Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-26
Bunker Hill.
To the Editors Of the Independent

10 Le EdAoTs 81 INC lndependeM
Young Stuckey, Raney & Co /;
a classical group destined to win
enduring fame-but for what? 1t
is nightfall. They are alone, and
the midnight lamp emits a lurid
light. Pens are in their hands and
the proverbs, Shakespeare, a pri-
mary gIammer and a yellow back
ed spelling book lie open on the
stand. Fire is in their eyes, and
passion in their souls. A storm of
inspiration beats above them, .Aa
great thoughts are striking on
their brain. They feel all the full
ness of their story. The rules Of
language pl)ve a burden. and bid
ding the injunctions of the old
grammer defiance they fling the
tumultuous image O., their suSrg-
ing spirits into living words along
the page. But bark! What is
cordant sound is that breaking on
the midnight? My friend suggests
"the cror ing of a frog'-nothi~ -
more. -
Mr.. Stuckey & Co., think /
sought to create an impression I'M
favorable to their reputation for
truthfulness. Judging them from
the infallible marks found in their
productions, one or two things
AUST be true. They are either
willful liars or woefully ignorant.
If their error springs from igno-
rance, then they seem presump-
tdods in q degree that renders Sol
omon's epithet uncomfortably ap-
plicable. Judge we which horn of
the dilemma is longest.
They seem ~displeased because I
did not answer them paragraph
ically. Do they suppose me to be
ignorant of that expressive though
inelegant proverb: off you lie
with dogs you will get up with
feas." Propose to select my COM
pany. Had I never heard of this
/ should know that it would be
unadvisable to fire off a swamp
angel at a tom-tit. It would be q
~senseless waste of ammunition,
The young men consider me i'm
pertinent in the little attentions /
have paid them. Solomon will
teach them that it cannot be con-
sidered impertinent to rebuke q
fool or to kick a dog. 1t is not i'm
pertinent in q vain ungentlemanly
youth to offer a foul base insult to
an honorable and universally re-
spected gentleman like Mr.. Balm,
and that too Withous the slightest
p~rovoCation. Shame on you. You
have earned and received the con-
tempt of every true gentleman.
In concluding the essay to offer
some advice. remember the story
OF Baalam and his beast, But
who'd have thought that the ''crit-
tur'' would have ever found it's
way into the hills surrounding
Pitzer's Chapel, to disturb the
peace and quiet of the people with
its mellifous bray.
Now Mr.. Rugby, hereafter when
you feel the inspirations of an au-
thor coming on, you will do well
to speak your own piece,
We felt sure after only casue"-
observing the young man, of his
imcompetency to produce any
thing, even of the most puerile
character. We were not surp4.aod
therefore, When we learned that he
| was nothing more than the cats
paw, used by the monkey in pull
ing the chestnuts out of the fire.
And thou too Brutus! !" Mr..
Raney may be under only the
slightest obligation to me, yet we
+! think it sufficient to have restrain
| ed an honorable man from particle
patiug in an attack so entirely I'M
provoked and uncalled for as that
made on Mr.. Balm and myself.
now leave them that they may
enjoy the pleasant reflections at
tending the conviction of having
distinguished themselves. E.ceunt.
Respectfully,
A. J. GILL.
Bunker Hill. Aug. 81. 1876.