Litchfield enquirer., 1879-01-09
An Open Letter to the Editor.

 ! material change in the time table of the con meeting roads.
 --, An Open Letter to the Editor.
 E Mr. Editor.-I have for long time silently admired your candid and chivalric course in the treatment of the ''Womens Rights" ques- tion. When 1 have happened to read in other journals silly slurs and witless pasquinades on this important topic, have been glad to read quickly thereafter in the ENQUIRER words in- vested with grace that killed grief and possess ed of comfort that cures calamity. You know, MT. Editor, that the heart has roots that en- twine themselves very strongly about cherished themes as we'll as about favorite haunts and persons. Some of these roots that 1 have pro- prietary interest in, have been touched unkindly by hands that are fair and beautiful. But the diamond hilted poniard makes cruel wound, within me that are in duress until I can put them forth in your columns Let me proceed.
 Having glutted myself with the pondereus pleasures that are ts be derived from counting the strokes of the new clock in the Congrega- tional church steeple and revelling in the dense delights that cluster about the vacueus village, depot-a place always of palpitating interest notably so on New Years day-I left the Northeast bedroom window and prepared my self for attendance at the Armory Hall enter tainment. An lneradicable impression cen veyed to me by superstitious nurse, that the conspicuous and dominant quality of deed or suffering entering into the record of man, on the initial day of the year, would tinge the remaining 364 days-an impression since crys- tallized into cardinal point in my psychelogic faith-led me to this determination. 1 had read the cast of characters and believed that | Paradise had broke loose. To imparadise my self in New Years day would be to finger some where around the gates at any rate, the rest of the twevemonth. But what mistake did I make!
 Tantene u,ainsis cglestibus ire do not wish to objurgate against the method or the manner of the performers last Wednesday eve ming, but object to the motif of one of the 1 the petulant Reade would say. 1 know the opprobium under which critics fall; caterpillars as Sir Walter calls them; tinkers says Ben Jonson hangmen, cries Dryden; cutthroats, blurts Burns; asses, deicately observes Shen- stone; freebooters, vociferates the genial Irving. No, l am not critic. According to Thackery it is the business of the critic to find fault, verify an inglorious business. l only remonstrate affectionately, or point the trem- bling dropping index finger at the blemishes, the while like Shem and Japheth with face averted. See how free am to acknowledge the good that saw on Wednesday evening The audi ence was worth going to see. During the tedl- ous waits, when through reluctant necessity no doubt, the stage manager kept the curtain down and yelled from our view the advertised attractions, there was blaze of beauty in the chairs and stalls that almost deoculated the sturdiest inspector. It is part of the entertain ment at the tirst-rate gatherings in Arncry Hall to take observations of the hGbitueS ill the interludes Not unlike New York first night at the Academy of Music in Italian opera is the standard assembly in Armory Hall. Of course the Academy rarely has Governor in the audience as we did, last Wednesday, but in most respects the comparison is legitimate. There is more of the garish in the metropolis, but no more of the good. You'll not discern any faces fairer (tho' the forms may be enrob- ed in more sumptuous toggery) where the sen suous strains of Don Giovanni float than where with crafty fingers Minett extorts a soft Noe turne from grand piano. The looks are as sweet, the laughs as light, the gloves as tight the tout ensemble as unique in Litchfeld as in Manhattan. Even hopelessly homely people here have that bearing that attracts pleased and unremitting attention. My wife often soethes me by this gentle intimation. What capital Ono pun) confgurations you will observe in the churches, Sunday, if you will look at the sconces of our men sometime when the sermon is sluggish, or as is ofJener the case, when the air is devitalized by the incontestably stupid sextons who abound always say good word for ministers, my father is one. But l ain discursive. At Armory Hall the shiny | polls of some of our townsn1en furnish delight full phrenologlcal study, and the skull so con- tradicts the character that food for the medi tative student is spread. For instance one mans skull most unequivocally told me in chronological language that he had large ven eration and splendidly developed reverence, yet 1 actually know that the man couldn't tell | when Whitsuntide comes in the blessed year. | ,la hor %on nl,, &lo,, twice year. Oh there is plenty of enter tainment at Armory Hall even when the cur tain is down. Then the performers were more than usually apt and skilled for amateurs. | What delightful voices they had The sweet musical and vibrating voice of Ellen Murray, the epicene vocalism of Mrs. Badger so well fitted to her character, the persuasive accents of Henry Thornton SO like Lancashire dialect with it's upward infections only more polished made charming variety that laid inhibition on fatigue or tedium. The striking situations were forcibly presented. We lived back to trysting days when MT. Primrose made his misapprehended occulatory pledgeto Ellen, we wondered at Carberry's chary attitude when so besought by Wolverine Griffin, we expected an explosion when the fiery Miss Bifin and the ardent Mrs. Winterblossom, backed their chairs toward each other, just as we look for flash 1 when flint and steel strike together. We were awed by the austerity of the grave judge, and, l we rejoiced to have Thackeray's last cyncism contradicted by Henry Thornton and Ellen. Says the novelist i; "do you ever tell all to your dear little sweetheart. Isn't there distinct universe walking about under your hat, and under hers; aren't you pair of infinite isola- tiens, &c." Henry happy and unselfsh, Ellen like the Vestal stands the subject of her own exalted respect, and both say we have no secrets one from the other In world where the average life is made up of monotony, stu pidity, and antagonisms let us have more of these shows.
 But, Mir. Editor, protest with potent energy