The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-07-11

- 1eSaA W "
ly drawn into a controversy; but as "Ver-
bena" is regarded as a gentleman, we pre-
sumo that courtesy will demand a res
ponse from us.
To begin with, we will state frankly
that we regret very much that "Verben a"
has seen proper to become offended, simply
because our ideas of "true gallantry" are
somewhat at variance; and to be more can
did in this connection. we affirm that when
We wrote the notice that unfortunately In.
CURED the gentlemaE's displeasure, we had
not the rem,test idea of its giving the least
~offense.
Those who are familiar with the first
and subsequent notice in regard to that
beautiful curl will not fail to remember
that we stated: of he really believed at
the time that the curl belonged to some of
B%rookhaven>s fair daughters. true gallant
rywould have prompted him to pay for
the notice" Now we hope the impartial
reader will fail to discover any sarcasm or
irony about OIL construction of true gal
lantry, and yet this statement seems to be
the basis of, his complaint. He intimates
that we were not warranted in making
such a statement. Az he claims the pre-
rogative to look at a Subject in a different
light" we are not aware that any sense of
Dropriety deters MS from claiming the same
privilege, and fail to discover wherein we
have committed any breach in venturing
to express our opinion of true gallantry.
In connection with the intimation Just re-
ferred to, he says: "If l had thought as he
did, the notice would certainly have been
paid for" Now by way of ~parentliesis,
we will state that the notice has not been
paid for yet, although it accomplished the
object he intended. but as a matter of
course, under the circumstances, We canno,
hold him responsible for the amount.
Now the most unpleasant duty we have
to perform is to respond to the H%lutter part
his article. We would have felt very
grateful indeed if he had only spared us
this very painful task. The latter par, of
his article, if we may be permitted to
employ a modern phrase, is of a BULLDOG
ing character, aud we regret TO inform the
gentleman that his hasty resort to intimi-
dation will fail to secure his demand, but
might have srcceeded perhaps, if he had
l nnt, hoon N nra oo,,rsoa,,a unl .r.ll =, L.,
request. That part Of his article referred
to reads az follows:
"All in all / consider the ~allnsion as be-
ing wholly a malicious one, and connected
with no other design than that of placing
me before the public in an awkward and
false position aud therefore ask HIM to set
me right before The public, or the penalties
be upon his W head, and | will hold him
personally responsible for the same"
1t affords us much pleasure by feeling
warranted in denying most emphaticallv
The soft impeachment embodied in the first
part of the above paragraph, for we have
heretofore entertained the very kindes. of
feeling for the author Of the above article;
and so far as setting him right before the
public is concerned, we would gladly do
so. if we could consistently yield to his re-
quest without ~encroaching upon a manly
sense OF honor, which we do not feel dis
posed to compromise under the circum.
stances. In the first place the public is
not aware of his identity, as he sees
prop' r to write over the sweet non de
plume of "verbena." As he has complied
with the rules of the press, his real name
is withheld from the public at his own
request. s
Now, in conclusion and IN response to
his request of setting him ri hit before the
public, we will inform sverbena" that his
intimidating threat to secure compliance
on OF part, has placed us in a very del
icate n unpleasant situation, and under
the circumstances, we most respectfully
decline to yield to his ,equest. We cannot
kiss the hand that is apparently ready
to smite with penalties" on onr Gown
head:' neither can we "cringe the knee
that satisfaction "nsay follow fawning.'
We may be persuaded and convinced BY
reason, but we dislike to be driven. We
are personally responsible for all we say.