The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-11-02
"PILGRIM's PRoGRESs.',

whether you will print any thing writ
ten by a Republican" but L suppose
you will not be so exclusive as to all
"Republicans," for you must remem-
ber that some Of us voted for you at
the late election. At any rate | ven
ture to send you few words written in
defence Of Old Southampton. Not
that Southampton needs any defence,
for she is proof against attack upon the
virtue and intelligence Of her citizens.
As for her politics, / have nothing to
say; her people think for themselves,
and / will not quarrel with them even
for doing that. But I was grieved,
nay, felt outraged at several articles
in the Bedford Inquirer, of last week,
imputing ignorance to our people, and
exhibiting spirit Of spitefulnesS dis
graceful to any public journal in this
enlightened age. One of these articles
is a communication over the signature
of Pilgrim" which undertakes to
Caricature the habits, the education and
the religion of the folks in this region.
This wandering philosopher, this ram
bling epitome of all that is great and
learned and pious and noble, saw ''no
thriving villages-no neat cottages''-
"no temple of prayer" &c. Why, as
for "thriving villages" there are just
about as many of them in Southamp-
ton, as there are in Monroe, or East
Providence, or Hopewell, each of which
Is, no doubt, considered by "Pilgrim, y
a perfect Paradise of Republican" in
telligence and piety; as for cottages, !"
we compare favOrably, at least, with
"TeXas," the western end Of Bedford
borough, where / am told the body of
the "Republican" vote Of that borough
is located; and as for temples Of pray
err lin our simplicity we call them
churches, but, then, we haven't gone to
free school yet | need only call the
attention0f those who have visited our
township to this uncalled-for libel, to
ensure its refutation. The beauty Of
Ourladies, says this virtuOus Pilgrim" F."
was Of style that had no charms for
him. No, presume not. Their style
wasn't copied from that of some Of his
nocturnal associates in the alleys Of his
own town. Nirtuous beauty could have
nocharms for a fellow like him. "The
waIking-machines called men, were of
every hue" says "Pilgrim." Not
quite, gentle sir. None Of them are
black, ory0u would not have been quite
so severe upon them, foryou wouldn't,
of course, abuse those with whom you
associate. But, Mr.. Pilgrim, you talk
about education, decaying school-hOus-
6, &c. Pray, whore did you get your
education? What seminary of learn
ing is honored with your great name
upon itsroll Of students? upon what
food has this our Caesar fed that he has
grown so great ," If you have been
to free school, we don't want the sys-
tenn in Southampton. Why, you don't
know the simplest rudiments of Eng
lish Grammar, witness the following
sentence: "Scenes of grandeur, visions
of beauty rose before him, but when
he awoke 1t was gone" Yes, "it was
gone" that is, 'the scenes Of grandeur
was gone" 1.-THE visions Of beauty was
gonew Now, aren't you ashamed of
yourself. Any Of those boys whom
you saw wearing natures own moe
casins, blue and bloodIess," could teach
you to write better English than that.
Next time you send a communication
to the L7q,iirer, tell the editors to cor
rect your mistakes, that is, if they can
do it, for apprehend they are as great
asses as yourself. I'll wager a pound
Of snake-r0ot that | can select a dozen
men from both political parties in this
township, who can write better hand,
compose an article with fewer gram
matical errors, spell more correctly, do
more difficult mathematical problems,
than either you or the editors of the
inquirer. | will pit either Of the Don
ahoes and Clay Lashley against the
best OF you. Now, | have done, except
this, if you want any "Republican''
votes hereafter in southampton tp.,
you must treat Us with ut least com
mon decency. HOMESPUN.
Cheneysville, Oct. 30, 1866.