Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-19
BY Hon. Inc. L. 7. Sneed, Of Shelby
County.

The superintendent, teachers, and
pupils of the deaf and dumb asylum at
Knoxville issue a little paper called
the Observer. In the last number we
find the following very interesting and
sensible letter to one of the young
mutes from Judge Sneed. 1t contains
so much that is touching, wise and
philosophical, and applicable to grown
people, as well as children, that we
publish it entire:
MEMPHIS, TENN, Dec, p, 1879.
Hon. Charley Myers,
Dear Charley: Your valued letter
reached me yesterday and interested
me so much-not Only as IN evidence
of your rapid improvement at school,
but as an example of what is being
done at the Tennessee school for the
deaf and dumb-for that class of our
people which the talking ones are in
the habit of calling unfortunate
that l have caused to be published in
one Of our leading journals. It's pub
LEGATION will serve, | trust, the addi-
tional purpose of enabling mi to as
certain the whereabouts Of your little
sister-tO whom your letter referred
with the request that | will find out
where she is.
You will observe, Charley, that in
the superseription Of this letter, you
are addressed as the Hon. Charley
Myers. Now that is a pretty high
rank to give a little boy of nine years
old but | have done it on purpose to
put you on inquiry as to the meaning
of a prefix that has become so COM
mon in this country that it is no
longer of any value as an indication Of
rank. You must get n Of your
teachers to explain it to you and, in
deed, to explain many other things in
this letter hat you dOnOt understand.
Lord Bacon once presented to King
James |, his celebrated book called
che Novum Organum, with the re-
quest that the King would read it and
say what be thought of it.
The king did read the book and
said to Lord Bacon that the book was
like the peace of God-~'it passeth all
understanding" There will be many
things in ibis letter, Charley, that you
will not understand without instruc-
ton from your teacher, and | have
adopted a style in writing this letter
very different from other letters lhave
written you-purposely to maks you
enquire what l NEAR aud thus add 2
little 10 your stock Of knowledge.
Nov, you must ask, what is a lora?-
what is the Novum 0rganum, and
what is the meaning Of the prefix
Honorable" to the names of menu |
will only undertake to answer the last
inquiry as a sort Of introduction to
what I will say to you concerning
titles and distinctions among men. In
depriving you of speech and the sense
of hearing, God has compensated you
very richly in other gifts, which many
boys of your age have not in such q
degree. l mean the faculty ofQlick
apprehension and intelligence, and !
have no doubt you will readily com,
preheud all else [ have to say in
this letter. The word honorable
was originally intended as a title OF
respect to men in high places, but
now, it is applied in this country u
nearly all persons who hold Office.
however humble. Did you ever hear
the story of Peter Casky and his wife
Well, l must tell you about them
Peter was elected constable Of Cas-
county, Michigan, and be and hi
wife were very proud Of the honor
Now, Peter was a very industTioQl
farmer aud a very honest man as al
industrious men are apt to be-bui
his wife thought him the creates
and best man on earth as all gooC
wives who have industrious husbands
are apt to think. And SO, when Pete,
was elected constable and went TO tb
courthouse to be qualified, his wifi
wrote himaletter and Sddressedhim O
the Hon. Peter Casky, high cSpstabl,
OfCass county. One ofthe neigAborE
ON hearing of the circumstance, re
monstrated with her and explained t
her that such titles Of homo
we're never given to constables au'
that they we're intended for mem
bers of congress and the like. Upo
this, the little woman was shar
enough to reply that she meant Hon
est Peter Casky" and that her hus
band was as honest a man as ther
was in Cass county. Now, Charley
while you are not yet entitled to b
addressed as the Hon. Charley Myers
yet Ihope you &sye that right becaus
you are ~ honest boy and | woul'
rather have you honest than TO SCI
you a congressman, for congressmeI
are not always honest men-althopgl
their positions entitle them to b.