The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-03-30
"Quilp' and His Correspondents.

We need not remind those to whom our
local historian is known personally, how
Jealous and industrious he is in collecting
the most triting fact relative to the early
history of Cecil county, and which from
week to week we have given the readers of
Tile Wing. Day after day, he has pored
patiently over musty records, and upon the
mildest suggestion of local legend or per-
sonal recollection, has spared no pains to
drag it from its obscurity, and turn it to
useful account, upon the fast accommodating
pages of his local historical Sketches
Now, the mail brings him, in reply to re-
spectful inquiry, the crested envelope of
genial Irish lold, covering under the sigma
ture of Lord Talbot the fullest information
he seeks, and again, the laconc mssive of
some testy iterateur, as an epistolary pun
ishment for his careesSness of address.
We are not capable of depicting, in suita-
ble language, the facial expression of our
historical Bohemian upon the receipt of
some of his mails. One epistolary arrow,
shot from the bow of literary archer,
nearly shivered its innocent target. The
letter is possibly too characteristic to con-
ceal. 1t slew in cold blood an enthusiastic
Irish castle hunter, and "Quilp" lay well
tering in his own gore.
"Twas thine own error gave the final blow
And helped to plant the wound that laid
thee low"
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. IS, 1873.
SIR: know nothing of George Talbot.
There is no such place as Castle Rooney in
the County Roscommon in Ireland. My
name is not McKinsey.
Your obi. servt, r. S. NJ.
But Quilp's portfolio contains not few
evidences of intelligent appreciation OF his
pleasure giving work. We append one of
the many, from well known literary gen.
tleman of Maryland, which, if it does
nothing else, contrasts pleasantly with the
dyspeptic Pennsylvania epistle, and which
helps to demonstrate the common axiom so
pertinent in Quiip's case, that "a prophet
is not without honor save in his own
country"
My DEAR SIR:-Please receive my very
warm thanks for the three very interesting
numbers of The Cecil Wig, containing the
chapters of your history, which relate to the
life and adventures of the high-spirted and
shrewd George Talbot. | think he must
have been descendant from the great John
Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, who made
himself so conspicuous during the time of
Joan of Arc, and who was also created
Earl of Wexford and Waterford, in Ire
land. He died in France, on the field of
battle, in 1853, at the age of 80. Shiller
introduces him in his tragedy of Joan of
Arc. George might hare been a younger
son of the same noble family. 1t is only a
conjecture on my part, and may 60 for
what it is worth. Perhaps it is trying to
look too far bach.
The George Talbot you speak of was GER
tainly conspicuous man in his own time
and place and has left his mark in Cecil
county. Your manner of relating the old
time events is to me very interesting. There
is an air of truthfulness and faithful re-
search about your writings that pleases me
extremely. Your way of quoting the very
words of old documents to me is attractive.
Every time era in the worlds history
has mode of pbraseology peculiar to it
self, and it seems to me that you cannot
fully throw yourself back into their way of
thinking without knowing how they were
wont to express themselves. Language is
the costume of thought, and | take as much
pleasure IN reading certain old documents
as in gazing at my grandsire's old gold
headed bamboo cane. Some historians, if
they give these extracts at ALL stow them
away III an appendix or place them in foot
notes at the bottom of the page. | think
your plan, if jndiciously used, and not re-
sorted to too frequently, is the most to be
commended. But writer has to consult
so many tastes. or else write as his Otcn
taste leads him to consider the best. OF
the Rousby murder and the Cave you make
an excellent notwithstanding without being
sensational, simple and fluent without
straining after effect. 1t is thus that like
to see history written, particularly when
she calls on tradition to help her out On
looking over my map of Maryland, my eye
has often been struck with the fine Indian
name of Ootoraro Rivera word of beauti-
full sound. Please let me know (if you
know what is its meaning. Il
FAILURES IN WASHINGTON During the
large fire in the Patent Office, a number of
the tiremen in their heroic efforts to gain
control over the flames and thus save
millions of dollars worth of property, were
severely cut and bruised, and received
other bodily injuries; and, while all the
remedies usually resorted to in such
instances proved themselves little better
than utter failures, Keller's Roman Lini-
ment gave such relief and cures in all the
cases, as to call forth, on the part Of Chief
Engineer Cronn, of the Washington Fire
Department, written statement heartily
recommending kelier's Roman Liniment