, 1874-03-28
d E P A r. RE S.
To the Editor of the St. Croix Avis.

To the Editor of the St. Croix Avis.
Dear Sir,
1t is now nearly 3 months since you
began your career as an Editor, during which
time | have followed your management of The
paper with a certain interest which, aside from
personal considerations, the goal you, as l
am convinced, are aiming at, is sufficient TO
excite. Although the time past is in my opini-
on toe short 10 form any correct notion Of
the good that may be effected through your
irstrumentality, still one hears from different
sides, and in various manner, Judgment pro-
nounced both in your favour aud the reverse,
but especially the latter. In 50 far as some do
not find the Avis sufficiently replete with
matter to suit thefr-I am almost tempted TO
say morbid-taste, or that it does not come
up to their expectations, is a sad circumstance
which may, perhaps, be attributed to those
expectations having been greater than was
warranted by the circumstances. Ifnow you
ask me, as | expect you will do, what then
are the objections raised against your paper
and thereby, of course, against yourself, I
can only reply that, they are Of a very varied
nature, as would be expected from the different
character Of the reading public. Some think
you are too Sparing with leading articles, and
if You ask such parties why then they do not
beStir themselves and supply the deficiency if
there be any, by sending you their valuable
contributions, for which your paper is open,
you meet with a shrug Of the shoulder. EX~
cuseS are not wanting on such occasions, / can
assure you: Every one has enough to do
with his own business in these hard times;
the Editor ought to be at the Government,
and this latter should make the rain fall and
"the fish pot" 1t would be wrong, however,
not to hasten to say, to the honour OF the
community, that such "~grumblers" are the
exception, and that the more cousiderate, those
who can see the difficulty of the present
situation, form the rule. But we have many
who delight rather much in finding fault gene
rally, with the authorities and with inlivi-
duals, with the press and every thing. If you
would fill the paper with that sort of thing,
as have no doubt you could, the people |
here alIude to would be better satisfed-for
the moment The other things you bring to
market in your paper, they say they need not
read there; that can be had in other, cheaper
papers.
Considering the above, l would most earnest
ly recommend You, Mr.. Editor, to study
more carefully and attentively 1.-The art of
pleasing every body" But'perhaps you will
insist ON my teaching you said art in that case
you had better not publish my letter, as !
nave IOHS ago, since Tie udyS Vi my gI6eHeSb
youth, given up the attempt to learn it myself,
and putting all joking aside, l think that the
way you have begun your work will prove the
most beneficial to us all in the long run.
The more considerate and dispassionate,
who do not act on the impulse of the moment
will be the men who will be on your side.
With the others l think you can dispense, if
your object is, as l have understood your pro-
gramme, to nave the satisfaction of seeing some
fruit of your work. There is much good work
to be done, but let us have every thing in its
time, without, however, displaying quite so
much mastery inactivity" as some of our
Council Committees are distinguished for.
Again, how many cases are not preliminarily
discussed and awaiting the action of the Supe-
rior Authority to be again brought before the
Council and be again discussed in the Press,
if discussion could set the matter right? The
meetings of the Council have been scarcer of
late, but its time will presumably soon come,
and then the Budget will give ample oppoftu-
nifty for discussion both in the Council and in