Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-04-10
Letter Writing.

a =
note or letter is always spoken of with
phrases of commentator Tie noVeIisis
and essayists are full of compliments 10
the feminine sex. rs they say the cps
tolary art is especially feminine Bull
wer saws: "a woman IS the genius of
epistolary communication Even men
write better 10 a woman than 10 one of
their own sex. No doubt they cOnjure
up. while writing. the loving, listening
face. the tender, pardcning heart, the
ready tear OF sympathy, and passionate
condolences Of heart and brain now
rapidly from the pen" Ii should be
roSsible TO everyone 10 express him or
herself in a perfectly correct and suih-
GENTLY elegant manner. Nothing 50
betokeus the woman Of cultivation and
refinement As concise and well-eN-
pressed note. and IN no other way can
ignorance be 50 easily betrayed. Sufii-
cIeut atteuti,n g. not always bestowed
upou tins branch OF culture by the in
structcrs Of tie young. How many
students, grinding out the detested
..comro-.f iOuH or more ambitious
s.essay.' - do 30 with aLy thought that
lar mole important thau the taking of
a cove,el prIzr. Is the preparation for
that uuicll will be an everyday neceS-
sliy.
Our Immediate ancestors wrote better
and longer letters than we do. They
covered three pages of large letter-paper
with crow-quill handwriting, folded the
paptr neatly, tuckeI) )ne edge beneath
tile other tIoT there were no envelopesl
ana then 5, aled il with a wafer or with
sCaling-waN. 1t was expensive TO send
one OF these epistleS-twenty-l cents
from New York To Boston. The electric
telegraph and cheap postage and postal
carLs may have been said, IN way, TO
have ruined correspondence i'll the old
sense; lovers and fond mothers doubtless
still write long letters, but the business
of the letteT-wTiting proper is at an end.
The writing of notes has, however, cor
resroudingly increased.
In letter writing there are some points
n knowledge of which is absolutely es-
seutial. and We take for granted that
the facts Ilat no letter, however well
expressed. can be elegant if mis-spelled,
and 10 matter how well-spelled, If un-
grammaticslly expressed, are too well
understood to need repetition, but there
is the les--IndeTstOod branch of punct-
cation. Custom has now decreed a
system of convenient dashes permissible,
and fashions Yotaries go SO far as 70
declare this the only elegant method,
and that only in matter intended for
print are colons, semi-colons and their
kiuured allowable. There was a time
wien the perfect punctuation of 4 letter
WAS Ieli 4 necessity We think the
know ledge of correct punctuation, and
the ability 10 place them necessary:
then. possibly one is justified in choos-
ing ones own way.
Tie note PAPER, formal or informal,
should never lie ruled; IL IS rs easy after a
few trials to write without lines as with,
and the handwriting is much less
hampered. There are great many
fancirul papers upon the market which
are in bad taste, and should never be
used; the fancy can be INDUCED as far
as you like rs 10 quality, but never be
led into buying the varied colors, or
eccentric shapes, so common. There
are sheets folded at the top and envel-
opes opening from the end, with torn
edges, paper even with burned edges.
paper with notices, with flowers and
innumeTable other things. Deep colors
are always out Of taste, and even In
tinted paper care should be used that it
lie OF the most delicate tones, as soft
gIays, pale greens, pinks and blues.
There is one fashion which has never
changed, and will never change, which
is always in good taste, and which, per-
baIs, would be to-day the most perfect
OF all styles, and that is, good, plain,
thick, hite, English note paper, folded
square, put in = square envelope, and
sealed with red sealIng-wax which bears
the imprint of the writer's monogram
- ran nv
mistake who uses such stationary as
this in any part OF the world. On such
paper and III such form are ambassadors
notes written; on such paper and in such
style would the Princess Louise write
her notes.
The intricate and gorgeous monogram
which so inspired collectors few years
ago is creeping back into some favor,
but simple letter, or combination OF
letters, stamped in one color or in silver
or gold, IS pretty device; these letters
are usually placed across the upper left
corner of the sheet. The plan OF hav-
ing all the note paper marked with the
address is an admirable one, for ii
efectually reminds the person who re-
ceives the note where the answer should
lie sent-information of which some
ladies forget the Importance, and which
should always be written, if not printed,
at the head of a letter. 1t also gives
stylish finish TO the appearance of the
note paper, is simple, unpretending and
useful.
Sealing-wax is not as popular as it
was few years ago. Tns glued ell
velope-common, cheap, and necessary
has become the almost prevailing fash
TnT all lot
The ink should invariably be black.
Tie date OF letter should be written
in the upper right corner, near the top
of the page. The address should be
placed there also, unless stamped upon
the paper. In a mole the date is more
often at the end, below the signature.
Never date a letter vaguely; it may
seem a trivi ial matter at the time, but
do not forget to write day of week,
month, and year; 1t is far more elegant
TO do so, and may save the recipient
much trouble il future reference lie
made to it,
DO not begin the letter half way down
the page; MY dear" or whatever form
OF words used, should be written not
more than an inch below the date. and
that, perhaps, one inch and half from
Do not send blurred, blotted, slo-
venly note 10 any one; it Will remain TO
call up a certain prejudice against you
in the mind of the recipient. The
fashion Is not now, as it once was, I'M.
peratIye that margin be left around
the edge of the paper
Dates and numerical designations.
such as the number of house, may lie
written In Arabic figures, but Quanti-
lies should be expressed in words.
Few authorizations are respectful. y
married lady should always be address,
ed with the prefix of her husbands
Christian name.
The subject of a friendly letter, can
not, OF course, be dictated, but at least
let the epistle contain some fact of in
terest, rather than the information to Il
friend III the next town that 1--WE have
had rainy autumn: Remember that
TO make much of little is as much the
proof of a good letter-wrIter as of a
good dTeSS-maker. Have something in
NOur letters besides hare TpIaal