Granted, an IM print out does not resemble the letter of days gone by, but it’s written communication, isn’t it.

Other attributes include: communication with more than one person at a time and recordability. The adage, ‘open mouth – insert foot’, would no longer apply since few of us can write without some forethought.

Corresponding via IM is less intrusive, more concise and can sometimes prevent misunderstandings. Major corporations especially those with a global presence are switching to Instant Messaging (IM) instead of telephone and voice mail communication. In contrast, today’s technology has made written communication almost effortless. A long letter would be wrapped in another sheet of papyrus before being tied with a small cord and then sealed. When completed, the short letter was folded before being sealed with pitch or wax. Penning three syllables required one minute and an hour’s work resulted in about 72 words. The average piece of papyrus held roughly 140 words. In ancient times, the written message was scratched onto leather or papyrus with a goose quill or split reed dipped in sticky ink. Has the letter become obsolete in our society of cell phones, laptops and text messaging? In Founding Mothers, letters crisscrossed the original 13 colonies with private news, political opinions, pleas for money and accounts of war and an emerging nation. Later the transatlantic correspondence fostered a deep friendship between Hanff and bookseller, Frank Doel. In 84 Charing Cross Road, Helene Hanff originally used the letter as a purchase order for out-of-print, hard-to-find books. Through this cross channel exchange, Juliet learned about the island, the society’s taste in books and the impact of German occupation on their tiny homeland. In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, journalist Juliet Ashton employed the letter to gather research for her latest writing project. Over the years, the letter has served mankind well as a means of communication.

Founding mothers book