Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-30
For the SPECTATOR.
Mt. Sidney.

I MEssRs, EDITORS can't but call the at
tention of the public to the new correspondent,
who comes under the guise and phase of
Moore" and seeks to rob us of the emolu-
ments and dignities of the family coterie. In
the absence of Mr.. Moore, my husband. he
comes in my presence, with theatrical audacity.
and claims to be the family head: He. the per.
sonage who tells your readers that s.our criti-
cism' of Lalla's article is enough for YOU
claiming for self and language that authorlta-
tive force which operates as kind of personal
warranty for the soundness of every thought.
Even, with all our aversion for Mr. Moore, on
account of his social departure in that memoir
able criticism" we must defend his intelli-
gence when this moving spirit from another
quarter, styling himself "Moore," comes into
this correspondence through the courtesy of
my daughter, awarding to him the title
Moore" if he but make an effort towards a
favorable reconciliation of past troubles. He
comes with his jargon reduced to print; at
tempts to daily with literature, and for want OF
conanunis honainun1 sensus, hunts in vain after
comprehensive theories to please the reader,
and tries to show that his nonsense is replete
with meaning. This intruder has learned to
glory in perplexing sophistry, rather than in
the discovery of immortal truths.
Our lcIItI ulu uOL represent our ClLlLtuS eJ-
tremeIy poor or village infested with rats; but
that want of surplus funds for extraordinary
Improvements. Ridance of the rats she may
have. We will not charge the writer with will
full misquoting and misconstruction of Eng
lish, but attribute it to want of proficiency in
analysis, synthesis, and clear conception of
simple proposition.
No, patient reader, this young man is not
my husband, (my husband is aged) neither is
he by consanguinity, nor adoption, related to
Thomas Moore, Moores wife, Lalla's mother
Weknow his personal character and parent
age All the loyal powers of the village sprang
with instructive cooperation to avenge the
outrage upon us and them on account of his
shameful forgery. The outer gate to the art
Loan Exhibition was slapped in his face. The
inside sentinel through whom he claimed adj
mission, buried his pretensions under shower
of "dirt and pebble.' The ladies within, sus-
pecting his competency, withheld their conf
dence; the ladies without, merging the chart
ties of their in the higher duties to the vii
lage, volunteered their services as avenging an
gels, and grouped around commenting upon
his false title with a responsive shudder, and
vowed in their lovely souls to make his char
acter, whenever it should come across them. to
feel the bitter consequences of his coming un-
No, indeed! he is not my husband. Mine has
the power of simplifying in the highest de-
gree. Notice in that CRITICISM how he evolved
the most intricate facts from that embarrassing
complication; how ne reduced that chaotic
heap of incongruous matter of Lalla's article
about our village into symmetry and order
a striking contrast between the character OF
my husband and this impostor, who styles
himself Moore under Moore's defence.
We have had already the assurance from Mr..
Moore that he will never write again in behalf
of Lalla. The indignant emotions, caused by
that fraud, burst repeatedly and abundantly
out. He gives loose to anguish and pours forth
his heart: "Never write in Lalla's defence
again. Never indulge in sentimental musings
about the much hackneyed "orange blossom
and "Art Loan Exhibition" and any letter
written over my signature in said defense will
be malicious forgery
And it matters not how many letters may be
written over our signature, the obtrusive wri-
ter would be evidently cropping after pearl. 1t
is enough for us to know that my husband and
self cordially recognize each other. and have
mutually agreed. so far as we are concerned, to
silently leave the village in her pomp and glory.
And now we close-our work is done;
Our mission, too, is ended.
Mt. Sidney, true. has had her fun;
Our family is defended.
MooRE's WIFE & LALLA's MOTHER.
Mt. SIDNEY, March 9th, 1880.