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04/18/2008 08:47:50 PM · #1 |
Heard on National Public Radio this morning an interesting story about how the Queen of England ( I think it was Elisabeth, didn't catch the whole show) wrote a letter to Mary Lincoln after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
It was a sympathy letter, sending condolences from across the ocean that spanned between the two women.
NPR went on to say that back in the day, the type of paper, the type of ink, and the type of writing all had a meaning.
Paper was expensive, especially the thick stuff that royals could afford.
Ink was pricey too if you ordered ink with a special recipe.
Writing was special when using cursive, elongated, characters as opposed to a pensive, quick note.
Today, letter writing is just about obsolete. With the advent of email, text messaging,and internet messaging, not to mention just the basic use of a cell phone, letter writing seems to be from the dark ages anymore.
Almost as if the letter writers of the past were once drawing on the walls of caves.
My question to the crowd that is now forming is this....
When was the last time you actually sat down an wrote a letter to someone?
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04/18/2008 08:55:39 PM · #2 |
That would have been Queen Victoria.
As to your question, I can't remember the last time I wrote an actual letter. I often write one page notes with Christmas cards or birthday gifts I send in the mail, but not what I would consider real letters.
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04/18/2008 09:23:03 PM · #3 |
Handwrote? Probably a couple years. Most of my letters that I send snailmail I still type and print out, then handsign, and my snailmail has decreased by probably 75%.
Then again, my handwriting has always been terrible and arthritis makes it almost unreadable now, not to mention somewhat painful. |
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04/18/2008 09:53:42 PM · #4 |
| Sometime last year. But, I don't think I ever actually mailed it. :) |
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04/18/2008 09:55:34 PM · #5 |
I heard that story this morning too. Aside from the human touch aspect of handwriting a letter it also made me think of how much more carefully people measure (measured) their words when faced with the timing of 'snail' mail. An idea poorly conveyed couldn't be cleared up with a couple of quick emails, so it was more important to be unambiguous the first time (I didn't hear if they covered that in the story).
I'm with  BeeCee on the penmanship issue; Mine has never been very nice to look at so I've avoided handwriting letters. It's always been funny to me that I have no trouble with the finer points of playing a violin but I can't make nice looking lines with a pen to save my life. |
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04/18/2008 10:00:39 PM · #6 |
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04/18/2008 10:01:18 PM · #7 |
I use a fountain pen (the one you suck up ink into), thick parchment paper and use cursive.
I used to handwrite all my corrospondence to clients, but gave that up when they told me they couldnt read my writing and couls I use block letters.
I still write out letters, thank you cards for pressies, for parties etc etc
edited for bad spelling, as I only use a dictonary when hand writing lol
Message edited by author 2008-04-18 22:02:42. |
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04/18/2008 10:07:23 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
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Artimus, you crack me up.
I am going to email a text message about an IM I am composing just for you.
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04/18/2008 10:13:15 PM · #9 |
My Mom and I write letters all the time! She's a lot better than I am though - she clips funny pictures from retirement magazines and puts in funny notes as if the photos were about her or Dad. For instance - an old photo of a woman (B&W or sepia) hanging cloths on a line from early 1900's - Moms says: "Had to line dry the cloths today as the dryer went on the fritz and your father just cant fix the damn thing!"
I counter with a photo of school kids or family event they couldn't attend with an equally witty caption.
The letters are often many pages of silly narratives - each of us trying to out do the other with our creative writing skills.
I treasure these letters and when I get to Pennsylvania to visit, she loves to pull out the letters I sent and talk about them.
I think it's a great outlet for her to keep her creative while living in a small rural town.
I know it keeps us close ;) |
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04/18/2008 11:16:09 PM · #10 |
Is the word penmanship still listed in the dictionary?
I thought w00t may have taken its place. :)
Message edited by author 2008-04-18 23:17:40. |
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04/18/2008 11:18:01 PM · #11 |
I never liked writing letters much. I don't have any cursive handwriting. Even as a child, I'd prefer to print. One of my teachers called my the "little architect" because of this. First chance I got, I advanced to a typewriter. I loved my old electric IBM and kept a collection of interchangeable font balls. It still hums and works, btw. I tried it out the other day.
