The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-21
EDITORS CHAT.

Some Thoughts er-writing-Historte
pIymou,h and the Forefathers Monu.
ment.
GOOD LETTER-wRTTIN9.
notwithstanding the increased amount oil
cp,ture and educational advantages of the day,
very few people write really good letter
They do not seem to have the power OF infus'
ing their own personality into their letters, OF
Of giving their friends any adequate idea Of
their daily life and personal interests.
A good letter should leave the recipient with
the feeling that he has actually been talking
with the absent one, since in the personality
of letter lies its subtle charm. Our friends
want 10 know about ourselves and the Things
that influence and shape our lives They want
details of The individual, and personal chat
real, concrete things not glittering generalites.
Nothing is more disappointing, on opening
long-looked-for letter from friend away on
an interesting trip, than to find sheet AFTER
sheet Glled with tiresome descriptions OF places
and scenery taken bodily from guide books
mere conventional platitudes. wooden letter.
without enc suggestion of the personality oil
the writer.
Ttwoul,i be much better to send us the guide
hooks with the pages marked than TO mus III
flict them upon Us.
remember of once writing letter from
Denver 10 my dearest friend. Feeling that i
world be expected to tell something oil interest,"
Of my Trim and knowing little which seemed
worth telling, ] took refuge in the hotel sta
tionerv. which gave the salient points ABOUT
Denver in the letter-head.
The result was stited letter, telling about
tho altitude OF the mountains. the hight OF
bindings, the number of paved streets, and the
wster.yorks system-things of which never
conld have The slightest comprehension:
in mailing the letter / inadvertently nseo
the hotel envelope. blissfully unconscious that
il contained all the information IN my ennsion.
Nv friend, in replying to my letter, cleveriy
said Why did you trouble to write OF those
sietails2 Why did you not say See back Oh
envelope"
This was lesson to me.
Give yonr friend gimpses of yourself on
your trip: place yourself ca rapport with him'
and let him feel your presence, your nature,
your heart. aud frieudship-Dot lot oil ex-
terual environments in which he has no posi-
bic interest.
If we could only learn to be simple. Emer-
son SAYS that TO be simple is TO be great.
let US strive for this in our letter-writing; let
us write simnly and naturally-not try 10 COM
pose and clothe in stilted, bombastic language
Remember you are writing to a friend who
considers the motive Of the heart of far more
importance than the most polished rhetoric.
HEART MOTIVES.
It is this heart motive that gives your letter
eoloring beauty and a value of its own. What
your friend desires, is not fine writing but
yourself and the best letter is the fullest ex-
preston of thought and feeling.
Never write a letter when angry. il you 90,
put il away for day, a week, or month; then
read IT in the light of your more sober Jndg-
ment. when the flames of passion are cool.
Remember that "a wise man deierreth has
anger"
Don't make an Aunty Dobfui of yourself, and
put all Of your petty cares and annoyances'
aches and pains. tears and vexatons--sll OF the
disouiet of your life into your letter. 1t is nn-
kind TO make your friends heart cushion for
the needles aud pins of fretful complaint.
BE careful 10 answer the questions asked In
replying to a letter. They would not be asked
il reply was not desired, and We owe tina;
much consideration to others.
AWAY WITH MYSTERY.
Another warning. Don't be mysterious
That is the most exasperatinr of all faults.
have friend who always writes: There are
many startling surprises connected with II
which viii tell you about when / see you"
Now. what is the sense in that2 OF course
yoE never sec him, and in the meantime you
are al torn up ia your mind with a natural
curiosity. Ii is better 10 tell all, or say moth
ing.
DO no. forget 10 say that you are glad oil
sorry for a friend. One cannot say everything
in letter but like smile or handc!asp a
sympathetic letter viii suggest all of the ten
dcrness OF the heart. DO not give grudeingly
of The riches of friendship for we have blu.
poor, starved hearts st best.
Pot lots OF capital II" in yonr letter. You
arc not writing OF the world. but of yourself
A few thoughts from our great souls may help
you 10 grasp the spirit OF letter writing:
:" ] insist that you shall write whatever comes
FIRST. Whist you see, what you hear, what you
read. what you admire, what you dislike.
tri6es, bagatellcs. nonsense; TO fiji up
corner cen put down q lsngh at full length. u
Robert Burns
Tell me about yourself, your movements
your occupations. your amusements; ali tina,
you sec and think aud feel. Let me have as
much of yourself as possible. that / may not
feel that we are severed in spirit by the dis
tance. ashington Irving.
" IL instead of gem even flower We
could cast beautiful thought into friend Z
heart that would be giving as the angels give. ;
George Macdonald.
HISTORIC PLYMOUTH.
No one goes 20 Boston without making nil
erimage TO historic Plymouth, the shrine o.
American history. liberty, ard romance,
Tho rock where the Pilgrims landed. the d O.
scenoauis OF the Pilgrims who inhabit The
houses which stand on historic ground III,
houses themselves, which date back TO a perjot
that ends in tradition; Burial Hill, on which