=THE LETTER OF THE “CAPITAL I"=

The letter of the “capital I” is a pompous effusion which strives through pretentiousness to impress its reader with its writer’s wealth, position, ability, or whatever possession or attribute is thought to be rated most highly.  None but unfortunate dependents or the cringing in spirit would subject themselves to a second letter of this kind by answering the first.  The letter which hints at hoped-for benefits is no worse!

=THE LETTER OF CHRONIC APOLOGY=

The letter written by a person with an apologetic habit of mind, is different totally from the sometimes necessary letter of genuine apology.  The former is as senseless as it is irritating: 

“It was so good of you to come to my horrid little shanty. [The house and the food she served were both probably better than that of the person she is writing to.] I know you had nothing fit to eat, and I know that everything was just all wrong!  Of course, everything is always so beautifully done at everything you give, I wonder I have the courage to ask you to dine with me.”

=THE DANGEROUS LETTER=

A pitfall that those of sharp wit have to guard against is the thoughtless tendency toward writing ill-natured things.  Ridicule is a much more amusing medium for the display of a subject than praise, which is always rather bromidic.  The amusing person catches foibles and exploits them, and it is easy to forget that wit flashes all too irresistibly at the expense of other people’s feelings, and the brilliant tongue is all too often sharpened to rapier point.  Admiration for the quickness of a spoken quip, somewhat mitigates its cruelty.  The exuberance of the retailer of verbal gossip eliminates the implication of scandals but both quip and gossip become deadly poison when transferred permanently to paper.

=PERMANENCE OF WRITTEN EMOTION=

For all emotions written words are a bad medium.  The light jesting tone that saves a quip from offense can not be expressed; and remarks that if spoken would amuse, can but pique and even insult their subject.  Without the interpretation of the voice, gaiety becomes levity, raillery becomes accusation.  Moreover, words of a passing moment are made to stand forever.

Anger in a letter carries with it the effect of solidified fury; the words spoken in reproof melt with the breath of the speaker once the cause is forgiven.  The written words on the page fix them for eternity.

Love in a letter endures likewise forever.

Admonitions from parents to their children may very properly be put on paper—­they are meant to endure, and be remembered, but momentary annoyance should never be more than briefly expressed.  There is no better way of insuring his letters against being read than for a parent to get into the habit of writing irritable or faultfinding letters to his children.

=THE LETTERS OF TWO WIVES=