The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-14
LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION.

Anna L. Dawes Says They Should Be Of
fered, Not Asked For.
No man should give letter of intro
duct1on unless he is certain it will be well
come, aud therefore such letter implies
one OF two things-that the writer has an
actual friendship of some intimacy with
him who is to receive it, or that he is
sure the bearer will be a welcome &C
quaintance. You are quite sure, for in
stance, that the Rev. Dr.. Jones will be
delighted TO know Bishop Green; it is
entirely safe to presume that your
friend, Mrs. Four Hundred, will
enjoy knowing Mrs. Beacon Street,
and when this gentleman goes to New
York it will be a real pleasure to both
to meet through your kind note. But
you will not introduce the club man to
the clergyman, or society belle to a
teacher, unless you are sure they are con-
genial from an intimate knowledge of
both. For the letter you send obIiges
your friend to treat the visitor as if you
were with him, saying in so many words
what you have written instead.
Fortunately or unfortunately we are all
many-sided, and it by no means follows
that because we admire an individual all
our friends will; therefore stop and con-
slider. Introduce gay people to gay peo-
pie and sober folk to other sober folk; the
wise to the learned, the beloved to other
warm hearts.
1t often happens that letters of intro
duction have had definite purpose-they
are given to furnish social connections,
to further business interests, to bring
about definite object. Mrs. A. removes
from Albany to Buffalo and her friends
in the former city send letters to their
circle in her new home introducing her
there, that she may speedily find new
circle for herself comparable to that she
has left and connected with it; the mer-
chant takes with him letters of introduce
ton that show to other men his worth
and character; the stranger carries note
signed with a well known name that
opens to him the very avenue he seeks.
WHEN ONE SHOULD DECLINE.
All these things make it evident that s.
letter OF introduction should be offered.
not asked for. 1t is very seldom safe to
ask q man to give you letter to his
friend. He may be very unwilling to, but
he cannot well refuse.
When an absolute stranger appeals to
you for letter. of Introduction to very
rich man that he may further business
project, you can only decline, lest your
wealthy friend honor your name to his
own hurt.
1t is very easy to say that Miss Bayard
is daughter of the ambassador to Eng
land, that Mr.. Lowell comes to San Fran
cisco to study its charities, that President
Harper goes to Cambridge on business
connected with his university.
1t goes without saying that such letters
are also usually complimentary in tone,
for it is unnecessary to mention that an
undesirable person must make his own
way.
WHAT THE LETTER REQUIRES.
The question OF how much attention
letter of introduction requires is one
much mooted.
In England it is Immediately and per-
emptorily followed by great social atten-
ton, beginning with an invitation to
dinner at least. For this reason there
should always be much hesitation in Civ
ing letters for use in that country.
Our less formal ways do not require
recognition to the same extent, however,
and in this country the question is de-
cidedly by the nature OF the letter itself.
If 1t is a purely social or friendly letter,
a call at least is obligatory, and most
men and women think it desirable to
show some further social attention if pos
sible.
All this is, however, dependent upon
the nature of the letter, the habits of the
social circle into which it comes, and the
special circumstances of the time and
place.
1t may be put in phrases letters OF