The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08
KILLS LETTER. WRITING;
The Typewriter Dees-Two Letters to
Prove tho Preposition.

The Typewriter Dees-Two Letters to
Prove tho Proposition.
Two letters lay on the business mans
desk. 1t was just before the luncheon hour
and he slipped them into his pocket before
going out with a friend.
Accordingly the American habit, the bhsi-
ness mans companion expected that their
talk would touch on matters Of dollars and
cents; but, az IL happened; tho letters
suggested the topic. =
Look here,' the business man said,
taking the envelopes from his pocket after
the orders had been given. Here's some
thing I've been thinking Of this morning.
@This Is a letter from my college room
mate; don't know as you ever met him, but
no matter, He and I were mighty close
to each other, but he hasn't been IN East
for a long time and our correspondence
my fault as much as his-has BEEN very
irregular.
ADon't think I've heard from him before
for a year and, without saying anything
against hun, this letter was probably sent
of TO salve his conscience. Well, here 1t is,
less than a sheet Of typewriter matter,
and a short sheet at that, and put on a bust
pess letterhead. He dictated 1t and may
have put in five minutes in writing 1t. ,
Now the point Of IL. This other letter
is from an English friend Of mine. There
are nine pages in hand writing, not so easy
to read as the other, 1 grant you, but they
tell something, and they're from a man
whomI've known five years for the twenty
five I've known the writer of the first letter
/ showed you. '
THAT Englishman's letter took him the
better part of an o to write; he gave
| thought to it and he expects as much
thought to be given to the reply. And,
by Jove, he'll get 1t.
sIf you or / got a letter like that from an
American we'd think that something was
the matter, and ten to one In answering
him, we'd suggest that he get q typewriter.
at seems to me-" he continued, that
| letter writing Is becoming a lost art on
| this side Of the ocean. We think we haven't
got time for 1t 10 begin with, and even
Il we had the time for 1t we might as wei
confess that we'd find we had lost the knaok
Of expression.
| become, by business training, about as
impersonal as anything we could imagine.
| typewriter, and it's only when we're shaken
UP a bit by a MESA &c from anothe world,
like this Englishman's sorawl, that We
realize there are people who put some
thing Of themselves into what they write
and do not deal in set phrases
The lunch was served and the letters
went PACK in the pocket.
(which letter will you answer flrstr"
the business mans friend inquired.
-Oh, I've answered n Of them wa,
the reply. MY college friend wanted
come information and I dictated a note &c
him this morning.
Il am not any better than the average
American In writing, although | may be
something more prompt; but during thu
next month l shall sit down and write
myself-to my English friend and l won'
be hurried when I'm doing 1t, either.
His letters are altogether too enjoyable
for me to do anything to stop, them.'
"Why don't you try that scheme on your
college friendP" suggested the other, :.
81 might" said the business man. but 1t
would DO only an experiment. and ] know
pretty we'll how 1t would result"