It was as if the letter were merely one of a permitted and established correspondence between old friends . It began with a witty , sparkling review of a new book the writer had just read , and passed from this to crisp comments on the great events , political , scientific , artistic , of the day . The whole letter was pungent , interesting , delightful -- an impersonal essay on a dozen vital topics of life and thought . Only at the end was a personal note struck . `` Are you interested in these things ? '' ran the last paragraph . `` In what is being done and suffered and attained in the great busy world ? I think you must be -- for I have seen you and read what is written in your face . I believe you care for these things as I do -- that your being thrills to the ` still , sad music of humanity ' -- that the songs of the poets I love find an echo in your spirit and the aspirations of all struggling souls a sympathy in your heart . Believing this , I have written freely to you , taking a keen pleasure in thus revealing my thoughts and visions to one who will understand . For I too am friendless , in the sense of one standing alone , shut out from the sweet , intimate communion of feeling and opinion that may be held with the heart 's friends . Shall you have read this as a friend , I wonder -- a candid , uncritical , understanding friend ? Let me hope it , dear lady . '' I was expecting the third letter when it came -- but not until it did come did I realize what my disappointment would have been if it had not . After that every week brought me a letter ; soon those letters were the greatest interest in my life . I had given up all attempts to solve the mystery of their coming and was content to enjoy them for themselves alone . From week to week I looked forward to them with an eagerness that I would hardly confess , even to myself . And such letters as they were , growing longer and fuller and freer as time went on -- such wise , witty , brilliant , pungent letters , stimulating all my torpid life into tingling zest ! I had begun to look abroad in my small world for worthy work and found plenty to do . My unknown friend evidently kept track of my expanding efforts , for he commented and criticized , encouraged and advised freely .
There was a humour in his letters XXXXX I liked ; it leavened them with its sanity and reacted on me most wholesomely , counteracting many of the morbid tendencies and influences of my life .
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