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How to Write Love Letters : LETTER IX. An Elderly Man to a Young Lady.

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LETTER IX. An Elderly Man to a Young Lady.

(There is an impression in the minds of some that love is the attribute of the young alone, and that the man or woman who has passed, say, forty, should bid good-by to the tender passion forever. Never was there a greater mistake. There are a very large number of elderly persons whose hearts are as fresh and youthful as they were years ago. And such often love more deeply, more passionately, more faithfully, than their juvenile competitors. To ridicule the love of such is, therefore, most absurd. No one need under-rate the value of a matured heart's devotion, nor need any one who owns to such a feeling do other than respect him- self or herself all the more for having retained enough of humanity to be able still to fall in love.)

Fair H/.ven, Saint Valentine's Day, 1914.
Dear Miss Smith:

In addressing to you the following, I must ask your permission to speak with that freedom which the difference in our ages seems in some respects to justify. I am fifty-six years of age, you but twenty-five. There is in this a great disparity. I am led to hope, however, that the disparity may be more apparent than real, provided a mutual desire exists that it shall be so. Certainly, I have conceived for you as strong and sincere an affection as a younger man could express or feel. It may be, even, that my judgment enables me to perceive with more clearness than it could have done twenty years ago, what are the true sources of happiness in life, and under what circumstances married life may, with the most confidence, be entered upon. Believe me, that the feelings which I entertain toward yourself are, while very deep and sincere, approved by my experience of myself, and by the experience of others whom I see around me. While I offer you a love which I have found it impossible to stifle, I offer you all the matured affection which one situated as I am is enabled to assure you of. You will not ask me for the glowing words of younger men, nor would your opinion of me be increased by my offering such. But I do venture to assure you that the words rise to my lips as I write, and that you will find in me as true an admirer and lover as I would be, if you allow me, life-long protector and friend.

If you grant me your hand, you may seem to submit to some sacrifices for my sake, but I will strive that you may be mistaken. If no other choice has been yours, if you are really free, and I trust that I am not in error in thinking you quite at liberty, will you think over these few lines? Your society has been to me so great a delight, and your love would be to me so great a possession, that I beg you to consider whether it is not possible that you can regard me as your future husband. Do not let me find that, in thus speaking, I have mistaken your friendship for me, and that I have allowed hopes to exist, the non-fulfillment of which would be the great misfortune of my life. Believe me, yours most truly,

John Brown.

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