New-York tribune., 1903-07-21
To be continued ,
LETTERS OF AN OLD MAID.
ITO A MAN.

Dear Vernon: 1 doing up my correspondent.
to-day. and I begin with which is unusual
You are generally reserved for bonne boucle at
the end in consequence OF which don't get 70 yoq.
until the next day. and then l have YOU all to nv
self, when the other letters worked on. This
time reverse the process and the consequence viii
be that the other letters left until tomorrow
All this is so palpable confession of my pleasure
in writing 10 YOU that I must think OF some offset
10 the compliment; it's too strong to be offered to
man, even if he is ones oldest friend-or nearly
oldest-no matter Pleasure or no pleasure my
letters 10 you are the longest letters I write but
that Is not my reason for enjoying them all alone
q corner. Jack Hornsr fashion. It's far more
subtle reason: I like the flavor of the plum As
matter Of fact. give less time YOU than 70 other
correspondents. They really want shorter letters
and seldom have time 70 write briefly except on
business. To condense friendly letter is matter
of time and skill. When I write my friends nv
pre-, 1ralh gets lHed thlnhlnS or what must not say
news; another would fail 10 appreciate my favorits
sonalites another distkes long letters on general
principles, etc 1hey don't saw these things but
feel them Now, YOU like kiDlings Tramp
that e liked it air You Ike 1T an that's vSfere
myself. and speak out Bv some ineffabls blessed
ways know it when bore people: but sometimes
grow reckless and say to myself; Sore away;
pay the penalty" But with you 1 escape the mood
ana cranky Old maid. playing with theoI Is they
are the only toys left 10 Dlav with,
people and you won't tell You know how dislike
gossip. But keep d sort of eJherealized vintage Of
the and alone shall crack bottle with
If that hoy John is disappointing and exas-
perating. If Edith is absorbed in her
woes that she can't do justice to mine. write
TO you and complain OF them. and you Will always
make excuses for them and insist my forgiv-
ing them. which is Just what want TO do. 1t IS
delightful TO be advised 70 do lust what you want
do You know 1 love John and Edith and the
rest, and you know it is best for me to keep on
loving them. And you know that shall like you
more rather than less for divine freedom from
that jealousy which Is the bane OF friendship
Why can't everybody be liberal and reasonable
You have been terribly flHberal and unreasonable
once in q while. So have I. / say that to disarm
good a this stage of lives It is because
are growing old. OF course. you say. youth
counts for Of annOyanCes with other peO-
pie. Most persons never acquire common sense
until middle nfe-and not then. IL they marry!
There, don't imagine complete old maid
against marriage Marriage has i'm
mense advantages. but don't find that IL is
ducive that and riDeuess OF spirit which
ought be the natural endowment OF the unat-
tached You see. when you're married you only
has TO see through her husbands shadow before
she view the prospect She doesn't believe In
her heart that there Is more than one kind OF
in the world, and that. OF is the kind that
looms up her immediate horizon And II mar
ried don't feel the way-Well. their wives
will convince them that they ought to-
So I'm glad. since we are tmmemOrial friends.
that old maid and old bachelor. Neverthe-
less. marry II you wish, by all means. without con-
sulting me. I shan't complain: I've grown accus-
toned TO shifting point Of view. even In friend
This long screed Is not a letter: it's a preface.
The letter win come next time Yours. as of old.
PRISCILLA