THE WRITTEN WORD

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 24

THE WRITTEN WORD

DANGERS OF LETTER-

WRITING

CRUELTY AND FUTILITY.

(By G. EDITH BURTON.)

The dangers of letter-writing are manifold, and every day numbers of the unwary are entrapped.

A famous man once said " Words are given us to conceal our thoughts." That is so very often true, but what of the written words? What weapons we place in the hands of the ones addressed — what rods do we make for our own backs —what scourges even we make for all time, when we write, fired by the moment's passion"; The inexorableness of those penned lines —the set coldness of that black and white script, betrays nothing of the blind temper in which they were written; rather they present a cold malignance as they are conned over and over again by the recipient.

Then imagination steps in and plays a heavy part. Wounded and smarting, the addressee reads a double meaning- into each phrase, and in the end will probably sit down to write a letter which will thoroughly outdo the letter in hand in its biting cruelty.

The utter futility of it all! Things ' have gone wrong in some way or another | —rightly or wrongly John thinks he is J ' flighted, and he sits down to relieve his : feelings in ink. A touch of liver enables i him to write a masterpiece of nasty , sarcasm. As soon as the ink is dry he feels better; but alas, he hasn't the sense to stop even then. The letter is posted, ■ and Mary in the country, who has perhaps walked a couple of miles to get the , best beloved's letter, has the sun put out of her day, and the earth rocking beneath her feet. As likely as not she will receive a wire the same day. " Take no notice of letter—terribly sorry," or some such thing, but the letter has done its work, and though things are "patched up," these wounds leave the inevitable '' scars" which are troublesome in •' stormy weather." A woman I know very well declares it is a wonderfully good plan to write d scathing letter to the person who has annoyed you very much, but to leave it on your desk till next day, when nine times out of ten your post box will be a good coal fire, or the W.P.B. The great trouble is that the written word has nothing to soften it. You can call John to his face a most frightful idiot, or any species of fool you like, when the words are accompanied by an affectionate punch, or your kindly interest glowing in your eyes. But'in a not too tactful letter the same expression will probably get you into serious trouble. In guarded conversation with Mollie, you might manage to convey to her that you think there is on*y one place for ner if she will persist in marrying the undesirable Bjjl; but you try writing that to her, and see what sort of a oreach it will make. Now these are only everyday letters and their dangers, but what of those foolish ones who have placed themselves * within the law," by the one solid item their letters contained—a promise to marry. Amid the froth and bubble of "My ownest Popsy, tweet, tweet, pippity pop, pop, down to your own darling's 'ittle boydil," the eagle eye of the law hunts greedily for the "promise," and almost always finds it. Can you imagine the feelings of a man apparently quite sane, who has been cited for " breach of promise," standing in a crowded court while a letter he had long since forgotten was read (with great relish by the counsel for the other side), a letter 'which ran something like this: "My sweetest heart! It is a million vears since I said farewell last night; I cannot bear these partings. Promise me my wee birdie that you will soon come to the sweet nest I .shall soon prepare. My precious 'itty wifie to be will 'oo love 'oo ' itty hubby ?"—and many other things. I think if I were that man, I'd say when I saw the opposing counsel's wicked grin, and preparatorv "Ahem," I feel sure I'd say "M'lord. " I'll accept penal servitude for life if the counsel will refrain from reading that letter." Men are not nearly careful enough, as a rule of their correspondence with women, and it behoves every girl to take the greatest care in expressing her thoughts even to her fiance. I know of a case where a beautiful young : country girl became engaged to an utter rogue. Shortly afterwards he left the district, and for a short time they wrote to one another; presently he disappeared, leaving no address. A week or two later the proprietor of the boarding house in which he had stayed, wrote to the young girl to know if she could give him her fiance's address. Of course the worthless fellow had left his letters about, and behind him, and the dishonourable proprietor had read them. Knowing this, the shame of the whole thing nearly killed the young, gjrl. Leaving letters about in "hotels and boarding houses may be a display of a beautiful faith in the honour of mankind, but to tear letters up or to burn them, especially letters from women, displays an even more commendable sense of honour in protecting one's womenkind from any breath of gossip, or even scandal.