Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-30
G0rrssnonSeNts. O.
Correspondence OF the American.
"RUTE TALL"

dernnation of Ruth Hail." by few
editors of distinction, is only another
evidence that even genius itself cannot
escape the storm of criticcl wrath un-
les the fear and truc-lent respect Of
all rich relations ere continually be.
fore the eyes and on the heart of its
possessor.
1t is but seldom my domestic duties
will allow me to read any books of this
class-and I took up Ruth Hall to look
through it because such men as "John
Smith," one of your talented, but,
think. old fashioned contributors. and
House, of the Advocate, who, in many
respects, is sprightly and spicy wri-
ter, are down on the work. With
Fanny Fern, | had only scattering
newspaper acquaintance, and of course
was not very partial to her fame. OF
intimate with her literary bantlings.
But non as / have read the book, ]
must try to demvr in the position as
sumed by the above named gentlemen,
and all others of their GLASS. For il
works of fiction are really Of public
utility, then may we have some hope
of the good to be accomplished by the
beautifully written work Of Ruth
Hall.
The Iron hearted" affection OF
fathers who are living in the hey-day
Of their second marriage-the scan
ming soullessness and inpoverishing
guardianship of "kindred-in-law," to.
gether With the collar-starched. time
serving, world-souled brothers made
many Ruth Hall" in the dreari-
ness of her poverty-pinched solitude,
feel that
"Loye has stricken out her name,
And while her blood runs hot through
Llfe's red avenues, no heart
Is thinking on her."
Yes, even John Smith says the au-
thor of Ruth Hall "has very bad
heart" Oh! John, how could your
Why even in your bachelor days you
had more soul about you. Has that
"little wife" so far warped you to the
"perental" side. as to havefyou stand
up against "tbe widow" in her power
ty. her repulsiops. and almost death
struggles? Shame on you'll | have
hopeo better things at your hands,
Indeed ] had some reason to hope
You have often spoken Of the poor
but then perhaps you did not mean
",cido,cs" with little starving children
-perhapss you only thought those
poor who have no rich relationship
wealthy father-no DR.. Halls and
Mrs. Halls and Hyacinths among Their
kindred. Ahl John, have seen just
such skinAint economy in mani fesi
affection often, very often in my ram.
blings.
Yesl no,c | have IL. / have no doubt
IL Ruth Hall had been "white mig.
GER" like they say "Ida May" was,
though I haven, reed the ore,-then
John Smith, and Mr.. House, and the
whole regiment Of oaptious! 'puritans.
II don't know how TO call hard names
maiieiously,) J would have seen thou
sand beauties In the book. and Ruth
Hall. tho widow, would have been
"salted down. and preserved eiieclu'
ally by the tears OF their rarlfed
humanity, and old DR.. Hall, Mrs
Hall, Mr.. Ellitt and tho periumed
dandy brothe, Hyaeinth would have
heen deemed worthy only Of an inia'
nous Immortality with the Legrees ol
Uncle Tom notoriety.
Indeed this Ia too much the way
with the piom sympathy of many an
thinking souls almost everywhere
For at this very hour. dear reader
while you are running over these
lines. there are "Ruth Halls" with
their little "Katys' and shrcwd little
"Hettys" all around you. And man,
of them have rich relations too
Rich relationsl What a curse! Wha
a mockery! They are often the frs
to oppose you and almost always th'
last to help you. And then fyou are
like Ruth Hall. able to help yourself
get up in the world without their sym
pathy. Ohlthen it is "Cousin Ruth
how have you been? Ihave been al
most dead to see you. Why are yo,
so unsociable? Ialways want my re
lations to be as one Of the family
Hem! Hem How lite and how shal
iow is this contemplate trickery of hu
man pride and human meanncss.-
Even editors, rs the observer will dis
cover by reading Ruth Hall, are no
impervious to the 'ilattering JUNCTION.
With.them'a book pulled ifit willpoy
and men are eulogized with aprofu
sion of "soit SOAP" If they carry 9Th,
tin" or hold forth from the "loft,
eminence." Of some popular Office
while
"Many nowcs Is born 10 blush unseen,
Aud waste H. sweetness In the desert air,
And the worthy and valiant "poor,
who are struggling amid the whit