Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-28


and the other to save 1t
from dire dissolution. These
things are true or not, as the casa
may be, but to my mind the one
vital thing needed in America is
an increase in the Gene Field
Letter.
We are suffering from epistol-
airy elephantiasis.
Every college should have 4
Gene Field Chair. Very few folks
know how to write letter, what
to say or when to stop.
A Gene Field Letter ALWAYS
contains an element of Joy.
Next, it bears a message OF
wisdom
s. Third, it has a jigger Of wit
that gives the wisdom flavor
Fourth, it closes when it is done
and there is no postscript.
A Gene Field Letter breathes
kindness, appreciation, friendship
love, truth. The owner clings to
it, shows 1t to friends, preserves
it. II you own an original, you'll
not part with it any more than
you would sell your mothers por-
trait
Gene Field may not have been
a great man, but he had great
heart. He knew the secret OF
friendship. To live so you will
love and be loved is a fine art
Field was a friend.
Now let the world learn at his
feet and follow his example.
The age demands it. A long
letter robs you of time and thus
shortens your life A vacuous
newsletter does the same.
A long letter of counsel and ad :
vice tends to make us do that
which we ought not.
The missive that contains
grain of good hidden in six bush
els Of wordy chaff tires eyesight
and temper, turning the milk OF
human kindness to bonny- clabber
Sensible people do not 60
around putting everything
straight. Things will not stay
put, anyway, unless it is their
nature to do so.
Gene Field never called you
down. He always called you up
out of the mire of selfishness
and dependency, up into the
sunlight,
On the Rialto, where manu-
scripts and autographs of the
great and proud are sold, Gene
Field-like Abou Ben Adhem-
leads all the rest. Gene was not
as profound as Emerson, not az
learned as Greeley, not as fiowery
as Longfellow, but his letters to
day command a price that thoss
of the good men just named do
not.
When Gene wrote a letter he
always made the recipient pleased
with himself, and being pleased
with himself he was pleased with
Gene and everybody. He put
you for the moment en- rapport
with the world.
Never write a grouchy letter
telephone. The grouchy word
passes, and If you write in the
mood II is fixed, and only the
charming hould be perpetuated.
A Gene Field Letter is always
brief. 1t is lettergranl OF love.
1t is written with the exqui-
site care that tokens deep respect.
Gene wrote copper plate, getting
the idea from Thackeray, and OF
all letter writers, Colonel New
come alone surpesses our Gene
Field.
or all living men, no writer's
letters are so valuable as those
Of James Whitcomb Riley. jim
may say foolish things, but he
never writes them. Riley's letters
are like punches of violets with
the morning dew upon them Jim
caught the idea from Gene.
As relief to pent-up emotion
the writing of a nasty letter has
its use and purpose.
So, IL you must then, write IT,
fold it up. put it in the envelope
direct it in bold hand and mark
1t personal. Next. stamp the en-
velope. placing the stamp upsids
down in the left hand corner n
the envelope. Then hold the ls'
ter on your desk until the nea'
morning. and YOU will tear II ~