最早的著名分手信（Dear John letter）之一是艾格尼丝·冯·库洛夫斯基（Agnes von Kurowsky）于1919年写给欧内斯特·海明威（Ernest Hemingway）的。信件内容如下。
Ernie, dear boy,
亲爱的厄尼：
I am writing this late at night after a long think by myself, & I am afraid it is going to hurt you, but, I'm sure it won't harm you permanently.
深夜里，我独自思索了很久，才写下这封信。我知道这些话可能会让你难过，但我相信，这不会让你长久地受伤。
For quite awhile before you left, I was trying to convince myself it was a real love-affair, because, we always seemed to disagree, & then arguments always wore me out so that I finally gave in to keep you from doing something desperate.
在你离开前的好一阵子里，我一直试着说服自己，我们之间是一段真正的恋情。可事实上，我们似乎总是意见不合，每次争执都让我筋疲力尽，最后我只好妥协 —— 只为阻止你做出冲动的事。
Now, after a couple of months away from you, I know that I am still very fond of you, but, it is more as a mother than as a sweetheart. It's alright to say I'm a Kid, but, I'm not, & I'm getting less & less so every day.
如今，离开你已有几个月，我清楚自己依然很喜欢你，但这份感情更像母亲对孩子的疼爱，而非恋人之间的爱恋。或许你会说我还是个孩子，可我早已不是了，而且每一天，我都越来越不再像个孩子。
So, Kid (still Kid to me, & always will be) can you forgive me some day for unwittingly deceiving you? You know I'm not really bad, & don't mean to do wrong, & now I realize it was my fault in the beginning that you cared for me, & regret it from the bottom of my heart. But, I am now & always will be too old, & that's the truth, & I can't get away from the fact that you're just a boy - a kid.
所以，孩子（在我心里，你永远都是那个孩子），你有一天能原谅我无意间欺骗了你吗？你知道我本性不坏，也并非有意犯错。如今我才明白，一开始让你对我产生好感，是我的错，我也发自内心地为此后悔。但我现在年纪太大了，以后也永远会是这样，这是不容否认的事实。而且我无法回避：你还只是个男孩 —— 一个孩子。
I somehow feel that some day I'll have reason to be proud of you, but, dear boy, I can't wait for that day, & it was wrong to hurry a career.
我总觉得，总有一天我会有理由为你骄傲。但亲爱的孩子，我等不到那一天了，而且当初催着你打拼事业，本就是不对的。
I tried hard to make you understand a bit of what I was thinking on that trip from Padua to Milan, but, you acted like a spoiled child, & I couldn't keep on hurting you. Now, I only have the courage because I'm far away.
那次从帕多瓦去米兰的路上，我努力想让你明白一点我的心思，可你表现得像个被宠坏的孩子，我实在不忍心一直让你难过。如今，我之所以有勇气说出这些，只是因为我身在远方。
Then - & believe me when I say this is sudden for me, too - I expect to be married soon. And I hope & pray that after you thought things out, you'll be able to forgive me & start a wonderful career & show what a man you really are.
另外 —— 请相信我，这件事对我来说也很突然 —— 我很快就要结婚了。我希望并祈祷，等你想清楚之后，能原谅我；也希望你能开启一段出色的事业，证明你真正的担当。
Ever admiringly & fondly,
永远怀着欣赏与疼爱，
Your friend,
你的朋友，
Aggie
艾吉
