The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-12-01

1t Is said that Willis new story, " Paul
Fame" about to appear in the Home Journal,
will be reply to Fanny FERNS " Ruth Eall. !"
We are sorry to hear it. We regretted the
nature of Fanny's book. That it should
have been published after she had no need of
the pecuniary remuneration which it would
bring her, SO that she could not plead the ex-
cuse Of an appeal to sympathy TO furnish
bread for herself and children, seemed n
demonstration that she was moved solely by
q fierce vindictiveness. We never doubted
but that facts were frequently distorted and
exaggerated, though most likely there was
abundant reason why her spirit had been SO
torn and wounded, and for that her relations
might have been responsible. But to paint
a father so destitute of every iota Of afiec
ton, even such as the wild beast has for its
offspring a hypocrite, without the least
possible sincerity; as cold, heartless man,
without one generous feeling or one redeem
ing trait; to speak Of a brother whose
writings give abundant evidence to every
candid mind that notwithstanding early van
itv or later Alterations, he has heart alive
to all the finer feelings, sympathetic and sen
sitive,-that she should speak Of him as a
creature of affectation, fashion and formality
altogether, without one lively emotion or
sympathetic quality that she should say all
this of her nearest relations, proving herself
as harsh and maleyolent as they were cold
and heartless, under almost any possible
circumstances, and especially when she was
beyond the need Of aid or sympathy, seems
necessarily uniustifable and almost incredi-
bly, vindictive. That she suffered much, suf
fered deeply and suffered long, it is reasona-
bic to presume, though the whole facts might
perhaps give different color TO even the
was no occasion and no excuse for such
book. And so we were panied at reading it,
and regretted its appearance. But we have
never desired, for the same general reasons,
to see any retort from her brother. OF course
it would not be unreasonable to expect it,
For any person to be so severely excoriated,
and endure public censure in silence, when
that silence itself is so apt for at least the
passing period to be taken as tacit confess
sion of its justice, Is thing which could not
fail to try the spirit of the most philosophi
cal. But we believed that the ultimate iudg-
ment would sink Fanny's book to the level
where it belonged, and qualify all its charg-
es, as inexorable justice demanded, with the
spirit she displayed IN the making Of them
We thought the wiser, calmer course, the
course most honorable TO Willis, and most
likely TO enure 10 his ultimate benefit. would
be to forbear, to suffer. 1t appeared proba-
bic that he had concluded to do so. II would
seem, however, that if he ever did SO con
clude, he lacks the resolution or the fortitude
TO perseyere in il, and however much his
feelings may excuse him, they are no more a
justification 10 him, apparently, than they
were TO Fanny, and nothing can disguise this
bald fact of a brother arraigning sister be-
fore the public bar, exposing, discussing,
and referring to the public Judgment all the
family privaeies, the personal intimacies Of
the pearest relations. There is scarcely
possible palliation FOR all this, and there GER
tAinly cannot be any justification which shall
render il beyond dispute discreet a. proper.
For the stain which it VIII leave upon the
characters Of both, therefore. we regret it
and It Is mainly a mawk. sh curiosity, a scan
dnl-loying spirit, which Viii he gratided by
the consideration OF what either haste say