SHOULD LOVE-LETTERS BE KEPT?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12688, 9 July 1919, Page 7

SHOULD LOVE-LETTERS BE KEPT?

It is said, though I cannot vouch for the truth of the statement, that Commander Ramsay, R.N., who married Princess Patricia, has not only kept all his fiancee’s love-letters, but also has had them bound into book form. The binder is reputed to be a personal friend, who gave his word not to read any of the missives.

The story opens up a wide field for discussion, and it was a great topic of conversaton at a dinner table at which I was a guest the other evening. Here, crystallised, are sbme of the most interesting, points of view that were expressed.

An Engaged Girl: I never write a love-letter if I can possibly see my fiance or telephone to him. Letterwriting is a lost art nowadays, older pebple tell me. I, at any rate, can never say wlkt I really mean on paper. [ don’t see ranch point in people trying to write love-letters to one another unless they are actually separated for some time. Most engaged couples can meet fairly frequently, and they should give one another a “rest” when they are apart for only i. day or two at • a time.

A War Widow: Before we. were married both my husband and I burnt our love-letters- I think we were sensible to do so. When two people have got each other, they don’t need old letters to remind'them tof former happinesses ; while if later on, as in my case, one should die, the possession of his—or her—love-letters only causes the wound to be kept 'open by th© survivor. The temptation to re-read such . letters would be irresistible, and the consequence useless fresh sorrow. A Married Man : It may sound cynical, but most love-letters are very foolish things. This is especially true tof men’s letters- -man being the more emotional creature- In any case, genuine love-letters do not. in the least mirror the writer in his normal state, but merely as he was during a period of severe mental. stress, and for that reason they are ntot worth keeping. The average man—he die the most affectionate and modpl husband imaginable—would probably want to go out and kick himself if after, aar. ten years of happy

married life he were to read the effusions of his courting days! The Same Man’s Wife: I have got practically all the letters my husband wrote me when ive were engaged. I never read them, but I like to have them for sentimental reasons. He has most of mine, too, though he does not like to admit it!

A Bachelor; 1 like getting love-letters —they vary the monotony" of bills and’ income-tax demands so! But I have never kept love-letters, and I don’t think I ever shall.

(By Richard George in “The Daily Mail-”)