Evening star., 1928-03-17

Modern hurry has. taken much OF
the beauty out OF one OF mankind's age
old activities. that OF letter writing.
In the old days q letter was looked
upon as something distinctly worth
putting time and labor on. but today
most persons regard communication
n something to be written "a quickly
as possible.
Il take pen and ink in hand" ran
one OF the favorite beginnings OF the
form letter: and although this has
been laughed at, II did express some-
thing fine and intrinsically beautiful.
Today the disposition is to takes the
telephone in hand. II anything. and
get the matter over with as soon as
possible.
These thoughts were called to mind
by the sight OF seal done In blue
wax on the back OF a" letter. Here
vas something In the hne, leisurely
manner of the old style.
+ The imprint of the sisnet ring was
clear and distinct. II brought up a
picture OF we'll ordered desk. of a
writer who believed In the courtesies
OF communications: IT. recalled In a
pleasant manner the heritage OF the
signet.
Julius Caesar sealed his communica- :
tions so. The sisnet ring played a
large part In sacred and romantic his
tory making double appeal as a
practical instrument and personal
adornment
Thousands OF persons wear them
today who never use them to seal let
ters. and this largely because such
sealing Is. forsooth. too much trouble |!
Yet there is nothing more enjoyable
In the average daily life than cor
respondence. Letter writing puts the
whole world on an absolute equality.
Here Is one place. II one may call it
20. where true democracy prevails.
A man or woman who can really ex-
press what he wants to say In a letter
Is the equal In every epistolary way OF
any other man or woman who can do
as well.
On the fair field OF a piece OF paper
intelligence goes forth to wage war, or
TO make merry. or to be sincerely
grave. or to achieve any one of the
thousand ends which brains can call
their own.
Rank and money fade away in letter
writing, and nothing remains but one
human being talking to another. we
were forcibly reminded Of this the other
day. when shown a letter written bv
the secretary, of celebrity Of the mu-
sical world.
Mr.. So and So wishes me TO EXPRESS
ms thanks. for" etc. etc. How much
better II Mr.. So and So himself had
exerted himself to the extent of writing
those few words with his own handi
How much more sincerely they would
have sounded and how much more
would they have been treasured by the
one who received themi
IL Is because Of this personal element
mat the world has cherished a iovs
Tor the written letter. This is whv
the collected letters OF famous writer's
Always have sold we'll why the letterx
OF great men have been best sellers {"
Even missites written with their nos.
sloie publication In view still contain
enough OF this genuine human quality
10 put them over" Any one readinS
the letters OF the late Walter Hines
rage Is more or less conscious of the
iact that the writer perhaps had A
pretty good idea that they would he
puolisned. Yet this detracts In no way
from them.
The old-fashioned art Of correspond.
ence was beautiful because 1t was taken
seriously, and real work and time nut
upon 1t. As In gardening. there Is
nothing that will take the place OF time
ana work. One cannot sit down and
dash of" anything but q poor letter.
Real letters are written slowly care