The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-01
A Word to Letter.writers.

OutuD IOstupe ms uOne WOnuerS, IL
has set every man, woman and child Ia
writing letters but cheap printing and
the personal column IN newspapers have
DESTROYED the old.hshiOned letters, full
of tattle, and news, and humor aud des.
criptiou, and narrative. Who now uses
the old.iashioAed full letter-sheet, aud
even two Of them? When postage ou Il
letter way twenty. y.fye cents, prudent
people paused long btfOre writing, and
when they did write, they determined to
have their moneys worth. But now, at
three cents apiece, every one can offord
Ii letter. The consequence is, that letter
writing has become n mauia. At any
rnte, any one would think so II he hap.
pened to stand in nuy public position.
There are certain things which letter.
writers should bear in mind.
Whenever you write to any one on
your own business, inclose n postage
stump to pay the answer. Why should
you tax amy one for the courtesy Of re.
plying to your question This is MS true
Of women as OF men. Once it was re-
girded US an act OF courtesy to pay q
letter to n woman. But with the de-
yelopment of the woman's rights comes
the development OF woman's duties,
Women, like men, must pay postage {;
and il they write to ask any service, they
must inclose stamps for the reply. Lee
tIre committees, church committees sec
retaries of benevolent societies, should
observe the same rule. II they write to
beg y mau to give lecture, to attend n
convention, to preach q sermon, they
have no right to require him to pay
three cents for the privilege of saying
mol
"Is not this making fuss about u
very small matter Is it not n mean
aud stingy business to higgle about
three cents 2"
Very well. Is 1t not as mean for you
to forget three cents due from yon, as
for him to notice three cent imposi
ton? To impose your own proper eA.
penses upon another, and then reproach
him with meanness for taking notice
that lie is paying your debts, has sus'
picion OF " meannessn about II
But every man seems to think that he
only OF all the world is writing letters
and neglecting to pay the expense.
Suppose, as often happens, that from
sdme peculiar position or publicity, one
receives ten, twenty, or thirty letters
lny, asking all sorts OF irrelevant ques-
housekeeping advice, giving advice;
asking for lectures, for books, for papers,
or, above all, for money; asking for
situations, for information about men.
machines, doctors, humbugs; and sup.
pose half Of them incloso no return
stamp-is the tux so small2 But small
or great, ii is a matter that young peo-
pie should take notice OF.
Another thing. Do not begin letter
with an apology, or an explanation.
Time is precious. Letters are multitu'
dtnous. Men do not like to open amp
Glenn letter, like fish, before they can
eat it. State your business in the first
line, Then, when you have stated the
business, you can go OH, II you wish ex-
plantations and apologies, which the re.
ceiver can read or not, as he pleases.
Thus, II one writes, Dear Sir-I desire
to borrow thousand dollars, without
interest OF security" and adds eight or
ten reasons WHY, the receiver does not
need to read further than the first line.
Never begin thus "Dear Sir You will
be surprised TO receive letter from an
entire strnnger," etc. Bless your heart,
one nowadays is surprised at ANYTHING
else Surprised ? am surprised when
l do not get peck week !
There are few rules which men
shoull commit to memory, in correspon-
ding with busy people.
|. Don't write at all.
Q. When you can't help it, be sharp,
short and legible.
8. When you write on your own busi-
ness, pay for the answer.
A. When you want money, don'tbegin |
with piety or flattery. Beg first and be
rs piouS afterward.
8. Don't beg OF any one with whom
YOU are not personally acquainted. Die,
but don't beg.-Beteher IN Ltd1er.