Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-15
WRITING Christmas Letters.

"EItInQ
With the approach Of Christmas.
many a hapless wight is wrestling WIN
the question, "Wnat shall l give to-,
and then follows list of acquaintance
which never seems so long and mean
ingless a at this time OF year.
haps the names of some that we love
best are crossed OFF, under the pressure
of the claims of Mrs. Wealthy or Chcle
Freehand, for whom our real regarn IL
but slight. Now, while / would not ue-
cry or belittle the sweet ana gracious
custom of exchanging gifts at the
blessed season which celebrates the
canning of Him who led captivity cap
tive. and gave gifts unto men, we
| must all acknowledge that the custom
| i. liable to abuse The giving OF
Cbristmas presents is too often burden
| come a conscious extravaganza, Or
Tin worse. commercial venture con-
| drn,ad IN monumental fashion. IL
| might be well if for season or TWO
there were no bartering OF costly super
nuities among the rich, but mere eA-
change of airy ''remembrances, whlle
all the substantial offerinss-tne adorh-
ments for home and person, the DOCKS
fu-s and trinkets - went to poor rela-
lions. needy neighbors and children ne
elected by Santa Claus.
But without insisting on any such
sweeping innovation, let us consider Tor
q moment the possibilities OF the
Christmas letter, not the note OF
line" of Geographic breVity now we'll
nigh universal, but the long. newsy,
reminiscent, affectiOnate screed Whlch
has mower to refresh old friendships,
strengthen the ties of blood, renew the
bond of far-off school-days, cheer the
sick and bereaved, inspire the young,
and help to bring about the reign Oh
ppace and good will. 1t seems some
times as if the art of letter-Writmg
were like to perish Yet it is an art
which can be acquired, or at least sue
cessfully cultivated and which gives
greater pleasure than many accom-
plishments to which we devote time
and pains. We all have one or two
correspondents generally middle-aged
or elderly ones-WhO write Superla-
lively good letters, and these letters
are well worth studying = the graphic
picture of past or present surround
ings, the pregnant bit of wisdom, the
amusing description of some funny or
suggestive every day emergency, the
racy comment on Il new book or a cur
rent TOPIC of moment-all thrown off
easily, and spontaneously with only q
shade more formllity than belongs to
conversation, and warmed by friend
~ sympathetic temper of mind. good
letter is above all personal-that is its
distinctive charm; it makes the reclp-
lent a Sharer to some extent in the con-
Germs and experiences of the writer,
gives him a little intimate glimpse into
another's life, and at the same time
takes account OF his own tastes and in
terests. Such a letter is surely better
worth sending. and far more likely to
be priced than any perfmctory knick-
knack or conventional Christmas card.
Some letter-writers. though not skill
ed with the peEcil, possess the gift of
illustrating a point with Il witty pen
and-ink sketch; others season their
pages with newspaper clippings, or
have a talent for enclosing the very
cartoon, local item or domestic hint that
you want to see; and the amateur pho
tographer can often adOrn a tale if not
point moral with a blue print. But
none of these things is necessary 10 q
good letter; even good spelling is not
essential, There can be no doubt that
Uncle Sam carries daily many letters
from people neither famous nor espe-
cially gifted which the social philoso-
pher, if permitted to read them, would
find of almost priceless value as "hu-
man Documents in the literal sense.
We have all known the experience of
reading, through some curious chance.
letters written by absolute strangers,
written perhaps before we We're born,
and still more absorbing than a
novel" We know that letters, intend
ed originally for no general audience,
form Il precious part of the worlds lit
| erature.
BY all means let us give our friends
| gifts if we can; but if we have neither
| silver nor gold, let us remember all
those we love and give of the best that
| we have in a letter.