to say unneces
sary things, which you may be called
upon the substantiate. And while pa
per, envelopes, aud postage are SO cheap,
do not mix business and gossip.
Apropos, of gossip. In writing
friendly letters, time permitting, say all
tho pleasant things you can Of persons
mutually known TO you and your cer-
respondent. But whatever gall is in
your ink chemically, metaphorically
keep all bitterness out. Never seold
by post, for tho bitter letter may be the
last you will write, or your friend may
die, before you have the the opportunity
by personal magnetism to remove the
cruel effect Of unkind words written.
Harsh writing has horrid look and
things which you may speak without
offence, when written, seem unpardona-
bls. Above all, except in cases Of alb
solute necessity, do not write i'll of a
third person, or put your hand to let.
ter which may make mischief past
remedy. 1t is unsafe to talk badly
about people, much more to write about
them in that style. The friendly letter
is the very place for egotism. Ii you
think person whistles to hear from
you, you may justly conclude that he
desires to hear and to know all about
you. Show your interest in your cor,
respondent by inquiries aud comments
concerning him and his but do your
self the justice to suppose that he is in
terested 10 you also. Convey informa.
tion about whatever coucerns you, ii
the subject be proper Que to write
about at all, tall on paper as you might
talk by word of mouth. But remember
always that there are some things which
never should be written, though they
may be spoken. Words are forgotten,
but the writted letter remains.
The art Of letter-wriling should re-
ceive more attention than it usually
obtains in schools. What is called
=" composition" is often the merest
waste Of time. The unlucky pupil does
not know what to say, or how to say it.
Let him or her be required, instead, to
write a letter to somebody, once week,
and facility and correctness will be
acquired which win be useful through
life. An object is before the writer Of
letter definite and distinct; while in
too many cases school composition
is dreary waste of words, or a childish
burlesque upon authorship. Few,
comparatively, write for the press. All
should write letters. And whoever
can succeed in opistolary writing, car
also turn his mind to any other style Of
composition. For good letter has iu
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