Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-12-26
POLITE CORRESPONDENCE
Some Specimens of Seventeenth Century
Letter Writing.

Letter Writing.
The manuals of correspondence oil
our own tune, though they may be
eAbjects of serious study to occasional
rural devotees of etiquette often afroroa
entertaining reading to other people,
especially when they attempt to supply
rules for 1ove-letters. proposals, and
other epistIes not included in the CORE
spondence of business or merely form
al social relations. But if they strike
us as funny, what shall we say of the
s'polite letter-writers'' of out great
great-grandfathers? Here is the OPEN
ing recommendation of choice nth
century specimen:
LET not your breast lie on the desk
you write on, nor your nose on the
paper, but sit in as ajestical a pos
ture as you can; with practice you may
do brave things"
Being properly and, let us hope, MAJ
jestically posed ready for the task. the
old-time correspondent might proceed
to seek in his guide book a model for
such letter as he wished to compose
1t offered wide choice. Among tho
headings of Guide of 1865, styled
"a President for Young Penmen," and
advertised full of variety, delight
and pleasure are included "A letter
from friend to fantastical, conceited
madcap;" "a byting letter to clam
orous gentlewoman,' with an equally
biting reply. showing how the ag-
grieved lady might properly relieve.
her feelings on paper, if not clamor-
ously, at least forcibly; "a melancholy,
discontentive letter upon the frowne-
| of a kinsman;'' "a kind of quarrelsome-
letter upon the frowne of friend;''
ga letter to an unkle to borrow a,
horse,' which seems as if one were at
| last coming to something practical
but only seems, for Immediately fol-
| lowing it is given "a letter of Miss,
Molly Smith to her cousin, giving her
an account of very remarkable in
stance of envy in one of her acquaint-
ances, who lived in the city of New
York.
Naturally, models are given for let
| tiers of invitation, acceptance and de-
clination-models in which the cour-
| tesy may be beyond criticism, but tho.
English assuredly is not
s.Mr. Lamber compliments wait on.
Miss Norris, to beg the very great favor
of being her partner tomorrow even
ing at the Assem- bly,"
Miss Norris no doubt found nothing
| amiss in this request, at that date a.
lady attended a ball with her part
ner,'' and danced with him the whole
evening, and with no one else; but she
had already made choice of cavalier.
'Miss Norris's compliments to Mr.
Lambert, and she is engaged"
But it is not always that the '1etter-
writer" countenanced social frivo1ities-
A mother writing to boarding-schoolA
miss. not yet ''out," of course, is made
to inquire warningly, Are you re-
solved to embark in the fashionable
follies of the gay and unthinkings
world?'' To which query the models
daughter evolves this priggish reply.
which it is to be hoped no actual
little girl properly fond of tag, ginger
bread and innocent, good times was
ever induced to copy and send home:
my Dear Madam,-I love virtue, "a
love religion, and 1 hope no considera-
ton will ever lead me from those
duties in which alone 1 expect future
happiness- ',-Youth's Companion.