The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-21
WHAT TO DO.

Suggestions Oh the Social Arts of Letter
Writing and Conversation.
To earn the title of n charming letter
writer a few matters are Indispensable
Good linen letter paper of cream white, un-
ruled, with the address at the top of the
page. The ink should be jet black, the pen Sc
lccted best suited to the writer. The letter
should be lcgibly written, without flourish
or underline, the sentences well wordcd
and expressed in a way that should have
n deal of human nature i'll it, and should
carry with it the magnetic personality of
the author. AS Il class women are more
graceful letter writers than men. They are
given to vivacity Of expression, terms of af-
lection and see the grotesGuc side OF life,
having more leisure and taste for its per-
sonal view. y letter at all times is indic;i-
tive of the culture and character of the per-
son who writes it. Letter writing is an art
of itself, but can be easily acquired by prop
er care and thought.
There are rules in the sending OF letters
that should be observed with strict cere-
mony. y business letter should have in
closed an envelope, stamped and addressed,
when an immediate answer is required. For
the close of a business letter, 49, ours faith
fully" Truly yours for II friend Sin
ccrely yours, "Affcctonately yours" As
for your family, they can be addressed in
whatever terms of affection your heart die
tates. Never cross page; stationery in the
present day is cheap enough not to econo-
mizc After letter is written, read it over
and mail without delay.
1t has been cited over and over again, the
written word remains" Avoid pen, ink
and paper when offended. y fault finding
letter is not soothing to the person to whom
IL X ud Slnoy, IN xo,,r Ia faal;,,.,.
y serene mind will come with the awak en-
ing, and you will see the situation in bet
ter and truer light. If a letter of disappro-
baton is necessary, let it be brief and po-
lite in terms. BY this means you will have
nothing to regret. Don't scold OH paper.
for by so doing the writer appears to a bad
advantage and is considered an underlined
person.
In addition to the foregoing Harper's
Bazaar has also the following to say about
conversation: 1t has been recently stated
that conversation is a lost art Certainly
the listener appears to be ont of date. Per-
sons who have regard for the usages OF
polite society should remember that listen
ing is one of the canons of good manners.
observation-disclosures is impolite. Every one
is entitled to fair share of attention paid
him when conversing. If one is bored,
courtesy demands he should still listen
and appear to appreciate the story that
is related on the subject under discussion.
y writer on social etiquette once remarked
that mine times out of ten the attentive
listener is more admired than the most
brilliant talker."
Avoid in conversation all mention of your
own affairs. The clever woman guards her
hearthstone, its sorrows, troubles and an
noyances, as carefully as she docs the sacred
ness of her religion. The world admircs
your cheerfulncss, your attractivencss, youl
brightness Your gricfs belong to yourself
They are your inner life, which should he
closed with iron portals. Even if your
heart break, recollcct the critical public at
all times likes smiling face and cheerful
manner.