Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-05
To the Editors offhe Richmond Compiler.
THE ART OF BORROWINGS!

| have been for many years, and am 'now, a
constant reader Of YOUR paper. 1t IS one that
suits me and my occupation, and with which
am much pleased. I should like TO continue
reader of it still, but find it impossible, as long
ss remain in my present neghborhood, to DO 1t
in peace. As sooE as your paper is within sight
Of NV house, and before can open 1t, in comes
"a servant, with "Mr d. says will you be kind
enough to lend him your paper few moments,
he will return it directly" / of course cannot
refuse to lend it to ne,ghbor. Though cannot
do It willingly, yet rather than offend neighbor
must consent to lend it. Long before MIR. ID.
returns 1t. and before can wash and dress my
self. in pops little boy with, ''my father says
Mr.. T. will oblige him by lending him the morn.
ing's paper for few moments" my son."
says l, ''te your father my paper as usual is lent
out. aside: wish my good neighbors would
subscribe to the paper. and not harrass me SO
mush) Tell your father when my paper Is re-
turhed he shall have it with pleasure"
This, Messrs. Editors, is the way am tor
mented all day, and it is very seldom that l can
get chance to peruse my paper till the alter
noon. Cannot you, Messrs. Editors, point out
sumo method by which can get rid OF these news
paper borrowers without leaving my neighbor-
hood, or stopping my pa pera-The latter should
dislike very much to do, but would willingly do
the former it thought should not get into .ano-
Their equally as bad.
! MY neighbors, l know, are as able as am to
take your paper-many more So Who 1t that
cannot give six dollars for paper year. and
who would not do it if they knew how exceed
ipglv disagreeable it 10 to be plagued every morn
| ing in the manner that am!
| I would ask of all borrowers of newspapers what
difference there is between borrowing newspa-
per and going INTO stoe and asking the mer-
chant to lend you new pocket handkerchleis-
BY the way, a scene took place in my presence
which strikes me as very sppropos in this CASE
h! | was standing before ms door one morning, and
two members Of the Legislature came ont of their
! boarding house from breakfas one OF rhe gen
/ tlemen had tooth-pick made of goose quill;
the other standing by asked him while picking
his teeth to be so good as to lend it to him, the
other gentleman instead Of lending him the whole
pick, spill, it in half and gave him one half OF it.
! Just so with the newspaper borrower; he wishes
| to borrow the paper even before the owner has
opened it and read its contents. cannot be
quite so obliging as the member OF the Legisla-
! ture; must either lend the whole or positively
refuse. for | cannot well tear my paper and lend
nv neishbor half oft.
| If YOU. Messrs. Editors, will advise me how
to get rid of these borrowers, without offending
them, shalt not leave my neighborhood or stop
your paper, but still continue punctual paymas-
| ter and we'll satisfied READER.
Wepublish the following Letter, anonymouus-
lv as it came to cur hands from the Post Office on
tuesday last, chiefly to apprize the writer that
the enclosure was daily received. We have not
the least idea from whom the letter comes: but,
az it is twenty two years come next September,
since Mr.. Smith ceased to be the Editor OF this
paper. it must be admitted that the writer has a
good memory as well as tenderlconscience:
Nnt,onoJ INF