The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-04-29

GENTLE ART NEEDS CULTIVAT-
ING BY YOUNG WOMAN.
Some of the Worlds Most Charming
Literature in Letter Form-"Lav-
ishv Handwriting Suggests Pau
city of Ideas - Don't Write Too
Much Nonsense Until You Know
Your Correspondent.
BY KATE UPsoN CLARK.

Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles)
We are told that the telephone is
killing correspondence. Even before
the telephone came in, correspondence
was in a bad way, and we were toid
that the young ladies schools taught
only underwriting Notes OF invita-
ton and acceptance-of thanks and OF
condolence-these, we are told. are all
that is left of the old art of letter
writing, the art which has given us
some of the most charming books IN
the whole range of literature, and
which reveals the soul, as, perhaps
nothing else does Rousseau used to
say that he often left home just for
the pleasure of getting letters from
the loved ones there. A distinguished
society woman laughingly told her
husband before company OF intimate
friends that it was his letters that
won her heart.
More things have been wrought by
letters than the world dreams OF. we
all know how dangerous letters may
become. The spoken word passes. me
written word stands there. II 1t ID
bad. it is a more nearly fatal witness
than almost anything else, for 1t I'M
plies a elaboration which is most
prejudicial.
If it is good, its goodness is trebled
by it's constancy. There it lies-tnat
sweet thought-that amusing, whim-
steal turn-that agreeable suggestion
to be read over ana over. until It's
charm masters the soul. In these days.
when competition bristles on every
side, the girl is fool, particularly II
nature has rather been unkind In
outward gifts, to neglect the art OF
letter-writing.
How shall you write? Do not scrawl
all over the page. with few words.
There is an appearance of panic about
this widespread, lavish handwriting.
1t suggests also an alarming pauclty
of ideas. If you are merely saying
that you cannot come to a party, very
WELL If you are pretending to write
real letter, you cannot more deeply
insult your friend than by this la
bored, thin, outspread of one thought,
or less. per page.
On the other hand, if you use the
small hand which most literary and
highly cultivated people prefer, do not
press your lines too near together The
| first essential to the success of a let
ter, is that it shall be easily and COM
| fortably read.
Then, after having learned to con-
dense your handwriting, learn to con-
dense your forms of expression. We
| all have some correspondents who can
not express themselves briefly. 1t is
| with a feeling of almost dread that
one receives their bulky letters.
| Itissaid that the habit of making ones
handwriting economical leads also to
the economizing of words Possibly
this is true. If so, we commend the
rapid and constant study Of the di-
minution and compression of the me-
chanical part of the letter. to large
| section of our population-especially
of the girls, who are more likely to err
than their brothers in the matter of
diffuseness. If you really wish to
learn to write that very attractive
composition, a good letter, your words
must bear a decent proportion to the
number of your ideas. There is no ar
bitary rule, but there is standard OF
taste in the matter. which should be
carefully observed.
| Beware of abbreviating, especially
when writing to those whom you dc
not know very well. Had company
last evening. Haven't seen John,
may do for a family letter, but put in
all the words to make the sentence
complete when you are writing to less
intimate friends. Abbreviation ant
condensation are two very different
things.
! Emerson has many hits of good ad
vice to give upon this subject. ant
none is better than this: I'm letter
any expression may be abbreviated
rather than those of respect and kind
ness. Never write, Yours aff'ly.'"
is astonishing the difference in effec
between that phrase when written on
properly and when cut short in tina
heartless way.
And what shall we write about?
There seems to be a substantial
agreement among the thousands WHIT
have written concerning this interest
ing theme, that the writer should max
herself the chief topic Of her letter
Not in an egotistical way, but b.
opening her heart and revealing wha
one might not show to every passer
by.
In point CT fact, it makes little diff
ference, probably, what you writ
about Describe what you have beel
reading, the places where you hav
been, new friends, almost anything
provided it be done with spirit, and,
possible. with humor. Spontaneity
, perfect naturalness, an absence Of al
/. straining after effect, these are essen
tials of the perfect letter.