| Show II 11 1 WHY DONT 1 THEY ANSWER by THOMAS ARKLE CLARK j dean of men university of f illinois Illi noi jr mr Mic micawber awber had a good deal ot of trouble with his correspondents the difficulty was that they would not finster fins anaw er 1 I am aware sl 31 r s micawber Mic awber said to mr cop that cm am now about to cast my lot among strangers find I 1 am also aware that the various members 9 of ray my family to whom mr mi bet bei has writ written ten in the most gentlemanly tle manly terms announcing that fact have not taken the least notice of mr Mi cambers communication indeed I 1 may be superstitious but tt it appears to me that sir mr Mic micawber awber Is destined never to receive any answers whatever to the great majority ot of the communications lie he writes mrs micawber Mic awber was quite right in her predictions ile he was only having the experience which most of u us 8 have hae in receiving no answers to our letters her husband was asking for financial aid from his alfea relatives and noth ing Is so little likely to arouse enthusiasm thusia sm and bring a quick response la in letter writing as aa a request for money I 1 wrote simons twice a year for seven years concerning a little obligation I 1 held against him without receiving a word of acknowledgment it was only when I 1 threatened suit and he be thought trouble might be brewing that I 1 got a reply to roy my letters which I 1 am sure had been couched in quite as 1 gentlemanly terms as were mr there Is a reason why people do not answer letters and the first of these Is that sel selfish fisli people see no use in replying to a letter it if it Is no advantage to them to do so sir air in laws had no desire to lend him money which they were convinced they would never see again the man inan who owed me had no intention Intent lop of paying unless forced to do so so why waste time and a postage stamp in writing a letter A great many people have the best intentions to answer but procrastination puts off the evil day until they are ashamed to write or the obligation may pass entirely out of their memory not everyone writes easily the proper word or the correct form eludes one it Is a problem to know just what to say and not knowing there is the excuse for not writing at all no how w many people when giving an excuse for failing to acknowledge a letter say ay well I 1 just know what to say so I 1 put it oft until I 1 was wag really ashamed to write other people have no regular place in which to write or possibly no materials at hand when the time Is available or the inspiration seizes them the letter which is not answered today Is pretty sure to be put off until day after tomorrow if not until later A roan man I 1 once knew said that it if you let letters lie ile around long enough they will answer themselves lie ire was quite wrong it Is bad from a business standpoint not to answer letters promptly bad socially bad for the cultivation of friends and for th the a development of a reputation for depend ability CE 1930 1920 western newspaper union uin |
