Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-06-15
Correspondence of the Delaware Gazette. ]
DETRoIF, Mich, June II, 1860.



I think it safe to assert the
existence of considerable human nature in this
world, and-I make bold to add-it especially
abounds where there are the people. One sees
much to attest this sage remark of mine when
travelling. l will give you one phase of this,
since it will at the same time serve to explain
how my third General Conference letter was
spoilt.
When in Buffalo I was thrown in company
with young man who showed many signs of
lunacy, or, in other words, called himself
poet" He wrote continually. If anything
occurred to give a jar to his too ideas, about
twenty d" lines were sure to be " suggested -
and the writer thereof TO offer them to some
body for publication. He prosecuted ne con-
siderably but l kept my gravity and temper to
eommendabe degree. unti,-when on my
way home and during brief stay at Niagara
finding | was writing to you, he outraged
the Falls by an Acrostic," and insuted me
with an offer of the verses for the Gazette.-
The young man will probably never see this
letter, but if he ever should, and refuses to
forgive me until the Muses. give han absolu-
ton, am doomed correspondent.
I have frequently visited the Falls, yet
think never failed to be beset by a score of
men, each of whom was the " best guide !" to
have driver unwilling to accept the stipua-
ted price; to be charged dollar for dinner !;
to find mad artist wasting paint in vain at
tempt to copy the Cataract and to see some
one perpetrating (abominabe) Lines to Nj
agara." Each of these is probable, but the
latter is absolute. The poor Falls and Sus-
pension Bridge must suffer Were I proprie-
tor of the latter. there should be a sign like
this to meet every eye" No smoking or 10ri-
ting poetry Qllolred here :"
Fine train too full of freight and apos-
trophies, too empty of ideas, endanger any
bridge.
What an infatuation some people have for
writing poetry ~. Every grief each tender
twinge of the heart every wedding; each
man who INDUCES the eccentricity of dying
in short any event is signal for sharp pencils
and dull lines. For instance, the Prince of
Wales is coming and how unsuspectingly, tool
Were in his place, I would order my body
guard to challenge every long-haired young
man and every sentimental yoHng lady with
peremptory " At your pcrI!!!" or, before
leaving England would call a council having
'uUhOAIAJ W oO tLN A-Ittlif tAo W
secure prayers Of the church for HE in my try
ing circumstances.
1 indulge hope, Mr.. Editor, that am not
barbarian and that never fail to appreciate
genuine poetry. I love the lines which gnst
right out from the heart of the writer as natu-
rally and sweetly as a song from the soul of
the robin which sings because she can't help
it but who does not abominate sentimental
nonsense which is about enough to make Nj
agara run up stream, or, at least to make
more despera esIeap to escape the scrbbler.-
just think of healthy, sensible idea being
cut off, or stretched out, or bent into rheu-
matte limping stanza and, by poetical license,
called poetry, and the ruthless inquisitor called
poet-think, say, of this and then be thank
ful that the Furies are not first cousins to
the Muses." / have recollection of once
contributing few verses to the Gazette, but I
trust l have repented of that long ago.
We'll, whether right or wrong, this explains
why you have a homily instead of letter.
1rulv F.