The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-08

Some Suggestions on Topic Whioh IL
Always Of Interest.

some suggestions on i"E' ""~ ="
Always Of Interest.
A correspondent wants 10 know IL there
is nothing new under the sun I'm ths
way Of subscribing ones self 10 notc
or letter. says the Atlanta Constitution.
The meaningless Yours faithfully or
truly when one Is neither. and thu
modern manifold uses OF cordially.
which came TO us at first as fresh ana
pleasing notion, have sorely palled upon
US. to he sure. Letter and note writing
should be a line art TO the man ana wo-
man Of fashion--a fine art that. like all
the rest. should seem the perfection OF
naturalness. II may be quite difficult 10
find a new subscription for formal.
business letter. but II seems 10 me an
easy matter TO create a clever ending
for n misslve 10 any friend. The letter
should wind up Ike any story or article.
with a sort OF climax. clinching the whole
thing with it's end Let this ending. there
fore. have something 10 do with the gem
eral gossip that the missive contains or
let IL refer TO some mutual pleasure or
exnerience writer and reader have had
together. For instance.
yours In the memory or April days.
FOR n friend YOU saw IN tho spring. Your
one time Arcadian," I'm tho bonds Of an
autumn tramp" An these have mean
ing and will recall a pleasant memory 10
the friend who has shared your holiday.
"A for writing 20 men. II a woman VIII
DEFY an that Mrs. Sherwood ana Inc
Iadv's Homo Journal and all the papers
and people that give her advice ana VIII
write 20 them anyway. why IL seems 10
mo that there are infinite ways OF ending
n,o's letters. Wind them mp with some
,hing that will recall "A mutual expert
o,co or with some reference 20 mutual
ioko or 10 something that You have
LAUGHED at him about or some reference
TO something he said about you. name
hc cave YOU. or a woman I'm art. or let
,ers. or music. or history. sacred or proc
fane. 10 whom he has lkened You. be-
cause men always iikcn You 10 somo ideal
,vheu they are Interested In you. and II
aatfers them 10 find that YOU remember
n and are pleased. Above an things,
however. avoid anything silly or senti-
mental in siguHturc-tha o., WIN
friends OF course. because no one would
Doe sano In expecting even persiiage from
lovers.
To "a friend end tho letter with somc-
thing Hight and clover. Ift IL be Ass WHY
as u parting word that makes visitor
lafe to 20. and something sweet ana
nattering must he mixed ln with the vii.
mind you. or else tho last of II Will leave
a little smart Men and women who move
I'm the world OF art and letters write the
clevorest epistlos perhaps Of any people
In the world when they have time 10 IN
terchange scribhled thoughts With their
friends. They have no stiffness I'm th"ir
cpisfolary intercourse and their wits run
AS freely rs TennysOn's book.
II IS novcr difficult Tor people In their
line 10 sign their letters unconventional
~. They have so much in common. such
community or refined tastes 20 which
they can refer. and they have. too. the
hot arguments. dislgrecmenis and 30
forth that fuse the fire or friendship and
mako II give forth ITS most brilliant
Sparks.
But all people ~ the polite world should
make study Of note and letter writing
not boy q book ON the subject since that
dealcns an possibility Of originality. but
hy studying 10 bc natural and easy and
froo from narrow. conventional limita-
uons Nothing plelsos a woman so in
tonsely not oven flowers or iIuylor's. as
does q wcli-writtcn note from n mana
little note. YOU know. that says nothing
an all. hut says b. $50 gracefully and with
such subtle prottincse as 20 put the writer
boz the mental act OF kissing tho hands Of
Tho woman whom he addresses. Girls
treasure those notes. OH for long time.
n would really Dee silly 10 say how long.
bat Two known them 10 be- kept with
blue ribbons round them until years and
year. afterwards. q on burned up one
day horLurc tho baby got miachievous
and would poke in Ouo'a DC K or the n
thor ~ the baby rooted them ont. and
finding They were not I'm his handwriting.
said something rather savage about the
Stiffness Of keeping such things