The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
For the T. & M-Honsehn


| have often heard it said ''you should
never write unless you have subject y
Well. that may be good advice to those
Of limited ideas but no good preacher
need excuse himself for want of a text,
nor need the philosopher give up his
studies for want of a subject. The re-
Elective mind is never at loss for a
theme. If we make good use of our
eyes and ears we will never be in want
of matter for reflection.
But mine is an unique case / look
on faces / never saw and listen to voices
new er heard. Ye Southern ladies are
possessed of strange powers, We can
draw me after you. In this hyperboreau
climate we need shelter-in the winter
at least-and 50 | seek the Household
comforts which you give. | am social
being. and | love to be among the select
ladies of the bright and beautiful South.
it might be Objectionable for me,
mana stranger-to intrude, or seek
admission into the Ladies Depart
ment.' But precedent has been set
me. and so l reckon | may follow.
Some of your cleverest ladies in the L.
ID. tho personally unknown to me, vet
familiar friends. | have travelled some,
and when away from home L am always
glad to meet a known friend. In fact
like to meet with those even of very
light acquaintance, who were known to
me in years past.
In like manner, tho / had but a
slight acquaintance Of some of the la
dies who graced the pages of the House
hold in the sunny South" yet | am
glad to meet them in the Ladies De-
partment" of the Farmer and Mechanic
in Raleigh.
We are all less or more mimics, and
inclined to initiate the actions of others.
If a lady gives me kind word and a
sweet smile / must reciprocate her
cheerful friendship. Smiles beget
smiles.
! If man frown at me | am very apt
to return his naughty look. If he speak
roughly, i may retort. But generally
have as much caution and common
sense as keeps me from initiating him
| in his coarse vulgarity. And SO the So
cial friends who greet each other with
an interchange of thought and words
which charm the soul can't help imita-
ting one another. Besides this social
intercourse. even through our letters.
helps to develope the latent talents
which we may possess. Many eminent
writer's owe their literary career to such
beginnings. | may give one instance
In a small town in the north of Ireland
which | know-not far from my birth
place-lived three young men-one q
dispensary doctor. the other an Epis,o
palian curate. and the other an excise
officer or guager-these men often me-
III social enjoyment and drew out O
talent which each of them possessed
. They at first encouraged each other tC
write short stories. poetry, &c. they
separated. But their awakened talent,
were not again permitted 10 slumber
The Dispensary Doctor was the grea
Charles Lever-the curate, Mr.. Max
well, author of stories of Waterloo. viii,
sports OF the West, &c, aud the guagel
was Samuel Lever. All well known il
the literary world. / was intimately ac
Quainted with son of Mr.. Maxwell
and | knew still more intimately tn,
brother and family Of Mr.. Lever.
have the firm conviction that many o
the ladies in the Household will yet dis
tinguish themselves by their talents a
chaste and beautiful writer's. Witt
best wishes for the success of the La
dies Department, and love to the fai
contributors, | am,
VERITAs.
Quebec.