The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-14

Z SIh-, Has. d We HSlh cN1S@AoA -
say some months ago, It's serious as
pact, and many things come to our
notice not calculated to give ole Il
high respect for human nature. A
surgeon IN large practice once said
to Us at sometimes seems to me
that every other nan and woman
has some physical defect" and one
to inspect our pile Of humbug let
tiers might receive the impression
that moral infrmities and deformi-
ties were quite as prevalent as those
of IA physical character seemed to
be To our surgical friend. But
when we look upon cur budget as
a focus where are cen'eled the
scattered RAYS of wickedness from
the whole country, the case does
not after all seem SO bad for poor
humanity. In Il former volume
we classified the various kinds of
quack doctors, one genus being
those who were
Up TO THE "~RELIGIOUS DODGE"
and included those who pretended
to be returned missionaries" who
picked up their cure-all among the
cannIbals, or some ''mlnIster of tbs
gospel" whose sands Of life" We're
ever SO many Years IN running
out" and for aught we know may
be running vet. This stealing ''the
livery of the court of Heaven, to
serve the devil IN" is n of the
meanest forms of rascality, and
one which has found "a bright,
particular example in the person of
ONE MARY +. FOSTER,
which she is of Smithville, Tenn.
Mary writes letters, or, rather,
postals, but, perhaps, has them
written, as she cal hardly get
through with them all herself. The
Methodist denomination being a
very large and influential one, she
now sends her favors to editors and
clergymen of that. Mary sent U.s.
postal. She sent others postals !;
indeed, she is SO multitudinous IN
her correspondence, that she must
be an important customer to the
p. O. Depm tment for postal cards
for Mary has "a frugal mind"
and does not invest a Scent stamp
plus stationery when Il one-cent
card will do. We received Mary's
postal-it was just too gushing, so
we said ''bosh," and threw it among
the humbugs. Mary writes to
editors. to ministers" to "Yellow
Fever Relief Associations" and
others, varying her introduction a
little, but the rest of the precious
document is essentially the same.
We have one of hers addressed ''to
Any Minister of the Methodist
Church in Flushing" and we sup
pose similar letters have gone to
hundreds if not thousands of other
towns. Here is a specimen Of
MARY Els EPIsTLEs.
Smithville, Tenn, Oct. 3, 1878.
Dear Friends Please see my let
ter on fifteenth page Of the ''NIetho-
DIST" issued 9TH ult., in your city.
The great plague SO drains the hand
of charity In every direction and is
so appalling that WE + eclipsed /;
yet, terrific as the great scourge is,
nothing, it seems to me, can be
worse than to see a family die OF
starvation. For three days we have
been without food save a little
boiled pumpkin, and that is nearly
gone. My husband is wholly dis.
abled by paralysis, and he, myself,
and little children must perish very
speedily without relief, and it is
not to be had here. My letter pub
lished in the paper was supported
by the best Of evidence, on which
you will see the editor commendsit
to the charitable. The evidence,
in addition to endorsement Of state
ment and character, showed me to
be more than twenty years a mem
Der of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Now my dear friends
and brethren in Christ, will you
please hear the cries of my dear lit
tie furnishing children, together
with the heart pleadings of an
agonizlng father and moth I, whose
sick of most unspeakable distress
cannot much longer bear the scene.
Oh Jesus, my Saviour, help us
How can | bear it longer Shall
this return to me VOID !! | will trust
in God, through you, to send food,
as upon the ravens wing. Heaven