The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-22
EPIsTOLARY GEMS.

Two Samples of Correspondence Showing
that the Letter Writing Art Is Not Extinct
New York Times
If evidence were needed to prove that letter
writing is not lost art it could be found Ia the
epistolary efforts of federal officers, and of genial
gentlemen directly or indirectly connected with
affairs of moment at the national capital. De-
nent surveyor-general OF Utah. whose confirma-
ton has upset the consistency OF several emf
nent Senators. is letter-writer of considerable
ability Here is a letter sent by him TO General
Sparks, Commissioner of the General Land
Office:
SALT LAKE CRY, IAN. i, 1886.
ssMy Dear General--Some of the papers are
attacking you, and some mon are attacking you
through the papers. Honest men who are in
formed sustain you here and elsewhere. You
are making the noblest record Of any man in
this administration. Your reward is coming as
sure as there is God who loves honesty, and
millions who will owe their future homes to you
shall speak your name in reverence when you
are old. But you will not have to wait till
then. Your political future will force itself
upon you. l thought l saw it when was in
Washington, and told you so, l am very sure
see it now. Now don't work too hard. You can
not stand it at the pace you were keeping when
was with you. Bear in mind continually how
much depends upon your keeping up say to
you no man in this government could take your
place. Try and steal moment to write me, and
if you could wire me that my requisition ia all
right it would enable me to go ahead know,
of course, that am all right and am permitted
to use up my deposits judiciously; but without
instructions do not know that l have proceeded
in the right way to get it,
sAdmiringly, your friend r. s. DEMENT,"
And yet we are told that q member of the
Senate COMMITTEES on public lands, in secret ses-
sion, called Mr.. Dement, "a monumental sse."
Do monumental asses write such letters as
this?
But the model letter is one brought to light by
fa1a IN tioot he
between the lines of Dement'S letter a desire to
gain some point by praise that almost encroaches
upon the domain of flattery, but nothing sordid
or selfish mars this production of Col Richard
c. Wintersmith, of Kentucky, which Is carefully
preserved by DIR. j. Webb Rogers, of Parthenon
Heights, the poet and promoter. to whom 1t was
addressed:
.'WAsHINGToN, March "a 1885.
ssMy Very Dear Friend-Your kind and char
acteristic letter was received several days ago.
In answering it as would wish to do | recognize
at the threshold the poverty of the English lane
guage to any way adequately express the unfath-
enable depths of gratitude feel, and the genu-
inc and sincere thanks that well up in my bosom
This may sound like hyperbolical language and
gushing homonytny. yet every word of 1t is true,
for in the very nnermost recesses of my heart
your kindness Is encysted, and will nestle there
as its chiefest gem until its latest pulsation will
sound the knell of time. Gould / wreak my
thoughts upon expression the burning ian
guage necessary to be employed would lighk
the vestal fires anew, and glow forever there al
the fixed stars in heaven shine, bright, and beau
tiful, and glowing as golden FURNISHED sheen.
Your letter came to me like the grateful dew
upon the parched and withered herbage renew
ing its verdancy and rendering its dreariness
beautiful. The expressed well wishes and hon.
age of one kind heart is worth living for, and
makes one feel that life is not altogether vain.
The experience of life has taught me that it is
boon Of priceless value, for when genuine, as I
know yours to be. it is a casket adorned all over
with flowers, and is as rare in the casket Of dear
memories as the Kohuoor is among the family
of gems. To say that thank you with all my
heart is but the most feeble portraiture of my
feelings Your letter struck me at time when
sorrow brooded over me like a funeral pail. when
hope, whitening, fed and mercy sighed farewell
felt truly sad and isolated and my thoughts
were gloomy and saturnine. Need I tell
you, therefore, how timely and welcome
your letter was to me- and how fruity and rich
were its effects upon my soul, redolent OF por-
fumed souvenirs and dear memories, awakening
bright hopes, and vaulting aspirations as fresh
as the aurora of morn bespangled with its dewy
diamondss In conclusion may | express the
wish and breathe the prayer that your life on
this earth be 80 serene and happy, and exempt
from all its ills that in its transition from
this to better world the change will scarcely be
perceptible7 am. as ever hope to be, your
true and grateful friend. r. G. WINTERsMTH.
DIR. J. w. Rogers. Washington, D. c."
This letter lies like an oasis In the desert Of
Rogers letter book, filed with the dry Official
and unofficial correspondence of the Pan-eectric
company. There is q fresh bluegrass flavor
about it that must have given its recipient much
pleasure. It is said that the letter was written
TO express thanks for the gift Of block of Pam
electric stock. No one who reads it carefully
can accept this theory about ita origin. Nothing
so prosaic as distribution of ground floor stock
in telephone company could have caused the
production of this polished gem of epistoary art.