Email, for someone like me, is a godsend. It's better than the phone too, in that it allows me to compose my thought before making a mess of a thing. Everyone wants me to carry a cell, but I faithfully keep forgetting to take one along. They're great as a standby for emergencies. I can't stand the idea of communication by demand.
Message edited by author 2008-04-18 23:18:14. |
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04/18/2008 11:38:25 PM · #12 |
In my younger days, I actually had excellent penmanship and used to write letters all the time - especially while I was in the Navy out at sea for months. Currently my handwriting is schizophrenic - sometimes every word looks like it was written by someone different - I rarely can write a character the same way twice even in the same word. I often mix printing with cursive.
I used to do Calligraphy as well. Used to cartoon. And paint. Those days are gone.
...but I don't think I'd give up Digital Photography or Email or Photoshop to go back. ;-) |
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04/19/2008 12:01:16 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
In my younger days, I actually had excellent penmanship and used to write letters all the time - especially while I was in the Navy out at sea for months. Currently my handwriting is schizophrenic - sometimes every word looks like it was written by someone different - I rarely can write a character the same way twice even in the same word. I often mix printing with cursive.
I used to do Calligraphy as well. Used to cartoon. And paint. Those days are gone.
...but I don't think I'd give up Digital Photography or Email or Photoshop to go back. ;-) |
Same here Art. I always received complements by my teachers and others on my penmanship. I was a draftsman for a few years and had use Calligraphy, I actually liked that except for all the pen tip. I had to learn very neat print being a draftsman. We had to twist the drafting pencil ("H" lead) when we were drawing and when we were writing on the drafting paper. Back then we used blueprint machines (all computerized now, I think) to copy our work and the ink was thick along with the paper (can still smell the ammonia) and if your print or Calligraphy was not legible then you were in trouble. Blueprints were not cheap. |
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04/19/2008 12:06:31 AM · #14 |
Like Artimus I used to write letters all the time, and because I had terrible handwriting all through school I developed careful writing as a young adult for special less intimate communications, but not with my two greatest friends: between the three of us it is very hard to say which has/had the least legible hand, but the thing is we learned to read each other's writing. And now, also like Art's, my writing is all over the place - not schizophrenic but multiple personality, but then maybe that's because I never decided who I would be when I grew up...
Like zeus, I am not too fond of the "communication by demand" telephone, but email has it's own speedlike demands. I had an aunt, a wonderful letter writer, who was not well pleased to get speedy replies; letters should STAY answered for awhile, she said. |
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04/19/2008 01:39:23 AM · #15 |
Writing letter is actually one of my passions. I have an extensive collection of stationary and fountain pens and try to use them as much as possible. I even have a wax seal with my monogram on it (although given the post office's lack of enthusiasm, it's never used). Whenever I am invited to a party (especially at the home of someone I don't know well) I follow up with a letter expressing my gratitude. The simple act has resulted in many further invites and many new friends.
It's actually quite amazing how much power a hand written letter has, especially in this age of e-mails and text message.
Message edited by author 2008-04-19 01:42:39. |
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04/19/2008 02:46:33 AM · #16 |
I think the last time I wrote a letter was in the third grade. I believe my cousin was the recipient. I also know I used to call and tell her that she'd be getting mail soon. :D
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04/21/2008 03:09:17 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by BeeCee:
Handwrote? Probably a couple years. Most of my letters that I send snailmail I still type and print out, then handsign, and my snailmail has decreased by probably 75%. |
Likewise. However, my kids still send handwritten notes and drawings to several of their friends who have moved away. They occasionally send emails too, but they seem to prefer writing the notes by hand -- I think they still get the personal aspect of that. |
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04/21/2008 03:13:53 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Trinch:
I even have a wax seal with my monogram on it (although given the post office's lack of enthusiasm, it's never used). |
Maybe put the seal at the bottom of the letter (like on a proclamation) so that it's inside the envelope ... another nice touch is to order a custom embosser; some have a reversible (rotating) plate so you can emboss both stationery and envelopes. |
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