The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-09-11
superintendent Riddles Troubles.
TRncheSrer Herald

New / ork city Is again agltated over
the case Of Superintendent Riddle, the Off
cisl head of the public schools in that city.
Oar readers will remember that come
months ago Mr.. Kiddle, who is q very
enthusiastic spirituslist, published book
with an earnest defense of his belief and q
large number OF communications professedly
from the spirits of distinguished departed
mortals. The excitement over Mr.. Kid
dies course and the opposition in New
York We're so great at the time that the
Superintendent felt constrained to send in
his resignation, which was accepted, to
take effect this fall, when his successor
should be appointed. But as the new
school term approached, three lady teachers
in the schools took up the cause of the
superintendent, drew up a memorial TO the
Board Of Education, ard had il circulated
among the teschers OF the public schools.
The paper was signed by large number
a Thousand, We believe-of the teachers
The Board OF Education has not yet taken
any action in the matter.
Mr.. Riddle is conceded to be gentlema an
OF amiabie qualities, thorough integrity,
and tiue qualIfc .tions for the important
office he ills. The only objection urged
against him is that be has published what
is commonly regarded as a very foolish
book, and it is asserted that if that is to be
taken az a measure Of his judgement he ia
= new proof of his extraordinary attach
ment 10 the peculiar doctrines he has en-
braced has appeared in the shape Of an sd-
vance copy of reply he has made to the
criticisms of DR.. Holland on Riddles book
in the July .Srjbaer. This reply is written
for the October Sribner, but copy of it
was published in Thursdays New York
Herald 1t is very peculiar document.
The conceit OF the writer could not be for
given If he had not the excuse of believing
that he was moved to say what he does in
some the passages by the spirits of the
iliust. ,ious deal. DR.. Holland de, Jared
Of th. Riddles took: "rhere il not one
SENTENCES in it, from beginning to end, to
indicate heavenly origin, but everything
10 sbo.y that it is the offspring of very
commonplace. and immature mind that
its literary gusiity is simply and IRA.
deemably VT ched;" that all the commun.
icsting intel .ences write exactly alike;
that all ''uttec the same 'hIfsiutin' pious
slang" that it is simply impossible
bOsh; and that the communicating intel.
ligerce must he an 'u1conscionabl liar, y
To this arrAisnnent Riddle replies by
quoting what he evidently regards as choice
passages in his book. lie says:
To dIsprove your 81 coping assertions
should have to ouote large part OF the
book; but will cite a few passages tina,
seem 10 me TO indicate q heavenly orr.
GIN"
!. From b! yanil. In my own home on
earth was Respected Tor talents and mental
CAPACITIES; while here l exhibit characteris-
tics that outshine human faculties. and all
the actions vi my LIE stand forth in my ex.
teIEai appearance, as never to lie conceived
oi by mortal POWER Take heed, friends that
in tnis Judgment each day, eacn hour, each
working OF Your soul for Gods glory"
Now, / ak, does not that express a most
important, nav, an awful truth, with an
appropriate Injunction? And could i,
have been said in much better or stronger
Language?
After quoting from other Spirits" Mr..
Riddle says:
81 refer you also to the communication
from Edgar Poe, Bishop james and several
OF those from Judge Edmonds tor specimens
of heavenly thoughts in good English. II
all this e simply impossible bosh,' accord
ing to your taste and conception, / can
only say | am sorry for such a taste. To
my mind it presents considerable divinity
both in thought and style, and many of the
statements made are such "a could have
emsnsted only from those having expert.
ence in the world beyond our own"
Now, as 10 the literary objections. These
are, of course. hard to meet, since there is
no fixed standard of literary or poetical
excellence. You say, byron simply could
not have written these lines, and every lit
erary man in the world knows it" What
lines do you refer to? To the following,
descriptive OF the spirits in darkness?
Oh, my friends in Gods love, whose hap'ess
fate,
1t is no. TO feel, when, alas I, too late,
The sorrows that come fIom a sinful career,
Not niue 10 exult: but in anguish and lear
To gsze Into that dark abyss of woe. where
They are suffering the horrors OF black des-
PAR;
White signing and mourning. and lingering
awhile
Round the sacred ashes OF a funeral pile.
Oh dark is the vision fer them and for me,
tor, alas, too plainly my spirit can see
All hope in the mercy OF God having flown.
Now, l ask which is the more poeticsL
correct in rhythm and expression, and the
more beautiful in imagery, the above or
the following. from Byron's poem. The
Hand" descriptive of the shipwrecked
mariners ,
But it's not mine tn tell their tale OF grief,
Their constant peril and their scant relief;
Their days Of danger, ana their nights Of pain,
Their manly courage even when seemed in
vain;
The sapping famine, rend srins scarce q son
Known TO his mother in the skeleton;
The ills that lessen'd still their little store,
And starved even Hunger till he wrung no
more
We need not 60 further. The above
shows hat Superintendent Fiddle is, Is
the boys prof cient in slang would say,
lawfully gone On Spiritualism." To COM
pare the first of the above stauz,s with the
..s..-xhich is q weak one for Byron
proves either that the poet has lot his ear
for poetry in the Other world or that the
preiender in this world meyer knew what
poetry mesnt.
At the same tiUe, We do not see WIS;
Ibis hss TO do with Mr.. Riddles capacity
for public school superintendent, unless be
drags 1t Extensively before the teachers or
the pupils. He has the RICH: to his views
and to publish . book about them, if he
ple.ses, without FORGETTING his rights to
hold the office of superintendent. He must
be judged By his administration of his
duties, not b his religious views or Liter.
uy tasla.