The western recorder., 1898-04-21
STUDY NINE. DE sEv1oNE.
A Pie. for the Lost but G~aiIe Art of
Letter writing

A Pie. for the Lost but Gentle Art of
Letter wriffnk-
Much as the modern woman prides
herself upon her advancement there Is
one important particular in which. as
an Irishwoman might say. she has pro-
gressed backward, and that is the gen.
tie art Of letter writing. says the New
Orleans Picayune. With our grand
mothers II was a charming accomplish
ment that every gentiewoman posses
sed. and no girls education was con-
siderec complete unless she was able
TO write a fluent and graceful letter.
penned in handwriting that was as
clear and fine as copperplate- How i'm
measurably shocked the grand danes
Of those days would have been could
they have seen the missives that the
modern girl considers good enough for
her correspondent. when. indeed. she
condescends to answer a letter at all
and sends by way of reply a scroll
that seems to have been penned with a
toothpick and that jumps from one
sheet to another in a will-o'-the-wisp
way that Is scarcely worth following.
In truth the woman OF today hates let
ter writing. and is fertile in devising
ways TO avoid it. She telephones her
messages in town. she makes visits. she
even neglects friends rather than sit
down to her desk and write letter
One might well fancy that she shared
in the sentiment OF the heroine OF one
of Rhoda Broughton's novels. where
the girl. an arrant fiirt. thanked God
that whatever she might have said
there was not a scratch OF her hand
writing in the length and breadth OF
England. 1t lie strange and unrea-
sonahie prejudice. but a very real one
nevertheless You write to a friend
and ask some question that is of great
moment to you. but you know you are
on irLitiess quest. In time you may
get a reply. but no one takes the trou-
bic to answer question in letter.
They walt and wait before writing IN
til everything that Is of special per-
sonal import in your letter had faded
from your mind, and then they answer
with giittering generalities that some
times are simply maddening- Yet what
is SO charming as real. gossipy letter
full of dear, delightful details. and
breathing the writer's personality at
every llneg Perhaps some one mem
ber OF the family goes back to the old
country home, or to visit scenes that
are sacred with childish associations.
You, left at home. would like to know
SO many little things-what Aunt So
and-So had on. whether she was sit
ting in the same old chair, with the
game old cat curled up at her feet;
whether the violets still grew in prim
rows along the garden walk; how even
the rickety old wellhouse looks. How
eagerly you wait for the letter. but,
alas, when 1t comes 1t is a hurried
scrawl, and says: "All well. Every
thing much the same as ever" But
we all share in the general condemna-
ton. We neglect to write the little
word of congratulation when some hap
piness comes to friend, or to send a
line of sympathy for their sorrow. yet
these are little golden links in the
chain of life that bind people to us.
They show that we have not forgotten
them, and SO our notes might become
white winged carrier doves that would
be messengers Of peace and good will
II only we would take the time and
thought and trouble to write them Fa-
cllity in letter writing. as in any other
accomplishment. only comes with prac-
tice, and 1t is time We inaugurated a
much-needed reform and went back
and recovered the lost art of letter
writing