The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-02-25 00:00:00, page 3

tliensome i in short, none hardly to so
much effect as to remind me of what
remorse I have previously had the mis
fortune to undergo. iVIy thoughts,
though, have been brought into a nu
merous train of disagreeable reflections
Concerning your apparent reluctance of
communication ; neither can I rest sa
tified with inducements to believe that
some individuals have been using false
exertions to blow a coldness in your
breast concerning me, and would be ex
tremely sorry ever to experience it ef
fectually the case. Mvself can freely’
assert, that my' affections towards myr
friends will not decrease on account of
hearing reports asserted for truth, by' a
stranger, until I receive a more substan
tial proof of the facts. Yet it might ob
tain sufficient hold on my mind to cause
doubts entertained : so conclude with
flhortlv expecting to receive some fa
vourable news from under your hand,
W'nich doubtless would be an inexpres
sible satisfaction to me, who is ever de
sirous of attaining a courteous benevo
lence with every individual.
Ever acknowledging myself
affectionately your friend,
W-3-.
This xvas compiled by thy friend as a
tetter of friendship, and procured from
the press 20 copies, thinking it too much
trouble to xvri'e so many. Adieu.
For the Wheeling Repository.
Mr. Printer,
Since you hive printed the remarks
of my brother i owser,I am encouraged
to offer a few words lor th • Repository.
I do not altogether approve Towser’s
observations ; for I think lie has rather
undervalued the canine family. Dogs,
like men, are of v arious grades. There
is a species of noisy curs, who are arrant
cov. ai ds at he*art, that very frequently
kick up a racket in the street. Upon
the slightest noise the v raise their bris
tles, growl, and shew their teeth ; but at
the first appearance of danger, they clap
thy ir tails betw ixt their legs, and run un
der their masters feet for protection.
I will not dispute hut that the gentle
men who kicked upth< u dog-like” racket
mentioned by Towser, may be likened
to this description of curs : but to say
they resemble the “ bravest of the ca
m ic race,” is a gross libel upon the
tyholc family. (
Mankind are rather partial to their
own species, and generally are very de
licate about exposing their misconduct.
"1 owarcl our family they act very differ
ently. Indeed, if a dog plays the fool,
he scarcely ever escapes a kicking. Not
so with man. He may degrade his na
ture, and play the buffoon, in safety.
Nay, he may commit the grossest folly,
and be applauded.—Not long since, I
heard a man offer to bet, that on a cer
tain day his wife would be delivered of
twins ; and he particularized, with the
grossest indelicacy, the circumstances
upon which he grounded his opinion.
This unseemly conversation took place
in a public tavern, and the bvestanders
laughed heartily at this degradation of
their species. If a dog had done any
thing so unbecoming his character, it is
ten to one that the cry of mad-dog would
have been raised against him, and the
poor creature stoned to death.
A few Sundays ago, my master at
tended divine service, and, as is custom
ary, I slipped in at his heels. My at
tentio > was at first arrested by the con
duct of the children. One stalked about
the house ; another traipsed out at the
door ; and a third bawled as though it
i • ^ _ r. rn. i . i ii
would go into tits. 1 hey kept the whole
house in confusion; yet no person paid
any attention to them: hut no sooner did
two or three puppies kick up a racket
in one corner, than they were pelted out
of the house without mercy. Those peo
ple who had taken no pains to teach
good manners to their children, seemed
to expecta proper deportment from these
poor puppies, and thought them deserv
ing ol chastisement because no better
tired than their masters.
I noted the fate of the puppies, and
determined to conduct myself after the
manner of some respectable person. I
observed a young gentleman leaning a
gainst a post, w hom I knew' to he a man
of vast, importance and profound depth
of thought. I knew also that he piqued
himself upon the correctness of his mo
ral deportment. I therefore determined
to imitate him as close as possible. He
stared lull in the preacher’s face, and
occasionally relaxed his gravity into a
very wise kind of a simper; and once or
twice, when the speaker expressed him
selt w ith peculiar earnestness, hebrokt
out into a broad grin. Every body was
silent. I therefore concluded, that this
he! laviourwas extremely devout and be
coming. I accordingly sought a conspi
cuous place in front of the pulpit,placed
iwy9elf on my bottom, fixed my ears in
a listening posture, collected all the wis
dom I was -master of into my counte
nance, and gazed full in the preacher’s
face. The first time he raised his voice,
I gave a gentle yelp, to indicate my ap
probation ; when, behold 1 I was imme
diately saluted with a kick in the chops,
which laid me sprawling on the floor.
I gathered myself up as quick as possu
hi'and slunk into a corner, to bewail
my folly in taking this wise-looking
goung gentleman for my model.
Now, Mr. Printer, I think I have
just grounds to complain of the treat
ment I received upon this occasion. I
cannot see why this Christian gentleman
might gaze, and simper, look wise,
and grin, without being rebuked, whilst
a poor heathen dog was kicked over for
imitating him. But it has been hinted
to me, that this is the way of the world.
Your bucks and gentlemen, whose con
duct ought to be an example to other
people, frequently cut capers with im
punity, for which a common man would
be severely prosecuted. This is very
unjust; for how are we to regulate our
conduct, unless by the example of our
superiors ? Correction should begin in
the highest ranks. If, in my case, the
grinning young gentleman had been pro
perly rebuked,! should have understood
that his conduct was improper. But my
chastisement had no effect upon him.
he kept his position, simpered and
grinned as before, and no doubt went
home big with the concoit, that his very
important and consequential conduct
had embarrassed the preacher, and ex
cited the approbation of the audience.
I could enumerate many other in
stances of the mal treatment received
by our f.«mily, for imitating the “Lords
of creation but I do not wish to take
up too much of your time at our first ac
quaintance. If you give me proper en
couragement, 1 shall again resume this
subject, and endeavour to demonstrate
the folly of expecting dogs to be wiser
and more prudent than their masters.
JOWLER.
B. Row, February 22d, 1808.
Anecdote.
A gentleman having observed in com
pany, that a deceased friend, a lawyer
had left behind him very few effects—
1 can readily believe it, said a female
wit present; he had very few causes.