The Evening critic., 1882-01-18
The Cri,ic il an 0rgan.


We have received communication from
an esteemed subscriber who signs himself
Hard Work" thanking THE CRtrIc on
behalf of the laboring classes IN this coni-
mHnity for its constant display of interest
in their welfare. Our friend cnumentcsa a
variety OF efforts THE CErTIr has made
from time to time, 10 promote the welfare Of
working people such as its warfare upon the
stupid and cruel policy Of the ancient d.
frees; its appeal # YESTERDAY for justice to
the faithful employees of the Census Bureau,
and other like movements. He concludes
as follows
.THrCMrIc should pcrsevcrc. 1t f. already
recognized by every workingman and working
woman IN the District as the organ. champion
and defender of that class. Gpd knows W.
need such. We have no vote, no voice I'm our
own anairs other Americans huvc aud,
therefore, We have no appeal to the powers that
be except through the press. TIM CRITIC i
The FIRST raf,cr of any account ever published
here that seemed 10 devote itself consistently
and intcllgcntly On our interests. Rest assured
that we appreciate It. Every workingmnn OF
my acquaintance takes Your paper. We VIII
support you cordially. BE our friend in the
future ns you are now. and the workingmcn uf
the District win give your paper the biggest
boom OF circulation cvcr known here
This letter is a sample OF dozens that
come to us every week. Some Of them
have from time to time found place in our
columns. But we have hitherto neglected
TO reply to them severally or in bulk. Per-
haps we have been wanting in poltcness.
If so we will now cndeavor to make
amends by replying in this public manner
to all the missives of encouragement, com,
pliment and gratitude that we may have
received from our numerous friends among
the working classes.
We take pleasure in reading the evil
dences of their appreciation. The remark
Of our friend above quoted that the denial
of the tle.tive franchise to the people Of
the District leaves them no means of ap'
peal to the powers that be except through
the press, conveys the whole truth of the
situation. Truly, the poor, helpless work
ing classes of this disfranchiscd com-
munity need an organ. Denied the bal
lot, their only remaining vestige of the
rights supposed to belong to American eti-
zens lies in the freedom of the press em.
ployed with tact and wisdom for their
benefit.
They make no mistake when they look
need. That is exactly what TIE Critic
aims to be. 1t is owned and conducted by
workipgmen, who have no capital but their
own energy and no backing but their own
enterprise. The three owners of The
CRITIC are its editor, its business manager
aud its mechanical foreman or superin-
tendent each OF whom may be found every
day at its place of publication, working as
jndust .iously and as hopefully as any other
laborer.
We are happy to say that our subscription
books give abundant earnest Of the sim
cerity of our friends promise that "the
workingmen of the District will give our
paper the biggest boom of circulation ever
known here so long rs we continue to "be
their friend" Starting last June with
barely two thousand, our circulation has
grown steadily, week by week aud month
by month.
When we reached four thousand we
thought we were doing well. But the list
kept growing. Five thousand was
reached and passed, and then six. Our
old press struggled for weeks between six
thousand and seven, working two hoar; OF
two and a-halfevery day on a job that had to
be done inside Of one hour to meet the
requirements
Still the list grew, until at last the old
press gave up in despair and turned ovei
its work TO a younger and more powerful
workn an--not of flesh ana blood, but o
iron and steel-in whose hands the job o
printing NINE THOUSAND Critics i
made the merest sport Of Oar friends tn,
workingmen of the District, are indeed
coming to the front to support Tgi
CRITIC cordially" as our correspondent
cheerfully puts it.
Every one of them takes it," he says
We hope not, as yet. We should be sprr.
TO think that the limit had been reached
BY and by we expect 10 realize that happ.
state of things, but at present we consol
0urself with the thought that great man
Of the workingmen take our paper, wit
more coming. In conclusion, we have I
say that our columns are always open
anything and everything designed TO pr
mote the welfare and eahance the happi
ness of the working people Of the Distri'
of Columbia.
ii anybody ABUSES YOU or OFefNofkS yol
or underpays you, or practices extortio
upon you, or in any other manner ol
presses you, let us know it. We accept I'll
situation as described by oar esteemed su
scriber. Weare glad to be s. recognized b
every workingman and working woman
the District as the organ, champion and d
fender Of that class"
That Is exactly what we are here for. Al
we have come to stay.
Mrs. Caroline Richings- Bernard III
without farewell to her husband, &
poor lady insisting, as soon as she knew h
disease to be small l-pox, that he should II
approach her sick-room. A supcrstitio
acquaintance of Mrs Bernard relates tn
ON the thirteenth anniversary Of her ms
riage she gave a dinner party that at t
table il SO happened there were tlllrte
persons present. and the fact made an II
pleasant impression upon her, aud recall
the old superstition. ON the 18th Of
month she signed a contract which "
one OF the most unfortunate business trai
actions of her life, aud by which she !,
about $685. COO She was sick exactly thi
teen days, and died al the close Of the -
day Of January.
NV dear said Mr. Cranky 10 his bet
fhraa .auarfQrs hoN i IL that vou are