I By Elspeth Campbell '
Correspondence Magazine
EADERS have written to me asking if a Correspondence
Magazine could be run among our readers. I know very little about these things, but as far as I can see their great usefulness is amongst isolated Catholics— especially, perhaps, young mothers bringing up families. The chief difficulty seems to be finding a suitable person to act as editor.
This, as far as I can see, is how a Correspondence Magazine is run:
Members write their bits of news and views once a fortnight to the agreed editor. One such organisation I know has a set topic for every other issue, such as "Teaching Your Child His Faith," "Budgets," "A Day to Spend as You Like," ''Corporal Punishment."
The editor then clips the letters together in a single folder with a circulation list at the front, and the magazine is sent out.
The first receiver should write against her name the date on which she received the magazine and the date of dispatch to the second name on the mailing list. The process is then continued until all the members have received it.'Then it is returned tc the editor.
No. member is supposed to keep it for more than two days. A comfortable membership for such an undertaking is about 14.
Editors, please T AM told that much pleasure and 'interest is aroused from such a magazine. And it might be a form of great instruction to lonely and isolated Catholics. I think it is worth thinking about.
I would be only too pleased to collect names and put them in contact with one another. Most, I should welcome offers for the editorship of such a magazine. I should imagine this would not take a great deal of precious time, though the editor— or editress—should be a methodical person capable of keeping simple files.
Answer, please
WHILE on writing of news and VI' letters, let us just think for a moment of the problems of answering letters.
There are some people who seem to be incapable of ever answering a letter. We know the art of letterwriting has been dying—the telephone and gencrai rush of existence nowadays is, I suppose, to blame. Nevertheless it is courteous to reply to a letter, if only to acknowledge it.
Haven't we all experienced the irritation of asking a question in a letter and subsequently wondering (a) if it has arrived, (b) if the receiver is well, or away, (c) wondering what to do about the query? We await one more post, one more day. We are ever hopeful—an answer must come. But it doesn't.
And I am afraid there are the people who acknowledge a letter but don't seem to have read it. None of the questions is answered.
In this age of rush and scurry, letter writing is really a relaxation. To sit quietly to think for a little while; to communicate one's
thoughts; to share one's thoughts with someone loved—there is great joy in this.
It is creative. For as you think, you evolve thoughts that perhaps had not come to you in the rush and scurry of living.
Deep thinking
WE are so frightened of thinking.
Why? Until we have collected our thoughts, until we have allowed ourselves a little repose, how can we become recollected? Unless we do this sometimes we never touch the depths to which our natures are capable of delving—and there are riches there, untold joys and pleasures. It is as if we were beginning to know our souls. And each soul is made in the image and likeness of God. What more can you want?