Middletown transcript., 1868-09-12
Correspondence Of the lmddletopn Transcript
ODESSA, Sept. II, 1868


ODESSA, Sept. II, 1868
DEAR EDIToR 1t was our intention to
have written you long ago, but concluded
to await our leisure, but seeing one OF two
replies to our last, thought best to let your
readers see that Lucius is not SO frightcn-
cd, that he will let what has been written
suffice.
You will please pardon us if we state,
that there was a slight typographical error
in our former communication. The word
not, in the sentence, "and others if they
make claim to that noble and god-like
qualification would not in their daily walk
and conversation commit falschood,"
should not appear, it should read, would
in their daily walk and conversation COM
nit falsehood.
In reply to Fama's inquiry VIC would
tended: we wrote what we thought were
facts. At least, since we said they were
true, we will still contend for their truth.
We are an order loving people, each at
tending to their own affairs, and leaving
others the opportunity of doing the same.
But our last letter seems to have excl
ted, what we term, the ire of "Qui Viye," !"
of your neighborhood, who strives hard to
make you believe VIC are q wicked and un-
truthful set of mortals in Odessa. Now,
the production of Qui Vive, is from one of
the fair sex man could not have writ
ten it, for it betrays the woman, all
through, and as such l shall treat your
correspondent.
She says Lucius uttcrs many things
hard to be believed, and before the ink of
these words dry, and she has time to
take breath, or at least very long one,
declares that ''he uttcrs but one truth -
things hard to be believed, and but one
truth, all appear in one paragraph-doubt-
ing one minute, certain the next. We
must say, that this exhibits freak in the
disposition of your fair correspondent, that
should, at least, put the young men OF
Middlctown on their guard.
She continues I" think if any of our
young men were perMittcd to have view
Of their toilet, and sec the mass of confu-
sion they leave in going out into company,
&C." These words arc said in reference
to the Odessa ladies'; in reply, allow us,
Miss Qui Vive, to remark that we have al
ways thought it unfair to " measure our
neighbors corn with our own bushcl."
The mass of confusion Of which you speak
may be found in your room, on those Ger
tain occasions, but does that make it true
in other cases? Because Miss Qui Vive
uses powder, paint, and rouge, does it
prove that other ladies do the same? But
admit she does not Judge others by her
self, she must have been in Odessa and
peeped into those little private retreats
where our ladies arrange their toilet, ci-
thor by invitation or otherwise. If by
invitation, she must be a betraycr Of con-
fidence. She assuredly is not acting in
good faith towards the parties who exten-
uatcd their hospitality, to make public
those little Irregularities. If not by invi-
5 tation, the otherwise must be. Then it is
plain that she must have been in our town
on peeping expedition, watching an OPP
portunity to peep into the drcssing-rooms
of our ladies, just as they had left fol
l company Which of these positions die
: you occupy, Miss Qui Vive? If the lat.
t ter, would advise our ladies to organize
forthwith, vigilance committee, to atten
e lively watch their domicils, for fear of the
| intrusion of all such suspicious characters
/ who may visit our town in the future.
3 Ladies of Odessa, look well to this mat
e ter your inward adornings e. grace anc
e meckness") are in danger; your outward
e adornings will be discovered and mad,
+ known to the young men Of our neighbor
ing town.
e $50 you have literary characters
= wonder when they show forth" 70,
e wonder, Miss Qui Vive, who know tha
b Lucius cutters but one truth" and " al
C he says is hard to be believed" 70,
r wonder, who knows the exact condition 0
, our ladies' rooms, preparatory to their ap
It pearance in company You wonder, VIII,
d know call thoughts, all maxims, sacrcc
and profane." Where your omniscience
where your omnpresence, that you shoulc
= wonder? If there are ''lterary charac
q ters" among us, and they 50 ever shoy
forth, " you, above all others, should knoy
: it., and consequently should leave the wort
;: g wonder" to be used by those, who's
!. knowledge does not comprehend so much
J, who arc content to know themselves, an,
wonder at the doings of others. But sup
+; pose we should say, that IN looking owe
that lengthy article from Lucius," W
should not find the assertion, that we hay
= literary characters among us, but on til
7, other hand, find that he claims more tha
!; ordinary intelligence; how then
l. To refer to the entire letter of Qui Vivc
r. would make ours too long, consequently
7, Mr. Editor, if this should appear in tn
}, columns of your valuable paper, we wi
i continue the subject in your next issue.
:; Respectfully, sc.
+. LUCIUS