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309
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness
·
Florence Hartley
123
Without
the
ability
to
practice
the
refined
art
of
epistolary
correspondence,
men
would
become
cold
and
discordant:
an
isolated
compound
of
misanthropy.
They
would
fall
off
in
forsaken
fragments
from
the
great
bond
of
union
which
now
adorns
and
beautifies
all
society.
Absence,
distance,
and
time
would
cut
the
silken
cords
of
parental,
brotherly,
and
even
connubial
affection.
Early
circumstances
would
be
lost
in
forgetfulness,
and
the
virtues
of
reciprocal
friendship
"waste
their
sweetness
on
the
desert
air."
Since,
then,
the
art
and
practice
of
letter-writing
is
productive
of
so
much
refined
and
social
happiness,
a
laudable
indulgence
in
it
must
ever
be
commendable.
While
it
elevates
the
noble
faculties
of
the
mind,
it
also
chastens
the
disposition,
and
improves
those
intellectual
powers
which
would
otherwise
remain
dormant
and
useless.
Notwithstanding
the
various
beauties
and
pleasures
attendant
upon
the
accomplishment,
yet
there
are
many
who
have
given
it
but
a
slight
portion
of
their
attention,
and
have,
therefore,
cause
to
blush
at
their
own
ignorance
when
necessity
demands
its
practice.
There
is
no
better
mode
by
which
to
test
the
acquirements
of
either
a
young
lady
or
gentleman
than
from
their
letters.
Letters
are
among
the
most
useful
forms
of
composition.
There
are
few
persons,
who
can
read
or
write
at
all,
who
do
not
frequently
have
occasion
to
write
them;
and
an
elegant
letter
is
much
more
rare
than
an
elegant
specimen
of
any
other
kind
of
writing.
The
more
rational
and
elevated
the
topics
are,
on
which
you
write,
the
less
will
you
care
for
your
letters
being
seen,
or
for
paragraphs
being
read
out
of
them;
and
where
there
is
no
need
of
any
secrecy,
it
is
best
not
to
bind
your
friend
by
promises,
but
to
leave
it
to
her
discretion.
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