Of course, is a subtle something inherent in each individual, not
to be entirely done away with in any case, but to be improved by a
careful study of good models, such, for example, as the letters of the
above mentioned authors. To read the best prose writers also cannot
fail to work an improvement. For instance, the writer once, after an
enthusiastic study of Taine, was rewarded by the assurance from a
literary correspondent that her letters were thoroughly “Tainesque” in
style.
By judicious reading and carefully taking thought, an abrupt style may
be softened and more graceful, flowing sentences substituted for its
short, sharp phrases; while a redundant style, by the same care, may be
pruned of its exuberance.
The chief charm of a letter consists in it being written naturally and
as one would talk. “We should write as we speak, and that’s a true
familiar letter which expresseth a man’s mind as if he were discoursing
with the party to whom he writes,” says Howell, and, ancient as the
words are, no better advice can be given to-day.
Write easily, and never simply for effect; this gives a constrained,
stilted style that will soon cool the correspondence. Let your thoughts
flow as they would were you conversing with your friend, but do not
gossip; give friendly intelligence only when certain of its truth.
This will not seem too much when it is remembered how written words
sometimes rise up in judgment against their authors when the spoken
words would long since have been forgotten. A lapse of time will
brush the bloom from our sentences and nothing can bring back again
the tender grace that transfigured the over-sweetness of some little
written sentiment, or redeem it from the realm of the bombastic in our
eyes to-day. Then “let your communications be, not exactly ‘yea and
nay,’ but do let them be such that you would not fear to hear them read
aloud before you, for more than this ‘cometh of evil.’”
[Illustration: A PLEASANT SURPRISE.]
Grammar and Orthography.
These should receive most careful attention. “A great author is one,”
according to Taine, “who, having passions, knows also his dictionary
and grammar.” And a good letter-writer, as well, must “know his
dictionary and grammar” to render his missives presentable.
Grammatical errors are almost unpardonable, and a misspelled word
is an actual crime in these days of dictionaries. Punctuation and
capitalization, too, must be looked after, and the whole letter give
evidence of thought and care on the writer’s part.