The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-08-27

the majority of authors produce
their letters with an idea that some
day-"love, l know not when or
how"-but some day, they will be-
come the property of the public as
much as their books, or articles, or
essays.
A general introduction of the
type writer will, we apprehend, do
much to reduce the correspondence
of authors to the dull level observed
in that of meaner mortals. This
ingenious instrument is being largely
adopted by members of the literary
craft. 1t is difficult to understand
a man becoming witty or epigram-
matte, or even garrulous, while
working a machine. Though, truth
to tell, we know of one man of
genius who turns off verses on the
type writer-works poems on an
implement played like piano, so
that he appears at the same moment
to be engaged in producing the
libretto and composing the tune.
His, however, is an exceptional
case, and his poetry is not likely to
take high place in the national
literature. The adoption of the
new invention will have an unhappy
effect in depressing less mechanical
operators, and there is no reason
why the novelist of the immediate
future should not commence his
letter to the poet with, dear Sir.
i have to acknowledge your favor
of the goth inst and end it with,
II remain, dear Sir, your obedient
servant, etc. ;"
There are causes, however, less
fanciful than the extended use of
the type writer which have led to a
deterioration in our correspondence.
The hurry and jostle of the times
leave little leisure to those who may
have taste for that almost for
| gotten art. People have greater
mistrust of each other. They do
not care nowadays to wear the heart
upon the sleeve, or exhibit their
nature on notepaper with an inter-
esting and sometimes amusing cam
dour. The world has received an
access of cynicism. 1t has received,
moreover, an access of vulgarity.
The parueau sits in high places ;
the huckster is your most distin-
guished patron of the arts; and the
finest productions of the painter or
the sculptor find themselves in the
galleries of the new rich. Thus
gossip, which in the old letter-writer
formed not inconsiderable part Of
polite correspondence, has to deal
with personages who are forbidding
accidents in society. Scandal, too,
has lost it's piquancy because it has
become general. Stimulating cpl
sodes in the "Hig-lif" are discussed
with freedom by City clerks and
omnibus lads. There are no more
letters, because there is nothing left
to write about.
"a book S book, although there's
nothing init" wrote Lord Byron
The same, however, by no means
holds good about a letter. Its
merit consists in the elegant and
racy recital of facts not generally
known. And in these printed letters
of which we possess so vast a guam,
tity, scandal will be found to con
stitute "the cream of the correspon
dence.' .,Tr
In illustrating this alleged decline
Of the art of letter writing, we dc
not, of course, including love letters
celia" has given list of "book'
that are not books.'' In some sucf
category must. be placed the amor
Gus epistolary interchange between
those suffering from this midsum
mer madness. They are letters ths
are not letters. Herein the natura
man exhibits himself with a comb
candour. Even famous literary men
wounded with the fatal dart, hav
committed epistolary follies calcu
lated to make angels weep. Th
artless art Of love-letter writin'
alone survives and fourishes. Al
others have gone by the board
London Life.