Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-23
RENTICR AND AXIOM.
The JRckkutfe and the Letter of
Acceptance A~nteresttaE Doom
ment.

The JRckkutfe and the Letter OF
Acceptance = A~nteFesttaE DOcu-
ment.
Below we publiab a copy of an original
letter written by George d. Prentice
when editor Of the Louisville Journal, to
Charles Fsxon, who was editor Of the
louisville Courier. The latter Journal
list had many traits Of character like
unto those OF Prentice, and also talent
of a superior order. Being intimate
associates aud great friends, though edit.
ing rival journals, often would they in
dulge in q series of witty correspondence
and humorous burlesque. Mr.. Faxon
was a brother of Henry Fsxon, the
author Of Beautiful Snow" and at the
time of his death in GAINESVILLE was pre-
pared to establish beyond doubt the fact
that he wrote this wonderful poem. Tho
original letter, Of which the following is
a copy, is now in possession Of Mr.. Geo.
B. Faxon, Of the Louisville and Nash
vile and Great S)uthsrn railroad:
Journal OFFIoE. EDITORIAL RnoMs,
LOUISVILLE, Ky, April II. 1856.
Ny DEAR FAK-I thank you for the
jaek-knife you have been so kind as to
send me. II is q tolerably good looking
srticle-not 80 ugly as you are nor so
handsome as | am. | will moi say that
l sm afraid you are robbing yourself, for
OF course a single jAck-knife cannot be
missed from your large store that has
been constantly and rapidly accnmmu.
lating upon your hands during your very
lorg and honorable life. | am a little
doubtful, however, as to your taste in the
choice OF a present for me. Some writer
on etiquette says that it isn't very good
breeding for a shoemaker to make pres.
ents Of shoes or for a halter to give away
hats-that such things SAVIOR too much Of
the shop; aud for 8 kindred reason it
may be questioned whether the proprie-
tor Of an extensive jsck-kuifs depot, into
which thirty-two n%ever.failing streams Of
iack.knives are pouring from the thirty.
two points OF the compass, should select
that article as a compliment to a friend.
/ like your jokes very much, dear Fax"
Indeed, you have divine authority for
them, as the good Lord was joking Rhen
He made your face. The Lord has evi.
IDENTIFY a good deal Of broad fan 10 Him,
though there are some who, in their
zeal to vindicate the ways of God
to man." insist that your face was
never made at all-that it was only
guessed at. 1t has been said
Of very ugly men that their faces must
burt them, but the trouble as to yours is
that it hurts other people. II has also
been said in reference to the men Of
genius with unlucky faces hat the ugli-
ness Of the shell OF an oyster is some
times compensated BY the pearl within;
but although you certainly have the
pearl within, your face is 80 much uglier
than an oyster saell that the illustration
fails in your case altogether.
| am credibly informed. dear Fax"
that one but pretty children came into
the world for fifteen or twenty years after
yoar birth Il first saw the light during
that period, all the material in the world
Tor the making Of ugly faces having been
exhausted in your getting up, and ma
ture requiring that length Of tins for
recuperaIion. Be all that as it may, l
need not assure you that | shall cherish
your gift. If you doubt this you must
be a jack knife yourselt-all bat the
knife. | will keep the implement rs q
valued memen 0, and surely there could
not be q more appropriate remembrancer
Of the giver. Never henceforth shall |
see a jack.kRi'e without thinking Of you
Ever your friend,
GEO ID PRENTICE.