Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-04-02
For tho SPEcTAToR
Apron Hill VA Mareh o. US

For the SPECTATOR.
ARBoR HILL, VA, March 81, '78.
MR.. EDITOR viii it be asking toe
much of you to grant me room in your
paper for a short reply to what has been
said by "Aliquis," by way of "correc-
ton" and criticism on former article
by myself under the signature of "Gues'
thename?n
In the first place, am charged with
not having spoken the truth, and OF
having given partial account of the
spelling match and the department OF
the contestants. If such be true, then
"Aliquis" is justifiable in what he has
said, and "Guesthename" must bear the
reproach of falsehOod and must Idle By
the poison of his oa0,a faygs."
am, indeed, sorry for having done
them the injustice of 'misstatement"
as to the number of the Arbor Hill
school present and of the unsecured
heroes" on the opposite side, through
my invincible ignorance in not know
ing how to count correctly. The state
ment was 'about seventeen" but the
corrector increases it to the enormous
amount of nineteen-suppOse we make it
twenty. The "three blushing damsels"
are changed to four. If learning to
count with ''string of beads" is the
only correct way, it is likely I am
wrong; and the number four, as given
by one who has had the advantage of
this means, may be correct.
But how about the contradiction as to
which party made the challenge, which
side did the boasting, the politeness of
the reception, and the eagerness of their
party for second round? Am to adj
NIT that of which am falsely charged,
by remaining silent on the subject? No!
But repeat what I have asserted, and
do it upon the ground of good authority.
The challenge, though in an irregular
school. Arbor Hill accepted it with the
understanding that the match was to
be repeated at Arbor Hill the Friday
night following. To this the latter were
punctual, but the Gravelly-hillians
were not; for they failed to present
themselves at the place named, to array
their ''unscarred heroes" upon the field
where the final contest was to be held.
And why was it? Oh, yes, see! The
unpublished manners of the Arbor.hil-
lians were too notifying to their Guilt
waited senses But how about the
Boosting? The writer declared it to b6
"that self-suficient party" that did the
Boosting; but whether self sufficient or
not, is it likely they would boast of hav-
ing lost the victory? think some one
else's mind must have been little mys-
titled, too, or he might have seen that
such a statement was not only decidedly
unreasonable, but not likely to be re-
ceived as the truth. AS to the reception,
if it was according to the notions re-
ceived by "Aliquis" of etiquette, pity
him, and sincerely hope it was not so to
many others. Not caring to admit the
alleged credit to the Gravelly-hillians,
of having acceded to the wishes of the
proper authorities, wilt only add that
they very a0illingy acceded. And why
should they not, when these authorities,
whether proper or not, were the a79J9a1-
eaati0l members of their own civil party,
and of course knew that which was
best for them?
And now for the criticisms OF
course, can do nothing more than &C
knowledge them; for, you know, per-
fiction cannot be expected of poor,
benighted creature, not even SO far adj
vanced in reading as to the Fourth
Reader" and so deficient in "numera-
ton" as not to be able to count nine
teen, doomed to remain in the obscurity
of illiteracy, not daring to speak even
the truth, lest some captious critic, who
has attained the vertex of perfection,
self-suficiency,) look down with con-
temptnous sheer and carp at his imper-
fections
I know the communication was open
produce. I know, too, there are those
ha h1o nf Orifia iSiucr nc
"Aliquis" himself, and it is to such I
leave his article for inspection, as am
incompetent to the task.
do not know who "Aliquis" is, but,
judging from his very mild and courte-
GUS attack, he must be 'quituate" of
Hayti school. He ought to have been a
little palmer in his reference to the
moral of the "Hare and the Tortoise"
that others might see what he was driv-
ing at. I do not wish to initiate his ex-
ample in attempting to critieise, but I
think it was rather step from the point
he was trying to reach, and departure
from the rules of "syntax."
"Aliquis" appears, also, very much
dissatisfied about the omission of the
letter "sn in "Guesthename,n recon-
mended a study of the monosyllables
ending in $751;" but as have not time
to study so much at once, will content
myself for the present by simply using
the "ss" in prefixing the proper vowel,
thus making it suitable nom de plume
as substitute for "Aliquis."
Oh, yes, I must not forget to return
my thanks for that ''smalT piece of ad-
vice" 1t was heartily accepted. As
soon as have nothing else to do, I will
gather up the works recommended, and
try to prepare for favorable future. If,
in the meantime, ''Aliquis" will pro-
cure for himself roasted onion and
apply it to his corns, battle his feet twice
day, and purge himself rite vel with
DIR. Bulls pills, or some other good ca
thartic, he will soon become better of
his peevishness, and will be able to
speak with less violence and exercise
more reason in future articles; and,
like the tabled Don Quixete, may vet
die like q peaceful Christian.
GUESTHENAME.