"On Letter Writing" is a wonderful creation of A.G. Gardiner. He was a British Journalist and author. A.G Gardiner was widely known by his pen name “Alpha of The Plough”. His essays always remind us of pleasant things, Sunshine, Laughter, and peace. His famous works include :
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| On letter writing |
- On saying please
- Pillars of society
- The warlords
- some people of importance
The essay is on the art of letter writing. In the past, letter writing was considered an art because it was the only mode of communication over great distances. But now, it has become a 'Forgotten art’ with the inventions of science like telephone or telegraph. In this essay, A.G Gardiner gives his own views about letter-writing and he also discusses that “How the art of the letter-writing has been lost”??
The essay begins with the author’s description of a scene upon a railway platform. He overhears the conversation between two soldiers in a railway station. They, Bill and Sam, Seem to be brothers. They discuss that it is very difficult to write a letter to one’s parents and relatives from the battlefront. Both Brothers are sorry that such letter are not easy like love letters which can be filled with crosses when one has nothing left to say. Gardiner comes to the conclusion that articulation of thoughts and opening of the letter are two-man problem for many young people.
Gardiner goes on the show how a good letter is written. According to him, one should always concentrate on small details of one’s day to day life, trivial incidents and a conversational tone in the language. All these create a living picture of the writer and his everyday life. He gives the example of Carlyle, writing from England to his brothers in Canada. Carlyle’s letter is full of details about what each member of the family is doing at the moment, about the cold weather and the blazing which refresh his brother’s memory of home. In the blazing which refreshes his brother’s memory of home. It the process, Carlyle draws up a living picture of the entire situation.
Gardiner gives the example of another writer John Keats. He writes to his brother and sister-in-law in America. He describes how his mother laughed at his bad Joke, how they went visiting neighbours and how beautiful was the scenery.
To Gardiner, this is the best way to write letters. He calls it a ‘recipe’ Provided by one who was a master in the art of letter-writing.
Gardiner feels. Sorry that letter writing is, no doubt, a lost art. He says that the penny post and modern hurry are the two main killers of this art. The Telegraph, The Telephone, and The Typewriter have destroyed this art. The great writers Cowper, Horace, Walpole, Lamb, and Carlyle could write their immortal letters because of leisure. The handwritten letter was the prime mode of communication with the world outside till the end of the 20th century. Indeed, letter writing was then regarded as an art. Some would start from one to another corner of the sheet, Some draw pictures in place of words to give a letter a different look. A bashful village girl whose husband had gone to the town in search of fortune would feel unhappy if the postman passed by the door without stopping. Then, letters were charged with deep emotions and feeling. But now, this art has become lost art because of scientific inventions.
Gagandeep Kaur Chahal
(Assistant Professor English)
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