Year: 1875

by crossing every page 80 that her letter is
sometimes az difficult to decipher "a Chaidee
Ms. Aaron Burr, who was the greatest Diack-
guard (of O gentleman) recorded in Amer
lean history, kept bushels OF womens
letters all bundled and ear-marked, so
that many reputation was at the mercy
of his executor, who behaved, however, ex-
tremely we'll Some men have wicked way
of entrapping q woman into correspondence
of securing from her unsuspecting friendship
phrases which unexplained or read out OF their
connection are somewhat ambiguous, and upon
which it will be easy for the censorious to put
q wrong construction. Such base fellows
never burn letters they are much more likely
to exhibit them in convivial companies or III
strict confidence to a dozen associates. A
man of honor knows what letters to destroy,
and he will without fail destroy or return
them to the writer.


We know that We are recommending what
to an affectiOnate person will seem like
sacrifice almost too great to be made. In
this city this morning there is many pack
age of letters dearer to the holder than untold
wealth-ictters which have been read and re-



have sOothed the sharpest Of pains and nave
Illuminated the darkest of hOurs-whicn have
strengthened a wavcring faith or restored
lost One-which were hungrily looked for ana
rapturously received, and upon every page
of which is the record of uniiinchlng
fidelity and of love kept bright and
unwavering though the praise Of the world
had changed to blame and its smile darkened
to a frown. We know that it would be hard
to burn these tear-blot:ed sheets-but 1t may
be best to do so. Think Of them read by one
lawyer and commented upon by another!
Think of the grave man Of the bench pom
dering over them through his spectaclcs! Vi
the gaping juryman trying to comprehend
their meaning! OF the glOatlGS gallery put
ting upon them its own pTurlent nterpreta-
ton! Save them from such desecratlon by
giving their secret to the keeping oil TIE
elements.


Again, we should remember that there ls no
higher appeal to honor than that which a
confidential letter implies. The winged word
may be lost forever, but the written word
remains, i il the most unquestioning love
which puts itself at the mercy OF cor
respondent, which writes what it would hardy
whisper, and takes its CHANGES OF beng
advertised and trumpeted to the four corners
of the earth. Does not such tender frankness
demand even nervous care and caution upon
the other side A blow for kiss Is bad
enough. Ingratitude is the OpprObrum OF our
nature. But what blow can be bitteTer to
sensitive woman than to find confidence
misplaced, trust disrcgardcd, and the sane
tum sanctorum Of her soul thrown wide open
for the curious to stare at It's boarded and
balowed treasure Such mocl5ery of good
faith is intOerable between man and man-lt
is tragedy pure and simple when it polsons
the peace of woman. Did she write this loving
sentence for the whole world to read? Did
she spread out all the tenderness Of her soul
upon the blistcred page, that course testers
might translate it into their own foul dla-
lects, and cOnstrue it according to the un-
cleanliness of their own bes0tted natures
Yes! it is certainly better to burn let
ters of affection than to hoard them in
tins most uncertain world. Burn, if you
would not have the deepest secrets OF your
soul made the sport of attorneys! Burn, II
you would not have your sacredcst affairs dis
cussed by strangers after you are gone! Burn,
if you would not have your friend panied by
even an accidental disclosure of kindness !!
Burn, if you would have your cOstliest secrets
continue undivulged Burn for your own
sake and for the sake of others Give
trembling hopes and gentle assurances, the
first faltering promise, the last welcome
asseveraton, the golden and the silver
sentences, the record of dreams and of doubts,
the lines traced when all was bright, the
scorching phrases written when all was be-
nighted-giye the sweet and the bitter and
the bitter-sweet. earnestness and playfulness,
deep appeal and trivial jest-all to the
friendly fire


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