The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

- HE production OF good letter
is one Of the most simple things
imaginable. Il only needs that
the writer assume natural
mental attitude and write as she
would talk avoiding overmuch thought
to the diction and choosing her sub
jects as they come to her mind. The
recital of the most commonplace incl
dent may be made intensely interest
ing.
In the days when letter writing
was a cherished art. its cultivation
was universal on the part of educated
persons. a constant interchange of
well written letters prevailed. Now
we usually write notes and these are
seldom what they should be How
often they display signs of hasty com
position and even contain misstate-
ments and errors of consequence due
10 careiessness- Only too frequently
the answer TO a letter is not at all
what it purports to be- Important
questions are frequently entirely
ignored. not from design, but simply
because of the lack OF system on the
part of the writer. These omissions
are always exasperating and can be
avoided il reasonable promptness is
exercised in replying TO letters
Habitual care must be taken il YOU
would avoid mistakes and misunder-
standings. The written expression
often conveys a different impression
from that intended. Therefore, and
Tor the purpose of guarding against
clerical errors. you should make an
unfaiIing rule of reading every letter
before dispatch. It is good practice TO
allow an interval to elapse between
the writing and the final reading,
especially IL the letter has been
written under any stress of unusual
emotion.
Be chary OF confidential communica-
tions. Your confidante of today may
not be on speaking terms with you
next week. Avoid criticism of your
acouaintances. 1t seems even less
gracious in the cold cha racters Of
the written page than whel delivered
from the lips Do not write grudging-
" TO your friend. Who has not felt
the chilling effect of the hurriedly
scrawlad note, which after an apology
for hardness goes on to say that the
writer is oppressed by social and
domestic duties, and ends with an
abrupt expression of regret for its
brevfty, IL not with that dreadful ter
mination-"Yours in haste"
Correspondence is an essential part
of our social duty and its proper per
fOrmaEce may not De SH5EteN WITHOUT
unpleasant consequences. The easiest
and most satisfactory way Of disposing
OF the matter is TO have r. ftxe6 time
for letter writing. 1t may happen that
unusual circumstances. illness in the
house, the presence. of visitors. or what
not. prevents an adequate reply 10 a
letter within reasonable time of its
receipt. In such case acknowledge the
communication and the pleasure it has
afforded you and explain briefly the
reason why you can not answer ii fit
tfngly al once. If your correspondent
is a person considerably older than
Yourself ordinary respect demands such
a course: if she be about your own age
IL is the least acknowledgment you
can make of her kindness.
should your correspondence become
too heavy TO permit OF proper treat
ment the only sensible remedy lies in a
judicious curtaiiment of the number OF
voisr correspondents. Better have
fewer and accord TO them their de-
serts than a greater number and neg
lect them. The .conventionaIities at
taching to correspondence are few and
easily mastered.
styles in note paper change from
time 10 time. but the correct thing can
always be ascertained from first class