The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-22
RETURNING LETTpRs.
Suggestion that If Followed Might
Sometimes Save

Kate Fields Paper.
1 have wished for a long time that some
ity of returning to a writer his letter along
with the answer to it. This would be really
anofher in exchange An answer sS msg
respond to all questions, and make such
Comment upon anything that may have
nal letter the writer of it is the better en-
forth. 1t often happens that considerable
time elapses before a letter can be an
swered. and unless i Is re-resd. the an
deed, even IL the greatest care is taken in
this regard, the author may have. forgotten
reaches him. How much mental wear and
tear could be saved, therefore, by inclosing
the letter in the reply, the laattt6e Latter b~eginanins;
say etc.
But there are still other reasons why a let
ter should be returned with its answer.
Between relatives and intimate friends mat
tiers are often discussed which do not in
any way concern outsiders and which the
writer's would not care 10 have made public
lest they should, be misunderstood. though
they may be harmless enough In them
selves. Apropos of this. several packages
of flower seeds were recently sent to one
relative by another wrapped up In frag-
sort the seeds my eye fell upon q frag-
ment whose contents, being typewriter.
cerned a private matter between the writ
err and recipient and had L not been be-
hind the scenes, as 1T were, | might easily
have construed it to mean something en-
tirely different from what the writer in
tended. l was surprised at its liability to
misconstruction and l straightway did
what its owner was under moral obligation
to do. but had neglected, and consigned it
to the flames.
A request to have a letter destroyed as
soon as read is seldom complied with. Most
persons have an aversion to burning old
letters, and they can hardly be blamed
for it. But what are we to think OF peo-
pie who use old letters for wrapping pa
per? Letters, as a. rule, are intended only
for the eyes of those to whom they are
written, and it is not honorable for any
into the hands of others. A common in-
discretion in this line Is for a. family to
vacate q house, leaving behind them a
heap of old letters for their successors TO
examine if so inclined.
A correspondence Is often carried on be-
tween young people. including an exchange
of condolences, much regretted when ma
turer years have brought the writers added
Ii would be to both IL they could have the
privilege of destroying their missiyes,
which. though written in good faith, seem
so foolish in the light of calmer judgment
Ny proposal for a general practice of re-
turning letters does not, or course, apply
TO those Of a strictly business nature, or
to those which, for some particular reason,
need to be kept for future reference. But
even these should not be kept longer than
is absolutely necessary. III would be ~
source of much satisfaction to most peopls
to have a chance to burn tneir own letteIs'
stroyed. If once the custom could become
universal it would be the most popular or
| commonplace reforms. The first correspond
ent to adopt ii might have to explain his
party would appreciate them and follow suit
cheerfully.