Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-12-22
Spirit of getfrrsoll.
CharlestOWn. Jefferson County, West Va.
TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER %, 1874.
LETTER FROM MARFINsBURG.
MAnr1xsBURo, W. Va, Dec. 6. 1874.

MART1NsBURG, W. Va, Dec 6. 1874.
To The E,lit0r of the Spirit Of jefferson
DEAR SIR The Martinsburg Indcpendent
has recently been favoring the organization of
a Lecture Association, whose duty it would
be to engage some of our prominent lecturers
to assist in Willing away the long winter even
iDgs Thinking that the people of this place
were interested in the same project, l men
toned through the Independent the names of.
several eminent lecturers, among whom were
those of Wendell Phillips, Josh Billings
(EIenry W. Shaw, Eli Perkins (Mslville D.
Loudon), Mark Twain (SamucI L. Cemens)
and John Doherty. The Statesman, we'll,
written paper, published in this town, mis-
experimenting my motive, took note of my
suggestion in such sarcastic tone that one
would suppose | were about to steer second
"May Flower" up the Opequeon treighted
with another cargo of .Purltans There are
very few SOutherners who follow lecturing
professionally. Father Ryan, the poet priest
Of the South. would be out of the question
Mrs. Webb, who calls herself the SOuth's
own poetess, lectured last winter to crowded
houses in the North but she, understand,
has retired from the platform We have no
Southern humorists. Who. then, of Southern
birth, will lecture us? Can we prevail on
some of ou. Southern statesmen-Andrew
johnson or Alexander Il. Stevens to visit US
IF so, let US forthwith engage them.
[ say engage talent, whether it was Eostered
among the picturesque hills of New England,
on the grass-g grown plains of the West, or in
the tobacco fields of the South.
Why should we cherish this mnlevolent
spirit of animosity towards one another be.
cause our birth places happened to be in the
North or South We have given away to
the spirit of hatred long enough, both in the
North and South. Let US throw the mantle
of charity over the gaping chasm that the
shock of discord has disclosed to our trembling
gaze.
We have had our Henry Clays and CAL
houns. The name of the man would be exc
Grated that could have closed the doors of
Faneuil Hall on those men because they were
of Southern birth:
Josh Billings and Eli Perkins are men
whose writings drive dull care from our fires
sides in every part of the Union. still no one is
interested in the question whether they hail
from the North or South. They speak to us
through tic medium of papers; what wonld
be Objectionable in their speaking to US face
to face?
Mark Twain is not Puritan, though he
now lives in Hartford, hut first saw the light
of day on the Pac 6c slope.
JOHN Doh"rty has not drop of Puritnnical
blood to chill the warm Irish American iuid
that flows to and from his generous heart
His political career is such as his Irish fellow
citizens profess all over the world
Wendell Phillips public life is the mirror
of kind heart, though his views are radically
opposed to many of ours. I am sure that he
would he too courteous to hurt our feelings
by revcrting to the unpleasantness of our past
or to the probability of our future career.
Yours, sincerely,