The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-07-04

/ tination unopened and be a feast for
the eyes of the beloved one alone. But
alas and alack, the vicissitudes of the
fourteenth century. as far as COM
! munications were concerned, have
nothing on this twentieth century.
There is peculiar fascination about
keeping these dangerous things; they
I'LL void in the mental machinery of
man that is left vacant when they
stopped collecting specimens" It's the
| collecting fever that makes one keep
| them above all reason. common sense.
and discretion: Most Of the spare time
of all the world Is spent in longing Tor
| that which we have not. and an old
love letter fiavors the contemplative
| cud Of "Reminiscences as nothing else.
Then. again, We all, in that moment
OF madness, think that We may be
Elizabeth Barrett Brownings. or KIDD
erts. or famous generals and politicians
So far one reason or another we
meaning to the two concerned. out 50
absolutely ludicrous to any one else.
Good, If Bottled Up.
A love letter is much like a jar OF pre-
serves. sweet, oh. passing sweet and
good II bottled up air tight and eaten
as soon as opened. But let ever so little
Of the outside air come in, the sweets
are soured, they tester. rot, decay. and
are fouled and ruined beyond repair.
Ave, even As uncongenial as Is rancid
oleomargarine TO the tongue OF the but
ter expert are the love letters OF an I'M
known person.
Take. for instance, the following.
which came to light in the Holman case.
Could he have been sane and serious
when he wrote It? Be not too severe.
for. once. perhaps, you-just try and re-
call.
Mrs. Elizabeth A. c. Holman Is bring
ing suit in Hartford against DR.. Gran
ston Brenton, of Yonkers; DR.. Oliver c.
Smith, and DR.. Paul Waterman. DR..
Brenton. who Is a clergyman was her
former husband and won a divorce suit
against her. naming Frederick Ernest
Holman, her present spouse. She charges
conspiracy to kidnap and confine her in
a madhouse until she paid the price of
release-a written confession of miscon-
duct with Holman.
Here's the letter. and II Is guaranteed
as genuine:
blessed little Sine Qua Non. my
own dear little honey GIRL my pure
one, my sweet child. my modern
Madonna my beloved pearl of
purity my PASSIONATE Pandora
who can hardly keep her little hands
from OH the cover OF the DON. my
worshipful wonder. my heroic Helen.
my own brave 'Bess,' the complete
fulfillment of all my hopes, joys,
fears. desires. aims, and ends. en-
bracing, as You do, all fearful ten
derness, all frolicsome fun. all that
stands for gentle gentleness. tender
tenderness. loving lovingness and
that rare and heartful understanding
that understands, you who are a
quaint and winsome child-pure and
- arRI
perfect mother-essence of truth and
distilation of dearness-love thee,
love thee and can find nothing wor-
thy of thee
Beth's Letter To Holman.
And then Beth writes to Holman.
Why, why do they all love the word
"babe?' The dimlnutive. no matter how
ludicrous, seem always to have an APP
Zeal to lovers. Beth writes.
Oh babe. babe and earnest lover.
tenderest mate. passionate. pure
soul that love. l have just read
the first of thy love notes. l have
only this moment to write thee. l
have sensed this mood in us both
all the spring time. Now we keep
together EXCEPTIONALLY every step OF
know that you are my life and my
hearts blood and thy desire in my
Honour
Another tiny love note will go to
thee tomorrow night. I love you
more than all. More than I know.
And l am, eternally. thy wife.
BETH.
Beth signs herself thy WIFE" which
is explained as follows: Under cross
examination she admitted n mystic
marriage" whatever that is. with Mr..
nj xfFhfl &c.
of DR.. Brenton. a former professor in
Trinity College. Presumably tue fol-
lowing is a mystic love letter:
| long so for you that / am half
afraid to see you. long 50 to give