laws of self-respect:

Never send a letter without reading it over and making sure that you have
said nothing that can possibly "sound different" from what you intend to
say.

Never so long as you live, write a letter to a man--no matter who he
is--that you would be ashamed to see in a newspaper above your signature.

Remember that every word of writing is immutable evidence for or against
you, and words which are thoughtlessly put on paper may exist a hundred
years hence.

Never write anything that can be construed as sentimental.

Never take a man to task about anything; never ask for explanations; to do
so implies too great an intimacy.

Never put a single clinging tentacle into writing. Say nothing ever, that
can be construed as demanding, asking, or even being eager for, his
attentions!

Always keep in mind and _never for one instant forget_ that a third
person, and that the very one you would most object to, may find and read
the letter.

One word more: It is not alone "bad form" but laying yourself open to
every sort of embarrassment and danger, to "correspond with" a man you
slightly know.

=PROPER LETTERS OF LOVE OR AFFECTION=

If you are engaged, of course you should write love letters--the most
beautiful that you can--but don't write baby-talk and other sillinesses
that would make you feel idiotic if the letter were to fall into strange
hands.

On the other hand, few can find objection to the natural, friendly and
even affectionate letter from a young girl to a young man she has been
"brought up" with. It is such a letter as she would write to her brother.
There is no hint of coquetry or self-consciousness, no word from first to
last that might not be shouted aloud before her whole family. Her letter
may begin "Dear" or even "Dearest Jack." Then follows all the "home news"
she can think of that might possibly interest him; about the Simpsons'
dance, Tom and Pauline's engagement, how many trout Bill Henderson got at
Duck Brook, how furious Mrs. Davis was because some distinguished visitor
accepted Mrs. Brown's dinner instead of hers, how the new people who have
moved onto the Rush farm don't know the first thing about farming, and so
on.

Perhaps there will be one "personal" line such as "we all missed you at
the picnic on Wednesday--Ollie made the flap-jacks and they were too
awful! Every one groaned: 'If Jack were only here!'" Or, "we all hope you
are coming back in time for the Towns' dan