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

anu llAC JULIET 10 save Il
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 Ia
an increase in the Gene Field
Letter.
We are suffering from eplstol.
airy elephantiasis.
Every college should have a
Gene Field Chair. Very few folks
know how to write a letter. what
to say or when to stop.
A Gene Field Letter always
contains an element Of Joy.
Next, 1t bears a message Of
wisdom.
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 breatbes
kindness, appreciation, friendship,
love, truth. The owner clings to
1t, shows 1t to friends, preserves
it. If 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 a 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 tina,
which we ought not.
The missive that contains 8
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 go
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 selfshness
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 as
learned as Greeley, not as fiowery
as Longfellow, but his letters to-
day command a price that those
of the good men just named do
not.
When Gene wrote q 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 it Is fixed, and only the
charming hould be perpetuated.
A Gene Field Letter is always
brief. 1t is a lettergram 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 writer's, Colonel New
come alone surpasses our Gene
Field.
OF all living men. no writers
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 a relief to pent-up emotion
the writing of nasty letter has
its use and purpose.
So, If you must then, write H.
fold it up, put it in the envelope
direct it in a bold hand and marx
it personal Next, stamp the en-
velope, placing the stamp upside
down in the left-hand corner or
the envelope. Then hold the let
ter on your desk until the next
morning, and you will tear II up