By turn, the letters speak in a quiet, private voice but invite public scrutiny.

"My letters speak for themselves," he said in an e-mail response to questions.

Increasingly, the letters I received from the readers spoke of them in high praise.

"But she would understand that the letter is not speaking of her."

Perhaps the letter speaks for itself, and requires no advice.

In neat block letters, the letter spoke directly to the young people who would be reading it.

The letter spoke of their wonderful past together and an exciting future apart.

This letter also spoke of the hope that "the lodge could be an established fact by mid-winter 1975".

The letters described in my book speak for themselves.

"We're going to let the letter speak for itself," he said.