Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-02-09
LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION.
Some Important Points About the Et-
iquette and Effect of These
MissiVeS.

The letter Of introduction, by slight
stretch of Imagination, may be likened
| to a stone thrown into the deep pool
/ of social life, with its influence upon
the waters widening out into far-reach-
ing and unending rings. Following out
/ this theory, we should be very careful
/ how we throw these stones.
A letter of introduction imposes a
great obligation upon the person to
whom it il 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, peo-
pie usually detest to receive letter of
introduction, and their acknowledge
ment of its frequency takes the bald
form of a dinner invitation. and moth
ing more. This has brought the intro
ductory letter into some disrepute, and
we often hear the observation that it
does more harm than good TO stran-
gers in a strange town.
Naturally so, for If letter be pre-
sented to the principal lady of the town,
and she takes but the barest notice of
il, it is inevitable that an unpleasant
ness should arise, against which the
newcomer will have much hard work
to fight.
A letter Of introduction should only
be given TO a close friend for close
friend; in this case there would be far
less likelihood of dnpleasantr ess. But
it is those letters, proffered with large
generosity, by a woman who has, per-
haps, received a little attention from
her social superior that Is TO be avoid |
ed She has no right to introduce a
friend of hers to a superior without
making quite sure that it will be agree |
able TO the latter, and it would be quite |
reasonable to expect that the letter, |
thus foolishly given, would not have
much effect.
There is much tact necessary in the |
writing of a letter of introduction; it |
would be useless TO hope TO cement a |
friendship by its aid when the acceptor, |
we may say, was a puritanical stickler
for forms and ceremonies, whilst the
presenter was a bohemian free lance; |
there would only be another example
of the unmixability of oil and water.
Each would irritate the other, and the
letter of introduction would again
be proved fallacy.
But given people of equal positions
and coinciding tastes, there is much
service in the Introductory letter, which
may help TO make a newcomers resi-
dence in a new town or neighborhood
pleasant experience rather than a
weary waste of dullness.
1t is only to be expected Of frail hui
man nature that a mother Of many
daughters would, with more alacrity,
show hospitality to an eligible bachelor
than to a family including several
young girls, and even a married man
would be more welcome introduction
than a married lady. This is quite
natural, and should be taken into ac-
count by the Introductory letter writer.
The form of letter of introduction
Is variable, but should never be long;
very little outside of the person intro
duced should be mentioned in it, and
if inconvenient to give some indication
of the presenter's personality. This,
for instance. is a useful form IN which
a letter of introduction might be cast,
after few unimportant sentences have
been penned: 81 am sending you this
letter by friend, Miss Tor Mrs) West,
who is visiting Exeter shortly. She is
very fond of anything connected with
Cd I...il-l;--- --s'si
know you have learned the cathedral
from \ to Il. l felt could rely upon
you to show her its beauties. and also
TO make her stay as pleasant as posi-
bic. She is such great friend of mine
that l should like another great friend
of mine TO know her also. You may
have heard me mention her father, Col.
West, who was a very old friend Of our
family"
\ letter of this description must be
given inclosed in an addressed envelope,
but not sealed down; there 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 writ
ten may read it first and then close
it for dispatch. II is customary to send
a social letter of introduction by hand
or by post upon arrival at the new
town, and with II should be sent a visit
ing card with present address in the
f
people omit to do this, and then wonder
that their letter of introduction has re-
ceived no attention.
The person who receives the letter
should Immediately take notice of it,
either by writing TO the newcomer or
by calling upon her. and in either case
an invitation to some entertainment
should be given. \ dinner is, of course,
the best form for It TO take. though an
evening "at home" Will answer the pur-
pose should the hostess be careful to
make the newcomer acquainted with
some of her own friends, so that she
may receive a further introduction 10
the local society.
Letters of introduction, il may be
noted, are more serviceable TO the upper
middle classes than to the aristocracy
or the lower middle classes To the lat
ter il IS almost an unkindness to send Il
letter of introduction, for it imposes
upon them the obligation of hospitality
that they are possibly not IN position
to show.-Philadelphia Times.
Murderers May BE aNIce."
At daybreak at Sakhalin-you could
hardly see daybreak on account of the
shutters-one of the ugliest looking
women I ever saw crept in with a cup of
tea that IS always given in Asia very
early in the morning-and she was a
Invent to the little tent out
side to have breakfast, and man came
up behind me and reached over my
shoulder and he was a murderer. Then
when we rode out after breakfast a man,
with magnificent broad shoulders and
splendid face, drove, and he was mur-
lerer The fact Is strar NOE n b may