The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-14
OLD LETTERS.
IL IL Better to Re Sentimental and Keep
Them or Practically Destroy Them.

~ ~ w AaNNAf'iN tffrAfoN hhfhu.
There is nothing We are so eager to
get as letters. and nothing that so soon
drags n frightening chain Of worry.
Letters will accumulate in every house
hold, and 10 becomes necessary. sooner
or later. TO dispose Of them i'm some
way. There are a few prompt and pro-
sale people who burn every letter IS
soon as IL has been replied TO. but while
that rule is convenient To n certain
class Of correspondence. Il would he too
crude for general adoption. Others
make a point Of retaining their letters
for a certain length Of time. and then,
after "a casual inspection. having a
holocaust. Others. a~ga'n-and | wonder
II these are not tho largest NUMBER
have something Of the collectors in
stinCt. or. perhaps. a sentimental OBJ
lection, TO destroying the written evil
dence Of friendship. and carefully treas
ure up all the postman's freight from
year To year. Besides. not only a senti-
mental but n business motive weighs
with some people in keeping the mass
of their correspondence. An old letter
may turn In some time as an important
piece Of evidence. or as showing the
witer's mind at such and such a time.
In many cases. the correspondence of
a lifetime Is interesting as the uncon-
scious record OF its family history. The
faded lines and worn sheets of paper,
almost falling apart where they have
been folded and refolded, look only Gull
and musty to stranger eyes, to be
touched with reluctant flnger-tips. But
how they glow and p%alpitatc with the
light and hopes Of other days to tie
owner' How they recall this or that
well-nigh forgotten incident. and start
many an echo in the haunted chambers
Of the heart! The bitterness of that
family feud. the struggle and contest Of
youthful ambition. the sweetness or the
disappointment brought by loves young
dream. the ~unavailing sorrow that wept
deaths relentless stroke. the gladness.
the honor, the beauty n pride that
Shequered the years-all crowd upon us
as fresh and as poignant as when their
faded ink was bright upon the pages
which were torn. Even the cor
r~espondence of "A few years
lat'on can hardly fail to suggest come
thing Of a pathetic nature. and serve
as a sort Of commentary upon the pres
ent. Some people will tell you they
make II n point to destroy all their let
ters. lest they may one day fan into
wrong hands. or that they shrink from
the idea that sudden death might re-
veal the mCst private and sacred ron
Germs to the careless But
i'm spite Of this, or the fact that their
letters are frequently destroyed be-
cause Of the room they take up. or TO
prevent the bother Of carrying them
| from place to place, there g. at least
n particular sort of letter that IL
as carefully boarded as the miser's
gold, and esteemed as much more pre-
cious. What woman woul wilfully de-
stroy her love letters? I say woman.
because IMAM forgets; IL Is woman who
remembers" And though a man values
happiness and affection, he has not the
same clinging regard for trines. the
same acute memory for little details
belonging To the days OF young TO-
nance as nm But those tender
breathing cpistlog IN strong. hold. mas
culine handwriting are dClr alike to the
sunny-haircd maiden or the gray-hair-
ed wife. To the former they are mes
niger OF hope and happy thoughts.
bridging the intervals of her lovers
absence. or, pcrchanCe, should there
come cstrangnmcnt aud farewell. the
old low letters. tied with a hit Of blue
ribbon. win he laid aside like u secret
treasure. and now and then. as 4 young
mother brings out the tiny garments
of her dcad infant to fondle and weep
over. she viii unlock the drawer and
bring out the little packet. the tangi-
bile proof of the 'might-haVe-bccn."
and live the past again. realizing. even
though she may rebel that love left her:
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all"
And To the gray-haircd wife. when
the long years Of care have worn AWAY
the FIRST delicate blossom of loves
sweet obscrvances." the old love let
tiers viii he like a spicy garden, from
whence blows a sweet fragrance across
the dropping energies of her soul to
cheer and To- revive. Poor. Crumplci.
torn. faded paper-most worthless, yet
most precious. What unuttcrable menu
Dries llnEer around a woman's love let
ters!-Philadclphia Times.