Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-05

The question is, not whether women
are the best letter writer's, but why they
are?
There can be little doubt that they
are, despite the voluminous collections
Of male-written epistles.
Many of the latter get into libraries
because of political or other prominence
affairs, and so made their letters Of
unusual importance.
But for sheer interest-compelling
quality, give US letters written by
women, and especially those dealing
with the fiat, everyday affairs Of ordi-
nary life.
A man demands a battle for a SUBJ
ject, before he can do his best but al
most any woman can sit down and turn
out q compelling narrative about how
Johnny stubbed his toe yesterday, but
1t is all right today.
One has to be able to write well to
make something out Of such homely
material.
Perhaps women achieve supreme in
terest in their letters because they ere
interested themselves to begin with, and
something Of this elusive but necessary
quality Is thereby passed on to the
reader.
We can recall once opening a library
book and finding therein letter which
had been tucked In there by q prior
reader and forgotten. There was nc
telling what tiny event had occasioneo
the forgetting of so personal a missive
Had she smelled beans burning on the
stove? Hastily grabbing for a book
mark, she took up the first thing that
came to hand, and slipped it between
the pages.
There the letter remained until we
found 1t. There being no address OIL
name Of any kind on the sheets, we felt
able to read the pages without undue
| hesitancy. Yet there was a certain
amount of reluctance in our fingers, a,
we recall.
1t was highly personal letter. Of q
| nature which made the chance reader
feel it was strictly none of his business
Yet it was set forth with such modestJ
and kindness of phrasing that some.
how these qualities suffused the words
One closed the sheets almost with
reverence, and placed them carefully
| in the fire, so that this secret between
| forever. This unknown woman pos
sessed the ability of her tribe, how u
! write en- interesting letter.
Recently we had the privilege of read
| ing another letter written by a woman
an owner of st. Bernard kennels II
the Midwest. Almost were we per.
suaded to purchase puppy, after read
ing the lady's letter.
A man would have answered oul
| friends query something as follows
Dear Sir: Yours of the 7th inStan
received, and will say that we hav'
male puppies at $50 and females at 81!
and SIS. Will be pleased to hear from
you. Yours truly, etc"
But the mistress of the kennels tool
her pen and ink in hand. and sa
down to three-page informal, chat.
letter about st. BernardS in genera
and the worth Of the female Purple
in particular.
We fell to wondering afterward jus
why this letter was so good a letter
An analysis might have shown 1t Il
be Indifferent in composition, and per
haps lacking a bit in grammatical
construction.
But it was a good letter, and tn
1 question remained, Why?
II y n
There are at least seven qualitie
which the good letter possesses. The
are, as we see them:
/. Simplicity.
2. Honesty.
3. Detailed information.
4. Informality.
5. Kindness of character.
6. Interest in the reader.
Z. Lack of fear and suspicion.
No doubt these are the qualities o