The Denver Jewish news., 1923-10-04
TWO FORM Letter, THE
FIRST OF THEIR KIND BE-
LONGS TO THE ELKAN IL
BRARY.

The 'handy letter writer" which has
proved boon to the present generation
of mankind in distress is no modern
invention for relieving the woes Of cor
respondents who take their pen in hand
and find it mute. Indeed, as far back
as the fifteenth'century men and women
looked into the book of etiquette to
learn the proper thing to say for every
occasion. Two collections of form let
ters believed to be the first Of their
kind in existence. both written in He
brew and one printed in Germany in
1884, the other hand lettered in Con-
stantinople i'm the fifteenth century,
were discovered by the librarians who
are unpacking and cataloguing the ia
nous Elkan Nathan Adler collection
of books and manuscripts at the Jew
ish Theological Seminary.
Between elaborate red velvet covers,
the books contain scores of letters COW
ering variety of subjects, business
happiness, solicitations for money, con-
gratulations on birthdays, elevations
to high office. the birth of child, let
ters from employers to employees, from
one community to another. Thesletters
are what nowadays would be termed de-
cidely -highbrow," being replete with
Biblical illusions, Rabbinical wisdom
and classical illusions.
Debtors were numerous and their
business principles evidently none too
high in the fifteenth and sixteenth cen
fury. for the handy letter writer sug-
gested mot thinking Of the boomerang
in his words) that when one is trOub-
led for payment of debt one should
reply as follows:
II acknowledge that owe you
money but l am not at present in
position to repay you. There was no
one present at the time you gave me
the money which means that legally
am not compelled to pay but morally
am obligated. If you should spread
rumors about town regarding this debt
you will dc damage to your own cause.
Therefore 1 would advise you to be
patient and quiet and as soon us I
have funds l will repay this debt"
The proper responst to such letter
follow these lines:
II have your letter and have heard
your words, but they passed into my
ears as liquid that is poured into
funnel, entering Mt one end and leaving
at the ether Your excuses do not
please me as it seems that there is
nothing to substantiate your statement.
Do not suppose that you will succeed
in concealing your designs. have
known you long enough"
A man desiring to complain of his
wife used the following phrases:
Il am writing to tell ycu of the
troubles caused me by the wife whom
heaven has given me. I deem that it
would have been better to have been
alone for my wife has worked against
me My soul is weary of the mis-
fortunes that fate has caused me. My
fsalty is weakened. Mr.. wife's face
is like goat. Her back Is iron. but
my forehead is brass and my head is
split. My suffering is great. There is
no safety with her"
An attempt to forestall n divorce was
found in the prescribed reply to this
communication which would give scant |
comfort to angry modern husbands:
Il learn that you have complained
a9ainst your wife and that you are an
CRY with your bone of bones
Don't you know that women are |
il responsible and are careless and
scarcely accountable for their acts.
You should endeavor to enjoy your
home, for how can you be sure that If |
you send away this worthless creature
YOU will not get wife who is worse
than the present one.
"The Bible says that if you see
something naked you should cover it |
up Therefore 1 would advise you to
cover up your wife's shrotcom-
tugs arl not publish them and try to
be happy with her.
If perclIance the husband did disre
gard his friends advice, and deserted |
lis family. then the wife WIS directed
to use wit to get him back. A. letter,
asking for forgiveness of n husband
was found. but it could not bt used
unless n wife had four children since
its effectiveness depended upon a play
ON Hebrew word meaning both flour"
and 'locusts.'
The letter which was supposed to
bring the wandering husband buck post
haste was as follows:
please come back to me because 1
am STRIVING with the children. If you
,1.,.. ,...,,o I ,,,,II In,.,,I ,,,,n,, ,,,,,