The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION.
The Etiquette and Effect of These
Important MissIyes.
From the Philaaelnhia Tlmes.

Important MissiVes.
From the Philadelphia Times.
The letter of Introduction, by a slight
stretch of imagination may be likened to
a stone thrown into the deep pool of So
ciaI life, with Its influence upon the wa
tiers widening out into far-reaching and
unending rings. Following out this the
DRY, we should be very careful how We
throw these stones.
A letter of introduction imposes a great
obligation upon the person to whom it is
addressed. He or she should, rightly, do
everything that is possible to further the
wishes and happiness of the presenter; as
a matter of fact, people usually detest to
receive a letter of introduction, and their
acknowledgment of il frequently takes the
bald form of dinner invitation, and notil-
ing more. This has brought the introduc-
tory letter into some diSfepute, and we CT
ten hear the Observation that 1t does more
harm than good to strangers in strange
town. -. DUG Mo-
Naturally so, for if letter be presented
to the principal lady of the town, and she
takes the barest notice of it, it is inevita-
Bile that an unpleasantness should arise
against which the newcomer will have
much hard work to fight
letter of introduction should only be
given to tclose friend for close friend !;
In this case there would be far less likeli-
hood of tunpleasantness. But it is those
letters, preffered with large generosity, by
woman who has, perhaps, received a
little attention from her social superior
that are to be avoided She has no right
to introduce friend of hers TO a supe-
rior without making quite sure that it will
be agreeable to the latter and it would
be quite reasonable to expectSthat the let
ter, thus foolishly given, would not have
much effect.
There is much tact necessary in the writ
ing of letter of Introduction; 1t would be
useless to hope to cement a friendship by
It's aid when the acceptor we may say was
puFitanioal sticSler for. forms and cere-
MONIES whilst the presenter was a Bohe-
milan free-lance; there would only be an
other example of the unmixa bility of oil
and water. Each would irritate the other
and the letter introduction would again be
proved fallacy.s s.,S
But given people of equal positions and
coinciding tastes, there is much service in
the Introductory letter which may help
TO make a newcomers residence in new
town or neighborhood.,a pleasant expert
ence rather than a weary waste of dull
ness.
1t is only to be expected to frail human
nature that a mother of many daughters
would, with more alacrlty, show hospital
ity to an eligible bachelor than to a family
including several young girls, and even a
married man would be a more welcome in
PRODUCTION than a married lady This is
quite natural, and should be taken into ac-
count by the introductory letter writer.
The form of a letter of Introduction is
variable, but should never be long; very
little outside of the person to be introduced
should be mentioned init. and if incon-
venient to give some indcation of--the
presenter g personality. This, for instance,
is a useful form in which letter of in
PRODUCTION might be cast, after a few un-
important sentence has been penned: II
am sending you this letter by my friend
Miss Tor Mrs.) West, who is visiting Ex-
eter shortly. She is very fond of anything
connected with old buildings and architec-
ture, and as 4 know you have learned the
Cathedral from A to Il, l felt could rely
upon you to show her It's beauties, and also
TO make her stay as pleasant as possible.
She is such a great friend of mine that 1
should like another great friend of mine
to know her also Eou- may have heard me
mention her father, Col, West, who was a
very old friend of my family"
letter of this description must be
given inclosed in an addressed envelope,
put not Seal60 EfONVlh3 ctnere could be no
worse form than to give a person a closed
letter of Introduction. The idea is that
the person for whom it is written may
read IL first, and then, close it for dispatch
1t is customary to send a social letter of
introduction by hand or by post upon ar
rival at the new town, and with it should
be sent visitings card with present adj
dress in the, new neighborhood. Some
thoughtless peQple omit TO do this, and
then wonder that there letter of introduce
ton has received no attention.
The person who receives the letter should
immedia tely take notice of it, either by
writing to the newcomer or by calling up
on her and in either case an invitation to
some entertainments should be given. A
dinner is, of course, the best form for it
to take, though an evening lat home" will
answer the purpose, Should the hostess be
careful to make the newcomer acquainted
with some of her own friends, so that she
may receive a further Introduction to the
local society.
Letters of introduction, it may be noted
are more servieeable to The upper middle
classes than to the aristocracy, or the
lower middle classes. To the latter il is
almost an unkindness. to send letter of
introduction, for it imposes upon them the
Obligation of hospitality that they are pos
sibly not IN position to show