In the winter and spring of 1901-1902, Maud wrote a series of weekly columns called “Around the Table” for the Daily Echo newspaper in Halifax. Her musings were often written very quickly and off-the-top of her head and were supposed to reflect the types of conversations or topics of discussion that people might have with each other when they get home from work and sat around the table.
Here is one of her pieces entitled “Advice About Writing Letters”. Her wisdom is still relevant today.
It is a good plan when writing a letter to keep strictly in mind, as far as you can, what will interest your friend and not simply what interests you. Don’t fill up your letter with scraps of news about people and places unknown to her unless they are entertaining apart from their personal interest. Write to her as you would talk to her. Tell her all the harmless gossip—there is such a thing, you know—she would like to hear and don’t write anything that you think might hurt or worry her in any way, unless it is really necessary.
Don’t gush—that is if you are over eighteen. If you are under that age it is no use telling you not to. School girls have to gush and write sentimental letters to their darling chums vowing eternal friendship and all that sort of thing. It’s a phase they have to pass through. And how silly those soul outpourings do read, years afterward, when you read them over in cold blood.
Again, never write a letter when you are angry. Or if you do, don’t mail it for twenty-four hours. Then read it over and put it in the waste basket. It may save you a heartache in after years. Remember that “written words remain”.
Above all bear in mind Sam Weller’s immortal dictum: “She’ll wish there was more and that’s the great art of letter-writing.”
Do you still write real letters to friends or relatives? Is it important to you to make an effort with their composition?
Here is a song written by famous Canadian songwriter Neil Young, in which he speaks about wanting to reconnect with the people from his past through correspondence.
