Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1916 — Women Best Letter Writers Because They Record Trifles [ARTICLE]

Women Best Letter Writers Because They Record Trifles

The art of letter writing is considered by the French an essentially femi/iilne gift, probably because for years it was the only means of literary expression open to women. But the real secret of women’s ability to write good letters is that they are not ashamed to record trifles. Men feel after they have described the weather and the state of their af~Tect|nns~lluii they have done their duty. A woman will tell what another woman wore, what her best friend said, who is rumored engaged to whom, what two best enemies are not speaking, and add, maybe, the breakfast menu. In letters women give a little of real life and their correspondence is really written conversation. Letter writing is a delicate and difficult art, for, aside from charming features, more harm has been done by the written word than by all the foolish converse in the world. Unkind remarks written are hard to erase from the heart. A foolish protestation of affection is a shame and grief forever to the writer. Every indiscreet written confidence is a curse that will come home to roost with the inevitability of the barnyard fowl. Letter writing should be an art —the art of trifles. It should be the art of being interesting, but not compromising.—Spokane Spokesman-Review.