Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-26
THE LETTER BOOK.


Letters.
Here is something l don't show 10
everybody. but l know how you will
look at it, said my hostess as she hand
ell me thin booklet in pretty covers
1T is some of my brothers letters that
have arranged in this convenient way
for safe keeping"
touched the book reverenfly. Max
and were friends from our school days.
and cloud went over the sun when
that bright head went down in the gulf
of Mexico.
81 want my little girl to know some
thing Of her only uncle. and, ms Cardinal
Newman says, The true life Of q man is
In his letters have selected some of the
most Characteristic from the many writ
ten by dear Max and had them typed, as
You see. and some time the child will
value the book not only ms q remem-
brance, but because il shows the charac-
ter Of bright and no man."
As l glanced a. Il simple volume l
saw il answered an end had long de-
sired-that of condensing and preserv-
ing manuscript In a readable condition
and compass at small expense. Most
Of us have few old letters too dear 10
throw away, and whose uncompromising
bulk brings perplexify in slowing them
among our treasures. but the advent or
the typewriter has made IL easy 10 put
these into the form Of neat booklet
with clear typewriter pages and pretty
cardboard backs. and we have the pre-
cious messages made plain for our own
eyes and at the same time fitted for
niInble hiding beyond the gaze Of others
where most old letters should he.
Let those who have no sentiment in
their souls ask why we keep old letters.
a true letter is u very part Of the writer.
Are not the words still warm and breath
ing, though the ink is faded and the hand
that wrote them is coldf Then let us
keep these beautiful words that give US
help and strength; these tonder loving
words that makes US tender and loving.
Literature is full Of old letters. We
are all familiar with the package
ways tied with blue ribbon-that we
meet so often in the novel CT our daily
reading. And will it hurt us IL in the
far future when we are done with words
the little story in these letters Of ours b
taken to adorn tale that shall soofhe .
weary hour:
What is history but old letters. and
where would all the delightful biog-
raphies be if no one kept their friends
letters, What an interesting book 81
family history for family reading could
be made from letters Of brothers and
sisters where correspondence Is unre-
strained and the assurance Of apprecia-
ton brings out the best from each one.
and where the individual traits that en-
phasize each character Is most clearly
shown.
There are fathers letters. grave and
dignifieI. but with an nndercurrent Il
freshness that shows his heart Is sfill
young with his children. Mothers ten
der missives, with her heart in every line
these are too sacred for other eyes
than our own. Then the hsby's letters.
warm and sweet as his own ROSY lips
and altogether unique in style. for baby
l. the only one Of Us who IL truly orig
inal
But a book a wider interest will ~
The one containing our letters from men
and women 81 rcnown and fipse Whose
names stand in authority on the subjects
discussed.
And Tie best az This bcoknskinx Il
that IL adds one more tie 20 the family
bonds II cnifivatcs the home feeling and
affection that i tlae anchor q cur lives
and gives ms one more resource for a
rainy dsy. MsnesKET F. HcUsTpS.
A rather vulgar percentage, ~ho bad
koen created n rlsrquis ~ months
previous t. our story. nsnsx~i % sd
hirnseif invited q court hali. Tie
n~w fesgrd marquis could net contain
himself for joy and eshaled prpud salts
faction ~ every pore. Casting Al
oivrn,ssn glance around the roorn. n
CHANGED - SPY anasag TIE lzsiis~ tho tai
aneuiar figure Of az csisriy rnzEron. with
{ cnrnr-asse~l lipk as thoagh sfrasd a
vsstinx her breath. and lean "a lsfb
she w@@ lssainz on fhe arm q youns
gentleman
vehd Is that ne-nyvosf7- aid ~
rntle lor3 - ganfie-Dsx rho pss stand
ing fssfhe kifn.
And he iatfrr replied. with knov
in9 ssn,le. Tasr rssrn YEoef j. fise en-
tssSsirsss q ST.. he mother a The ii<
who j. r1~snz b~ has arm s-sd tte wifi
81 TIE cd burt vfso las thu sseaoY q
e~akinr pith Four exoe.s<ncJry