The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-05-15
EXCURSIONS IN
CORRESPONDENCE
By THOMAS ARKLE CLARK
Dean of Men, University of Illinois.
The, Friendly Letter.


The friendly letter is written by peo-
pie Of all ages, from the child just
learning to print simple words to the
grandmother of ninety. Most of us
intend to, write more than we some
times accomplish. Just now, I am
confronted with the fact that should
nave written Howie Decker before this,
and there has been lying among my I'M
answered mail letter from Yes Byers
which Is wearing out from having been
handled so much. l shall get to 1t
shortly, however.
The friendly letter is more desultory
than other sorts. 1t need not be an
swered at once; in fact, excepting in
cases of extreme sentiment, 1t is not
to be expected that it will be answered
Immediately. We call on our friends
! in the community in which we live
every few weeks, or once year. or
whenever the spirit moves us, and that
is about the way we answer friendly
letters. Sometimes when the friend
ship Is recent, and the feeling Is espe-
| cially warm, we may write oftener, but
these are special cases, for which there
are no rules.
| The friendly letter is informal In
character sIts0mtts from the beginning
the street and the city address Of the
one to whom it is written it eliminates
whenever possible or convenient. both
In form and in materials, everything
that would suggest the business letter,
because it really does not concern
itself with business. ~.
There is more liberty allowed in its
construction than in other letters, be-
cause of the conditions under which 1t
| is written. Friendly letters are written
| wherever and whenever time and op-
pOrtunity affords. They may be writ
ten in railway station on a pad. of
paper hastily picked up, during bust
ness hours, when a moment Of leisure
comes. on the train. in hotels-any
where, when one has an un0ccupied
moment. In such cases, one cannot
choose his materials carefully, and may
be forgiven for not doing SO. It is, Of
course, to ones intimate friends that
In the friendly letter, one may be ad-
dressed, in fact should be addressed,
as he would be spoken to In everyday
conversation, when the two persons are
| face to face. In the formal business
and professional affairs of life, we
titles. and the positions of our friends.
In addressing an official letter, even to
friend, | must still remember his
position, and his title, and say my
dear Doctor Draper" or Dear Mr..
President" or my dear Sir" In a
friendly letter, however, if | know the
man we'll enough, l may drop the for
NAL salutation. and say Dear Edwin"
or "AIy dear Tom," or "Dear K. c."
1t is quite permissible to use nick
name in such letter. / have friend
| to whom have been writing for years.
He holds prominent position; he is,
In his community, a man Of dignity
and distinction. His real name is Will
liam. but since we were boys in col
Iege together I have, for no reason
which can now remember, called him
Jimmy" and. whenever write him.
he is still Jimmy" today. He would
not like it otherwise.
The complimentary close Of a friend
| ly letter should usually be Sincerely
yours" Cordially yours" or even
Lovingly yours" if this last truly ex-
| presses the feeling which you have.
The unusual ending may be employed
only when the relationship between
the two people is unusual, and war
rants such an ending. In such a case
the writer may express what he feels,
To begin a letter "Friend Tom," or
Dear Friend" or to end it 'YOur
Friend" is not now thought good form.
Here again there is no logical reason,
excepting that it Is old-fashioned. and
out of date. like long whiskers, or hoop
skirts.
The friendly letter should avoid for
mality, and stiffness in style. 1t should
be as nearly like conversation as pos
sible, and should In each case adapt
itself to the Individual addressed. Con
fractions, elisions, and slang, even
sometimes. If 1t is well selected, and
appropriate slang, may be used, for
slang has good part in the vernacular
of everyday life. The friendly letter
should be full of "aren't's," and
"don't's," and "haven't's," and the thou
sand and one forms of everyday
speech which give naturalness to con-
versation, The friendly letter should
sound like talk; it should reveal the
character. and the personality and the
temperament of the one who is writ
ing it; it should not sound like book.
If you want Illustrations of good
friendly letters read the letters of
Stevenson, of Charles Lamb. of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, and of Walter Hines
Page.
% 1925. by Western Newspaper Union)
A-y~.L: H~x e.