The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-08-27
A COmicaI Neutral Letter.

The following letter was written by q
gentleman to his son in St. Louis, and was
kindly furnished by him for publication:
"MY DEAR Son: One of the most pleas
ing reflections in my declining years is the
ready obedience which you have always
yielded to my whistles. Your Fathers ad-
vice to you now is, as it was when you en-
listed in the war, namely, to be neutral.
You and l must be neutral--that is to say,
that while we take neither side as side,
we go our length for Greeley and Brown.
This is the genuine thing, my son. 1t is,
in my judgment, the quintessence of neu-
trality. .H.
have lately been much amused at some
of my Democratic friends who appear
anxious to know which side am going to
take in this contest. have uniformly as
sured them that should take neither side
as a side; that if knew myself was per-
fectly neutral, and that should mind my
own business and vote for Greeley and
Brown. Not for the round world, my boy,
would have you think that am attempt
ing to dictate, or in any way to control you
in this matter. have only this to say on
that head. "a .......
You asked me by the last mail to let you
have one hundred dollars to purchase sugi-
cal instruments. will answer your letter
shortly. Meantime, (do you under stand p
/ am neutral, take no side as side, but
swear by Greeley and Brown. They are
my men and am doing all can for them.
/ send you white hat, which is sign and
symbol of our neutrality. I will answer
your hundred dollar letter in good time.
Meantime would like to know how the
Greeley hat fits.
Understand me, my son. Some parents
undertake to control and direct the opin-
ions of their children. This is cruel. 1t
is barbarous. Parents should be neutral
in such matters and leave their children do
as they please All that I find in my heart
to do is to kindly advise you in the premis-
es, and to give you gentle hint-no more.
You inform me that the surgical instru-
ments are necessary, and that you are
unable to purchase them. You therefore,
like good and dutiful son, call upon your
father to aid you.
Certainly you ought to have the instru-
ments. You may soon expect to hear from
me. But, as was saying, am determin-
ed to MAINTAIN my neutral ground and go it
strong for Greeley and Brown. If your
hat is too small, stretch it. You ought to
have those instruments just as certainly as
that am going to vote for Greeley and
Brown.
While not wishing or intending in any
way to influence you in the least, would
remark that ] have just the one hundred
dollars that have no present use for-and
stand on neutral ground-in other words,
am for the Cincinnati ticket against Bal
timore and the field. 1repeat have just
the one numbered to spare that you asked
for Meanwhile would it not be we'll for
you to drop me a line as to how you stand
on the subject? Upon my soul l think it
would.
agree with you that the surgical instru-
ments are necessity. l do not see how
you have done without them SO long. But
my son you must remember that there is
another necessity. 1t is necessary for the
good of our common country that you
should be neutral-that is to say, that you
should initiate the pariotic example of
your father, and vote for Greeley and
Brown.
Indeed, / scarcely know what to do with
that loose hundred dollars. You can write
at your leisure and let me know how you
stand, wish you to exercise your own
Judgment and act as you think best, but
you ought to have those instruments, and
you know where to find me. Your affect
ionate father, oIu4tr ]. b.