Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-17
A New Horr u dr scrI1snsr.

writing Of letters Tor persons unable or
unwilling TO conduct c6rrespondence
for themselyes livos IN small briek
house inIhird Avenue. She was MIS-
tied yesterday by a Tribune reporter.
Over the door is a plain black and
white sign inscribed, "Letters written
by lady" with no name attached.
Iinging the bell, be was told 10 walk
up" In q room on the third door he
was met by a woman, fashionablv
dressed, who inquired his business
with "a engaging smile.
believe you write letters, doyOu
potP ! saw an advertisement TO that
ehect," said the reporter seating him
"Yes. Do you wish me 10 write for
youP You look as II you might have
enough education yourself" said the
woman, eying the reporter dubiously.
al wish you TO write an Invitation
for me to young lady to go to Daly's
tomorrow night"
In less than FIVE minutes the follow
ing note was ready, written In n bold,
clear and somewhat lawyer-like hand.
DEAR MISS R.: r Eould give me great
pleasure 10 have You attend with me the per-
formance Of Pina and Needles" at Daly's
fully.
"Wnl that dop' querried the writer,
handing it TO the reporter. 81 gener-
ally put in more touching remarks. but
as you did not ask for them l have
omitted them" MHr
"TAat win do very well What is
the charger W
twenty-five cents; and you have a
letter of any reasonable length written
for the same price"
Do you find the business lucrative
at such small priceP' inquired the re-
porter. D..
j" 1t is small, but then have great
many to do. assure you l have not
taken up this business as amusement.
was left a widow without any means,
but, having good education, thought
this was the occupation in which there
was the least competition. sometimes
add fortune-telling to my letter-writing,
but that does not pay so well, as people
are gradually getting over their super
stitions. L generally average four to
five letters a day, and l have had as
many as twelve, though not often"
OF what class generally are your
custOmersP
"Most of my business is done with
women of German or Irish nationality,
although frequently have customers
who come in carriages and are dressed
in. the height of fsshiOn-persons whose
education has been neglected and who
have suddenly acquired wealth"
90 You must meet with a great many
sad Incidents"
" Yes, l do. Many come to me in
tears and get me to write to truant low
ers or reoreant husbands. These require
more or less Of 'gush' in their letters,
Then other letters must be made tearflil,
as in cases Of an erring son or drunken
father. could tell you some interest
ing "reminiscences were I not pledged
in many cases to secrecy.n
d" You must have occasion to write a
great many love letters"
" Yes; more than fifty per cent. are
letters of that description, and a hard
time | have sometimes in fully undef-
standing the destinations, for many
come to me who cannot speak English
at all, or if any, of very unsatisfactory
kind"
81 suppose you have been the means
OF MAKING great many mabeheS."
go, yes; and sometimes think it is
quite comforting to know that we have
brought together persons who were
languishing apart from each other. l
frequently write letters for those who
wish to remain unknown. frequently
they are people in good society"
At this moment ring sounded from
the door-bell, and the letter-writer ex-
cused herself for a moment. On re-
turning she said: " shall beg you to
excuse me to-day as am requested by
q visitor to write a letter onR love af-
fair.n ~ -
On the way down stairs the reporter
met man coming up looking like
burly drayman, who was hurrying
eagerly as if he had something import
ant on his mind.-NelO York Tribune.