Distance in the Turn of the 19th Century

In the novel Emma, Jane Austen painstakingly explains and draws out all of the little details and intimations of her characters and their transactions between each other and the immediate surrounding world. Emma highlights the limitations of a world where cars and telephones do not exist. Every letter sent is cherished, communities are closely knit together, and 16 miles takes a day to cover.
For one to receive a letter was a cause for celebration. Characters in Emma would meticulously read, re-read and analyze letters when received. For instance Emma and Harriet copied down what Mr. Elton wrote into a book so that they may read the letter again many times later. When Harriet was proposed to, Austen took the time and page space to note that Emma had read the letter of proposal and realized that it was written by a man, was eloquent but short and conveyed his affections appropriately. Austen took up the page space not to say what was written in the letter, but to analyze the writing style.
When characters receive letters in the book, the whole town finds out about it. Emma herself complains that some letters, such as Jane Fairfax’s, are cause for gossip and are the talk of the town for months on end. People keep their letters on display and allow for all of their visitors to read and then re-read them. Letters are the topic of conversation for days as well.
Nowadays, written letters are not very popular. People will e-mail or use an array of different instant messaging sites. It no longer takes days for one to get news around and e-mails are hardly the topic of conversation for more than a few minutes so that they may be mentioned in passing. Writing is increasingly informal and people no longer need to worry much about penmanship because font can be chosen with the click of a button online. Writing style on facebook isn’t analyzed unless someone decides to send a love letter.
When one comes to visit a home in the novel, it is for at least a week and also the talk of the town. For example when Harriet stayed with friends on a farm, everyone knew about it. When Emma’s sister comes to visit, the whole town is sure to know. Visitors and guests are a large event and call for rooms to be prepared, dining rooms and meals to be made up and parties to be thrown. 10 miles may as well have been a hundred miles. Emma’s sister lives in London, only sixteen miles away, but is only able to visit about once or twice a year.
Distance was very different in the turn of the 19th century than it is today. If one wants to see relatives, they can make all of their travel arrangements online the day before if they so choose and stay in a nearby hotel the next day. Family visits occur often and are hardly the talk of the city except with immediate family members and close friends. Visits usually last a week at most and people will take their guests out to a nice restaurant for some fine dining, but will most likely not throw a party in the honor.

Citations
Austen, Jane. Emma London: Penguin, 1996. Print.