Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-06-15
Queer Calling.


A petite lady IN a neat, though notice
ably plain attire, and carrying an arInfu.
of books, brushed into an alcove in which
a reporter was seated at Mercantile Library
Hall, St. Louis, the other day. She begged
pardon, and began q hasty retreat, when
the newspaper man demonstrated and argued
that the recess was common property. She
acquiesced in this liberal view, and after
depositing the volume seated herself within
q few feet of the only other occupant.
After quickly glancing over the title pages
OF half dozen of the volumes the lady
drew q note-boo from her pocket, remark
ing that she had a two hours task before
her. This fractured the CONCEALED water,
90 to speak, aid conversation was
opened.
"These are all books on the subject of
writing letters, about which there is as
much Ignorance, even in polite circles, as
there is about deferentisl circulars or the
contents Of the Koran. 1t has been en-
bodied in works on etiquette and cure-all-
books that contain something of everything
and nothing complete or absolutely correct
about anything"
"Have you directed especial attention to
iti"
swell, yes, have, inasmuch as / have
selected it to furnish the whcrewith to keep
body and soul together, a problem for
which | find this following an intelligent,
respectable and lucid solution. | am q
professional letter writer" From her
pocket she produced and handed to the re-
porter a neatly inscribed card, with the
name, Aglae Beaumond, Letter Wiiter.
''Have you been located in this city very
long2"
81 have been here for two years. Pre-
vlous to then was in Chicago, Cincinnati,
New York, Brooklyn. Dubuque, Milwaukee
and a number of smaller towns. In New
York there are half a hundred persons do
ing tbis work, but in this city there is
scarcely any competition. The only other
person know who IS a professional letter
writer is a man at No. 70l Chestnut street,
and his business is really teaching pen
manship, though he advertises as letter
writer"
''What is the character Of patrons?"
''They are of all stations of life but really
can be divided into two classes those that
cannot write and those who are educated
but desire to frame their crude thoughts in
language with which they are not capable
of clothing it or else are particularly anxious
to be absolutely correct both dramatically
and rhetorlcally. OF course, one Of the
first requisites is to write an elegant and a
very varied style of hand. The first is alb
solutely necessary, while the great need of
the second quality will soon suggest itself
to any one adopting this queer mode of
making living.
''Dc you devote your time exclusively to
letter writing?'
s'Yes. When l first began this work,
about five years ago in Cincinnati, l also
did inscription work. writing cards, formal
invitations, family records in bibles, and
inscriptions in books, albums and similar
presenta Since then l have found ample
remuneration in letter writing"
swell, there Is no market price regulat
ing the sale, and might say that l charge
from nothing at all for some work and up
10 what you would consider fabulous
price for more. The class of work you
speak Of is alwayg done at bed rock prices,
of course, for the usual customers for this
are poor and uneducated persons For
these no great care is required, and will
give them letter for nothing; or, if they
are anxious to pay and are capable of do
ing 30. l charge them 25 cents, or some
nominal amount. You will readily con-
celve that this class of customers are not
greatly solicited, though must say that l
hav. worked hours In this way with the
utmost pleasure. Much of the work i do
is Tor young men and shop girls, and it is
needless to say that the correspondence in
these cases is all of the lovely stamp. /
soon comprehended the necessity of writ
ing bold male hand when 1 embarked in
this calling, and can dash off an accurately
worded eplstle OF write neat, sweet love
letter in hand that no expert in the
world could pronounce woman's- These
letters are paid for in accordance with the
ability Of the customer. l have received
as much az $25 for a letter of this descrip-
ton, and usually charge 81 when Of any
ength. Between - cents and 81 the
prices range, though, as said, frequently
receive much greater sums for work"
"What is your object in taking notes
from SO many booksl"
WCAl, IhCy oAS Oil Oh thAo ouOJoIt, du0
nearly all incorrect IN some points. / am
now at work on the manuscript OF book
which propose shall contain all the ex-
celences and none of the glaring mistakes
of these. i have written several magazine
articles on this subject, and now intend to
compile these and other articles appertain-
ing thereto. l have just returned from
New York, where have been for some
weeks making arrangements for my book. "
''You are, suppose, the repository, of
many secretsi'
"Yes, have some very queer customers
and experiences, but l enjoy and am in
structed by them. by the way, l am just
meditating organizing an epistletory society
for ladies and gentlemen. You cannot
conceive how much ignorance there is con-
cerning this, and even about addressing
persons in this county. l have spoken
with several ladies on the subject and think
n will no q a,1ccosa