Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-03-26
For the SPECTATOR,

For Inc SPECTATOR.
NEAR Mt. TABOR, VA, March 20, 1878.
Mr.. Editor will you allow me space
in your columns to correct some misstate-
ments made in communication, in
your last issue, over the signature of
Guesthename? docs he mean guess
the-,adnae? I will not try. Let me be
in blissful ignorance of that name, that
will impose such libel upon the work
of our lamented Webster-)
Now really, from the very careless
manner in which Guesthename handles
the truth must infer that he deals very
seldom in that commodity. In the first
place he is altogether wrong in regard
to the challenge. 1t sOas giUer by As'-
Dor HUI, and L may as well add that the
boasting too was done by that same self
sufficient party. Then too their recep-
ton was polite, according to the general
ly received notions of etiquette, ifnot cor
dial-several members of Gravelly Hills
school meeting them at the door, seat
ing them and dlsposing of their wraps;
and on the authority of actual obser-
walton I can state that the opposite side
was quite as eager for second round"
but the authorities did not deem it pru-
dent, and the former were respectful
enough to accede to their wishes with
out giving expression to their disap-
pointment.
Guesthename also seems very much
mystified in regard to the numbers. L
will enlighten him. There were exactly
nineteen of the Arbor Hill spoilers, and
ecdctLy thirteen of the Gravelly Hill
spoilers; and there were four Is plus l.
"blushing damsels to bear the palms of
victory" Can't some one give him a
string Of beads to learn to count? So
much for his errors of commission-let
me remind him of a couple ofhis errors of
omission. He omits to mention the
fact that one of Arbor Hills best spell
ers was not member ofthe school but
was one of their "quitAdtes" and he neg
lects to say that that side had two or
three contested words given to it. There
is no need of his saying that he has new
er been from home much. and is igno-
rant in regard to ceremony. Judging
from their manners, there were several
members of his party who had seldom
been from home, or if they had been,
must have been in very insolent COM
pany.
Now my dear Guesthename, as your
sincere friend and we'll wisher let me
give you a small piece of advice: Give
up spelling matches and newspaper cor
respondence for the present, procure for
yourself a dictionary (Webster is the
best) and give your undivided attention
to that class of monosyllables ending in
SIS, as guess, &c. When you have mas
tered this. take up the subject of nota-
ton and numeration,-A of the arith-
metics will teach you this science cor
rectly, at least as high up in the scale as
nineteen. Then turn your attention to
the syntax of English grammar. If, in
the mean time, you have any time for
reading. I would recommend for your
perusal the fable of The Hare and the
Tortoise. with the moral well laid to
| heart. You can find this in McGuffey g
Fourth Reader. I hope with this prep
aration, and the subjugation of your
prejudices, you may be able to furnish
impartial accounts in the future; and
need nevermore initiate the enraged vi
per, that when he cannot reach the ene-
my, in his blind fury, sinks his fangs
into himself and so dies by his own poi
son. ALIQUIS.