The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-23
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This n,i,i;aa.;. o1HS
known fact in Chincse M ~
that the King who built the c. IN 20aii
was so inflated with vanity that n
that none ought to aspire torenoWn cxceuk
himself. Accordingly, he gathered sll is
prominent pcrsonagcs Of his kingdom, and
buried them aRue. conclude that the sen.
complaceat writer OF. my obituary has
rightcously decrecd that the world b too
limited to contain two individualsofN N1srssy
aspirations. As sagacious cxpcdient for
Kidding the territory Of what his Jealousy
conceived to be rival, he commits me,
while yet alive, to the dust.
The studied praise with which the article
is toned, falls with grating dissonance upon
my heart. 1t is bestowed, fear, IN inlta-
tion of a custom which once prevailed In
the famous school of Crotona. Il vas !
rule there that if any aspirant for learning
was declared unworthy by the great teacher,
he was banished, and pompous funeral
service performed; after which, costly
tombstone was erected to his memory. Il
occurs to me that the author Of my death
having, like Pythagoras, assumed the rod
of empire in the world of letters, decided
that / was unworthy, and concluded TO
Danish me. To make the resemblance COM
plcte, he writes my epitaph and sings my
honors. 80,
1t is of course impossible for me to say
who is tho author of the article. / only
know that some weeks ago / received .
letter'of learned length from certain
gentleman well known in the town. II was
an artful trap, baited with honied fattcry,
to decoy me from the shadow Of conceal
mcnt. Inasmuch as it gained no reply, it
is possible that he decided to do what no
informed me he had previously thought Of
doing, viz: :" Write an obituary notice Of
my demisc." na, ~
If the gentleman in question Is not tho
author, nc will excuse my suspicion. II
he is, then he has my good wishes In re.
turn for his bdclchanded assault upon me.
/ see no wit in the obituary. Had Il
appeared in the Dispatch, II would have
seemed graceful method Of recalling mo
from my silence. Its publication in an.
other paper gives it very different aspect,
especially as / rarely see the paper In
which it appeared. There is one comfort
left me have lived to read my own
obituary, and, paradoxical as it may seem,
to enjoy the benefits of p0sthum0uS fame.
This is a suitable time for referring to
another matter. In the same number Of
the Times, the Manchester reporter makes
most ungenerous allusion to myself. He
remarks, while detailing the weekly re-
ligious status of our town, that the minis.
tiers are greatly beloved, and tho people
are thoroughly church going, !" Struggle to
the contrary Notwithstanding"
Ashes of Nero, defend met What have
r 70. r,tl lnrs soh
to religious prejudice against mei Most
respected reporter, tell you that ! am
not "to the contrary" Against the re-
ligious character Of the ministers and pe0-
pie of this blessed city, / have never penned
a syllable. My heart supplies no motive
for doing such thing. l do not feel
called upon to assert the infallibility of the
Manchester diyincs, or the thorough sane
tiiication of the people. At the same time
l cherish no feeling of hostility to any,
and, least of all, would assail those whose
holy duty it is "to' allure to brighter
worlds and lead the way"
If the reporter imagines that will CON-
promise my independence as writer by
assisting him in the trade Of universal ad.
miration, he is wrong. Whatever seems
worthy Of commentator, / VIII; On q Qc
casions, notice favorably. II is, however,
far from my taste and purpose to bespsttef
with fulsome praise everything, from the
building of a scale shed to the lending of
picture.
In parting with these assailants, who, for
some reason, selected the Times as the me.
dium for shifting the character Of an hum.
bic girl, whose only crime Is the ambitious
hope of gaining reputation as O. writer, /
have only to say that / am done. Here.
after they may cross-ire at me to their
hearts exceeding joy, with the full assu.
rance that l shall make no reply. Expe.
ricnce has taught me that controversy with
and nobody at the same time is
. thriftless trade. Drive ahead, gentle.
men; the road is clear.
The public must excuse this letter.
only illustrate that I am human wien
writhe under the persecution of malice
and SANDER. SrRUaGLE.
P. ST. am pleased to announce that
,ur streets are immensely improved. For
his, am told that the credit is due to
our Trustees. Whether they were inAu-
cnced in thus mcnding our walk-ways bys
respect for the wishes of the people,. or s
wish for the respect of the people Just at
his time, is question for casuists to set.
10. 1t may be that this Is an attempt on
heir part to pdUe their way to reelection
I so, it is unquestioaably noble In them.
H0r by the Yay, that sn important 4