The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-08-20

pletely enjoys the humble things
that are her portion. The thing is a
human document-the tenderness and
pretty wording make it a work of art.
For all bitterness in letter writing.
you must understand, is bad art.
The next quality for good letters
then, is feeling, good feeling. vet this
must go hand in hand with coberenca
and some degree of shortness. You
cant ramble about a single pink mig
IKE person who has lost her way.
over eight sheets of pnper and say no.
thlng after all. You must have
story to tell or an idea to expound
fou cannot afford to bore your read
ers-make them feel that won are
not worth while and that writing 70
you is time wasted. So. if Won must
turn entirely to your little life for
SUBJECTS for letters, see to it that Won
look squarely at thing and take only
us most beautiful side for discussion
rms can be done even when telling
Oh death, for the one who is depart-
ed certainly had some virtues and
charms worthy to be recalled. As for
the new babies, the marriage among
mutual friends, the minister's sec
ond wife, the brides shower. the club
tea, think how interesting they NAV
be made if you only tell something
about them! Therefore, when YOU
write about the minister's wife. make
yourself more interesting by telling
how she looks, who she is. how her
qualities as woman strike YOU. and
SO on. Tell, too, if the new baby is
boy or a girl-an interesting differ
ence-and as much of the tea and the
brides shower as will make vivid pic
lures.
All of which means that some de-
gree of innocent gossip is acceptable
in polite correspondence. In fact, it
is most desirable, but it must be
kindly, sprightly and to the point for
the letter to be interesting and show
the quality of good breeding.
But" somebody will interject
right here, suppose there is nothing
to write about-suppose your life is
so narrow that there is not even a
farm animal or a social shindy of any
sort in it,"
In that event I advise you to begin
the study and true and amusing think
| ing. No life is too narrow to contain
thought to be had for the seeking
and if you only practice getting ii
down on paper in a clear, uplifted and
simple way you will learn to write
charming letters more quickly than
in any other manner. The activities
of life are not everything. The quiet
thinkers count. and your own point of
view, if you strive to get it straight
and nut it down prettily may be as
interesting as another's. The narrow
est life, then, is no bar to writing
charming letters, for as Chantecler
Bhto ~ bhlOuSh huOIlOlS Oll6 Gail
see the sky and the marching stars.
Interest in mere thinking is at the
bottom of all good letter writing.
I would also advise all persons con-
templating working for this delightful
accomplishment to get all the books
of well known letters they can lay
their hands on. Robert Louis Stew
enson's furnish the sweetness Of
heart needed as we'll as faultless
style, while those of Lord Chester
field to his son, oldfashioned as they
are, will give you more true wisdom
than you could find in a score of mod
ern novels In writing the friendly,
newsy letter, always remember one
thing-pen nothing that would hurt
any other being dead or alive. Also
Keep your most precious secrets to
yourself, for a great joy or great
hurt is not a thing for common dis
cussion. Write only such things as do
your dignity credit-that you might
shout from the housetops. The hate
full and unwise letter is bound to
turn up some day and make trouble
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