In July of 1964, a reader named Marian Forer wrote the following letter to John G. Fuller, the editor of a popular column in Saturday Review magazine called “Trade Winds” that collated whimsical news items and thought-provoking anecdotes from all corners. Forer’s letter was later featured, in part, in the column.

(Source: Dear Wit.)

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canada

July 30, 1964

Dear Mr. Fuller:

I was struck (lightly) the other day by the following wonder: if lawyers become disbarred, and priests unfrocked, how might people in other paths of life be read out of their profession or calling?

It occurred to me then that electricians get delighted, and musicians possibly denoted. If these assumptions are correct, surely it follows that cowboys must be deranged, that models are deposed, and judges are obviously distorted. A medium who loses her license is dispirited, and it seems only poetic justice that a Far Eastener who is banished is disoriented.

I could go on and on, but I don’t want to overload the mail handlers. An office worker who can’t cope may, alas, become defiled.

Yours sincerely,

Marian Forer