The San Francisco call., 1899-11-08
II. GOOD LETTERS AND HOW Tc
WRITE THEM.

A good letter is one which has goodness
in It, 1t is the easiest kind to write, that
is for some people-good people. II lsl
a question of spelling or of grammar or
of superior stationery, but one or heart
and spirit You cannot fool people IN d
letter any more than in your conVeFsa-
ton. A good letter must have harmony
and melody and sweetness. 1t must nave
a genuine ring. 1t must exhibit the per
Sonality of the writer. 1t may pc re-
served dignified or jocular or trienoiy,
according to the relations between the
writer and the person addressed. but II
must be honest and kind. To produce an
all-around good letter the following ten
things are needed:
l. A good. honest, kindly heart.
2. A correspondent worth writing to.
3 An abundance of good news.
!. An easy style of expression.
5. A knowledge of the relation of words.
8. Good paper, ink and pen.
Z. The ability to write neatly.
8. The ability to spell correctly.
8. A convenient and undisturbed time.
10: Things that fit comfortably.
These are all easy except the spelling.
You cannot write happy letter unless
you feel happy. Your temperament Will
be almost as evident in your correspond
ence as in your conversation-not neces-
sarily In the words you use, but in GER
tain intuitive impression which your let
ter is sure to create. This fact is not
easy of explanation, but II is nevertheless
true. II seasons of unhappineSs are al
lowed free course they are sure to tatnt
your correspondence, and perhaps, your
friendships. Be frank, outspoken. honest
in your letters, as in your conversation
There must be no vacillating of purpose
If you have anything to say which ought
to be said, say it, but say it kindly If
honesty costs friendships, better lose the
friendships than be dishonest. Put your
own individuality into your letters Let
the letter be your letter, mirror OF your
self. 1t is comforting to recognize our
friends even in their correspondence
Select correspondent who is worth
writing to-. OF course 1t is possible to
write good letters to bad people, and per-
haps it is they who need good letters
most; but when we are obliged to write
to undeserying people we do 1t more as
a matter of duty. We are not known by
the friends we decline to keep, but rather
by the friends we keep If their person
ality and character are stronger than ours
they help US to measure up. The corre-
spondence is to our advantage. We
gather inspiration and encouragement
from their lives In making your list Of
correspondents don't forget the Old neg
lected friends-the old uncle or aunt, or
the old friend of your father or of your
mother, who in the hustle and turmoil
of life is forgotten for months at a time.
Don't forget the schoolgirl chum of your
fortunate than you. In short, don't be
selfish.
If YOU have no good news to communi-
cate, of course you cannot easily incorpor-
ate any in your letter, but there is a
happy way of making good news out of
little and discouraging things. If your
letter is simply reply to one which has
been on your desk for weeks and which
YOU have procrastinated about many
titmes, you will probably approach the
task in the attitude of one who is about
to pay a worrying bill. Such letters are
about as heartless and speechless as are
calling cards handed to liveried doorkeep-
ers They square accounts, that is ALL
A business letter or letter containing