The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-08-11
ga PLEASANT VISIT"

1t is circumstance calculated to quicken
the blood perceptibly, to be summoned
before literary committee, for the first
time, but when we got there we found the
committee composed of such a pleasant,
chatty company of cultivated ladies and
gentlemen that we were soon Sauntering
about the cool parlors and laughing and
talking with the gayest of the crowd.
The manuscript WHICH we had offered
with many secret misgivings to this august
committee of solid thinking men and wo-
men, had been read, criticised and accepted,
and the object of the meeting was to con-
fer with the writer about corrections and
terms of publication. These satisfactorily
arranged, the committee repaired to the
dining room, and all partook of a nice,
delicious little supper provided by the gen.
e1osity of the hostess.
We left the Aospitable mansion of DR..
r. about ten o'clock in the evening, fully
impressed with the idea that it is q nice
thing to be Daughter of Bohemia. :"
We must add that the Dr. s wife is Pres-
dent of the committee.
Still we were not happy. Christmas,
our story is to make its bow to that critical
audience, the reading world, in book form.
The readers of The Whig the paper which
received and published our first literary
ventures, long ago, in our early youth,
shall be duly appraised of its title, and it's
Editor presented with copy. Suppose,
though, that awful ogre, the literary critic,
should so hack and thwack our poor brain
child after its publication, that we should
be led to regret that it ever had been
created? We communicated our fears to
literary friend, who informed us confiden-
TALLY that the man who did the literary
reviewing for most of the leading maya
zines of the day was no less parsonage
than r. Shelton Mckenzie who might be
consulted at his residence, in quiet part
of Philadelphia.
Our heart beat audibly as we rang the
bell. Pretty soon an dd-looking little
negro boy opened the door and inquired
what we wanted. We replied that "we
would like to see DR.. Mckenzie few min
utes on business" The small boy then
invited us to walk into the parlor and take
seat, which we proceeded to do. Glanc-
ing along the hall, on our way to the par.
the stair steps, talking to some urchins
who had brought him package which he
was examining. Instantly we OWNED that
this old man was the master of the house,
and so he proved to be.
The door was open, and we distinctly
heard the little negro deliver our message
to the sacan. We also heard his reply
"Tell her to send her name. Must have
her name" Now we reflected on the alb
surdity of complying with this request.
What possible light could an unknown
name like our own throw upon the situa,
ton? Reluctantly we pronounced oul
homely cognomen, resolved inwardly to
change it to something more euphonious,
at the earliest opportunity.
AS soon as he had received the desired
information, Mr.. Shelton Mckenzie entered
the room and greeted us in a bluff, hearty
| manner, which soon set us entirely at our
ease. We soon made known our Grand,
and after some little tall. on business, we
fell to talking upon various subjects con,
! nected with art and literature. The old
gentleman kindly answered our questions,
which with the reportorial instinct we were
| led to ask him. Then he turned laughinglS