Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-02-26
2Sollfh's @olllmn.
HINTS ABOUT LETTER WRITING.

Lctter-writing is very much matter
of habit, and for that reason it is impor-
tant that young people should learn
early to consider it a pleasant way of
communicating thoughts and feelings to
their friends, instead of a burdensome
task to be got over as quickly as posi-
BILE.
We often hear people excuse them
selves by saying that they have no gift
for writing letters" as though it were
something like an ear for music, only
accorded to favored few. But the
truth is that any one can write interest
ing and pleasant letters who will take
little trouble and really persevere in
the effort. The grand difficulty in the
way is that they are too selfish and too
indolent to try. Nothing that is worth
anything comes without effort, and if
you do not care enough about gratifying
your friends TO take a little pains for
it, you deserve never to receive any let
tiers yourselves.
A few simple rules, carefully observ-
ed, will help you over some of the things
which you call difficulties. In the first
place, ata0ayS a0rite distinctly. 1t de-
stroys much of the pleasure in receiving
letter if it cannot be read without puz-
zling out every word. Many an epistle,
written on heavy cream-laid paper, with
a monogram at the top, is only an an
noyance to the one to whom it is address
ed, on account of pale ink and careless
handwriting.
Be particular in the matter of dating,
giving every item distinctly, and sign
the letter with your full name. If this
habit is formed, you will not run the
risk of losing valuable letters, which
cannot be forwarded from the Dead Let.
ter Office, unless accompanied with the
full address.
You will find it more easy to reply tt
a letter soon after you get it than if you
neglect it for a few weeks, because yor
will have the impressions which the
first reading made upon you. Tell your
which you are answering, and Re take Ekss5 81
the topics in the order in which the,
naturally come, remembering to answe
all the questions which have been asked
Try to think what your friend would
like best to hear about, and when yo,
undertake to tell anything, do not leave
it half told, but finish the story. Peopl,
who are not careful about this. ofte,
give false impression without meanin.
TO do so. For instance, one of thes
cdleless "llUelo, ia SI'-~o
a fire, simply stated that the hOus
burned, without giving any quali6ca
tons, thus giving the impression that i
was entirely consumed, thereby causing
a whole family much unnecessary troubl
and anxiety, as the actual burning i
question was very slight.
| Do not consider anything too trivia
to write about, which you would thin
worth mentioning in conversation. Writ
ing letters is simply talking upon paper
and your friends will be much more en-
tertained by the narration of littl
everyday affairs, than by profound OF
servations upon topics which you car
nothing about.
In writing to very intimate friends
who will be interested in the details {
your daily life, it is we'll sometimes
make your letter a sort of diary-tell
ing something of how you have sper
each day since you wrote last; whs
books you have been reading, what LEI
tiers you have received from mutns
friends, and what you have heard {
seen which has interested you.
Write all that you have to say on on
subject at once. That is, do not begi
30 tell about your garden, and then abou
your school, and then about your garde
again but finish one subject before 70
begin another. Do not be afraid of usin
the pronOun l. Some people avoid i
and thus give their sentences a shabb
and unfinished sound, as. "Went to Bos
ton-called on Mrs. Smith," Neye
apologize for what you write, by sayin
that you do not like to write letter,
You would not think it quite polite, i
visiting a friend, to say, 81 do not Xix
to talk to you, so 1 shall not say much.
Keep the idea before you that you ar
writing for the sake of giving pleasur
to your friend.
When your letter is merely an in
curry, or on matter of business, tn
case IS different. You then should tr,
to be brief. concise, and clear as posi-
bic. An deliberately drawn out bushes
letter is as out of place as it is inconsid
crate.
"Do not think what to write. bu
write what you think" is an old rule
and good one to remember. If VOL
are away from home, it is very selfish
not to share your good times with the
family by writing frequent letters. You
can tell what you are enjoying so much
better while it is fresh in your mind