Did the educated class really speak so well in the 19th century?

[LincolnToddFan]

Hi Juan,

Yes I think so. I've recently read the Civil War diaries and letters of George Templeton Strong, Mary Chestnut, Varina Davis, Fanny Seward and Mary Todd Lincoln to name only a few. They wrote beautiful, elegantly constructed sentences that are a joy to read.

Even a perusal of the writings of "common" people who were not necessarily lettered or famous is a wonderful experience for those of us who appreciate words.

It's so different from today, it's almost as if we are speaking a different language than they did.