The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-08-23
ADVERTISING TERMs.
lF5r the VntOn ROcOrd
Our "SecrettIry" versus "POtts."

Our SccrottAry versus "POtto."
DICKENS never knew our Secretary--at
least, we don't think he did. He never
read the Vinton Record-at least his name
doesn't appear on the subscription list
Neither Of these things is calculated 20
raise the reputation of Dickens. STILL We
don't blame him. It Is his misfortune
rather than his fault. But with both these
disadvantages, he has made one Of, his i'm
mortal characters to be heretofore consld-
cred supreme in that speciality which now
claims our Secretary as Its master.
Potts-immortal Potts-a rival appears
to contest thy empirel There shall be fair
play. The scepter held by thee so long,
shall not be stolen. The lists shall be
cleared and justice be done. Tho "Eaten-
swill Gazette" against the dark corner Of
the Vlnton Recordl Potts, tho immortal,
against our Secretary!
The efforts ofnative genius cannot be too
highly priced. This feeling Of local pride,
highly commendable in ITSELF will make lt
somewhat difficult for the readers OF this
paper to judge dlspassionately US to the
literary merits of the two rivals, and to de-
cide, II necessary, against the ''prlde of the
village" Still, wo willingly submit the
question of their literary merit asking for
Potts, careful perusal, Tho writings Of
our Secretary are too well known to war
rant reproduction: shakespeare never ro-
peats.", And, besides, our blood has scarce
ly ceased to tingle from tho effects Of his
thrilling words.
From the writings Of Potts wo will take
single literary gem. 1t will answer as
we'll as pages, 10 exhibit the beauty and
genius Of his mind, and the literary excel
lence which has made him famous.
We regret that there are no illusions Of
these inspired writers on tho same subject.
Potts undoubtedly belonged to tho Union
party. His style proves it. We have moth
ing, however, from him on the question of
reconstructing the negro. We must take
the gems that have descended TO posterity.
After all 1t Is but o question Of literary
merit. ...
"Be silent that ye may hear"
"The Independent Is still dragging on
wretched and lingering career, abhorred
and despised by even the few who arc cog
nizant Of its miserable and disgraceful ex-
istencc; stined by the very filth 1t so pro-
fusely scatters; rendered deaf and blind
by the exhalations OF Its own slime, tho OBJ
scene journal, happily unconscious Of It's
degraded state, is rapidly sinking beneath
that treacherous mud, which, while 1t seems
; to give 1t firm standing with the low and
debased classes Of society, is, nevertheless,
rising above It's detested head, and will
speedily engulf Il forever"
We offer the above as a fair samplc.--
Many other extracts from the pen Of this
celebrated parsonage might be given, bus
1t Is not necessary. In this You have his
| style, his diction, himself. 1t only now re-
mains to compare It with the late and
well-remembered effuslons Of our secretas
ry. It would be useless to give you ex-
tracts when you know them 80 we'll. But
do not be led by carelessness, Or by tho
hurry OF your enthusiasm, TO do othe Secre-
tary an injustice. Cast your minds eye
back and tell us, II "broyity be tho soul Of
wit" is not our Secretary witty? And,
then, the severe scorn, the stern virtue, the
whitening sarcasm, the reaching for the Of
| tices, simply that the offices might be bot
tered, the gushing patriotism, the INTERIM
Unable sentences, the Pickwickian remarks
and Pecksniflian morality, tho vigor and
terseness Of style, tho compactness Of tho
sentences, and the brllllancy ofthsthoughts,
which combine, in such wonderful propor-
tions, to make up the pure literary gems
which have their setting in the dark cor
ner Of the Vinton Recordl
Ponder and compare well before you de-
eide. Let no local prejudices make you
swerve one hair-brcadth from justice, In
your desire to reward native genius.
We have our opinion. 1t can do no harm
to express it. We may be partial-the in
fluences against which we have warned
you may have effected us-our native pride
may have warped ourjudgement-we don't
know--we think
| ''The Secretary stands alonep
| QUILL.
A.