5 letters that went down in history
Da Vinci is looking for a job, Hugo shows the wonders of correspondence and Lincoln grows a beard.
Today, letters are mainly used for work and advertising. However, a long time ago, it was the only thread that bound people.
Old letters are a keyhole through which we can see a piece of the past. We have perused through a few famous letters and in this article, we will share them with you. In these letters, we found the laughter, tears, the skill of correspondence and the recipe for the royal scones.
Letter 1. The shortest correspondence in history
Do you know the etymology of the word “laconic”?
Before the attack on Sparta (Laconia region) by Philip of Macedon, he sent a letter to the enemy. In the letter, he requested his opponents to surrender and listed the obscenities that he would commit if he captured the city.
The Spartans replied with a one word response: “If.”
Truly, brevity is the sister of talent. However, some people outdid the Laconians. One of those people was Victor Hugo, the famous master of lengthy descriptions.
Only true connoisseurs of literature can painstakingly read through and assimilate the contents of his novels. In “Notre Dame de Paris”, there is a chapter “A bird’s-eye Paris”. This chapter is made up of 40 pages, devoted exclusively to the description of Paris. I have only managed to read through two of such chapters.
Hugo wanted to know how readers reacted to his novel “Les Miserables”. This sense of inquiry drove him to send a letter to the publisher. This letter consisted of just one symbol: “?”. By doing this, Hugo did not lose face with the publisher. The publisher responded with a letter consisting of one symbol : “!” .
This became the shortest correspondence in history.
Interesting facts:
- The shortest letter in the history of correspondence was written by a well-known master of lengthy descriptions.
- Even a letter consisting of only one punctuation mark can effectively pass on a message.
Letter 2. The Royal recipe
Now, let’s talk about cooking.
In 1957, the Queen of England visited the US President Dwight Eisenhower. Two years later, she invited Dwight and his family to Scotland, so she would not be in his debt. The US President enjoyed visiting Elizabeth. He was particularly thrilled with the royal scones.
After the guests left, the queen wrote a letter to the president.In that letter, she detailed her own recipe for scones for 16 people. In conclusion, simple joys are not foreign to the world’s powers.
Interesting facts:
- The real queen knows a lot about scones.
- Presidents are people too and they love a good meal.
Letter 3. Da Vinci is looking for a job
In the XV century, there was no HR, resume and notions of “career.” Even geniuses in the XV century had to look for a job.
In his thirties, Leonardo da Vinci was not yet known and he needed a constant source of income. Leonardo wrote a letter to a potential employer, the Duke of Milan. In the letter, he wrote about his skills and asked Duke to find a worthy use for them.
Da Vinci wrote that he could make weapons for ships and catapults, and that he knew several effective war strategies. In the letter, he also mentioned that he knew how to build bridges and buildings, make sculptures from clay, bronze and marble.
In the closing of the letter, Leonardo asked the Duke to invite him so he could bear first hand witness to his talents. Then he wrote:
“And if any of the above things seem to someone impractical or impossible, I suggest you try me in your hunting grounds or in any other place wherever Your Highness will please”.
Just like in a modern resume, Da Vinci not only listed his skills but also let his potential employer know his readiness to be tested. In modern times, this is equivalent to performing a test task during a job interview.
He also wrote: “And also I am stress-resistant!”
Interesting facts:
- Even geniuses fill out a resumes.
- For 500 years, approaches toward job search have not changed fundamentally.
- When you know how much Leonardo knew in his thirties , you would want to devote more time toward self-development.
Letter 4. Grow a beard if you want to become a president
At the earlier stages of his career, Abraham Lincoln did not grow out his beard and he was not a president. However, during his election campaign, he received a letter from an 11-year-old girl, Grace Bedell. In her letter, she asked Lincoln to grow a beard. She thought that his face was too narrow, and a beard would help to overcome this flaw.
Also, the young lady claimed that women love bearded men and this will cause them to persuade their husbands to vote for Lincoln.
The future president answered the girl personally. He wrote that such an act would look like a meaningless attempt to gain influence. Nevertheless, he grew a beard just in case. As they say, “anything can happen”.
Interesting facts:
- Children are sometimes more perceptive than adults.
- Women will always be women, even when they are electing a president.
5. The romantic great commander
A couple of centuries ago, men were more romantic. They wrote very elegant and breathtakingly romantic letters to their lovers and wives! Texts in nowadays messengers can’t be compared to them.
A perfect example is one of Napoleon’s letters to Josephine. In this letter, he wrote:
I got your letter, my beloved; it has filled my heart with joy. I am grateful to you for the trouble you have taken to send me news; your health should be better today — I am sure you are cured…
Ever since I left you, I have been sad. I am only happy when by your side. Ceaselessly I recall your kisses, your tears, your enchanting jealousy; and the charms of the incomparable Joséphine keep constantly alight a bright and burning flame in my heart and senses. When, free from every worry, from all business, shall I spend all my moments by your side, to have nothing to do but to love you, and to prove it to you? I shall send your horse, but I am hoping that you will soon be able to rejoin me…
Ah! pray let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less gracious, less tender, and, especially less kind; above all never be jealous, never weep; your tears madden me, fire my blood…
Have a good rest. Haste to get well. Come and join me, so that, at least, before dying, we could say — “We were happy for so many days!”
Millions of kisses, and even to Fortuné, in spite of his naughtiness.
Bonaparte
Interesting facts:
- Although he was military to the bone, Napoleon was no stranger to romance.
- Napoleon was very jealous. He often blamed Josephine for not diligently writing to him.
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