The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-17
Mr.. Edward Atkinson.
Dear Times;

| observe that you have fallen out will
your old friend. Dir. Edward Atkinson anC
| no wonder. because when one who has little
or no opportunity of knowing tells those whC
have every opportunity Of knowing,
When you white men really know
| anything about the negro you may then expect
the colored vote 10 trust you and follow your
leadership"
he is, to say the least rather vexatious.
You had good opportunity Of making per-
sonal application Of the good old story Of the
dog and parrot, not the monkey and the
! same bird. as follows A new dog had been
brought into the house and the parrot. which
mad leased the old dog. tried the same game on
the new. When the new dog would be asleep
the parrot would shrek into his ear, Six him
Dan: when Dan IN phrensy OF excitement
would rush around seeking something TO
six" One day. however, Dan discovered
the source of his torment and seized hold Of
his tOrmentor. which barely escaped wounded
sore and unfeathered. Retiring sad and NOR
tliied to its perch, the parrot, after mature re-
Election, soliloquized thus 81 know what's
the matter with me. / talk too much"
But you kindly refrained from any such re-.
tort where by faintest implication Mr. Atkin-
son could be compared TO either dog or par
rot, useful as is the first and interesting rs is
the latter for several reasons: First. YOU re-
memoered that Mr.. Atkinson has reached that
period OF life when the tongue frequently in
merits all tho activity lost by the other men,
Ders OF tho body. or in other words. that Mr.
Atkinson had become garrulous. and that.
therefore, II WAS neither Just nor generous 10
submit his utterances % the criticism of dis
cretlon or sound judgment, but you rather
let them pass on the ground Of good inten-
lions or OF zeal without knowledge.
And. secondly you recognized the fact
that there are more kinds # intoxicatiOn
than the alcoholic. There Is the intoxication
or public applause, or even of public motto
uety, and the one who has experienced popu
lar applause or popular notorety is az Ger
tanly lost as Is the man who has been sent 10
an inebrlase asylum. Now, for years Mr. At
klnsOn has posed before the public as n POM
lar economic idol. the least Of whose utter
ances passed "a current as coin Of the realm. |
and consequently Mr.. Atkinson has been in |
toNcated for many years and very naturally |
too. When Nj Atkinson issues a bull tiu on |
any particular branch Of truth the pages of the |
press arc opened wide and freely 10 him |
and 1t is spread broadcast over the land al |
lesser disseminators Of truth gritting their
teeth the meanwhile in silent envy This
has made MIR. Atkinson fancy that truth is
truth mostly according 10 the utterer. and |
tearing lest the truth may not be appreciated
lnless properly Endorsed he is always care
nj 10 attach his sign manuel 10 whatever he
nay write, for TO send truth abroad with
'uts sponsor would, in his estimation.
PPoAOAe4l DO Summing Il pedtlllui girl 70 |
German without chaperon: hence. as stated
lr. Atkinson IS not only intoxicated. but he
S q topper.
Now topers must be always under the slim
llus of alcohol or they suffer. and so Mr.. At
inson must always be in the full blaze of
publicity or he. toe suffers; and so as not 10 be
orgotten he is constantly coming before the |
ublic and as one, however wise and learned |
annOt always be right, so 10 happens that
Ometimes Mr.. Atkinson. or at least the pub
c. finds that he talks too much, " as in the ,
use now in point.
Truly dear TINES. is it not about time that {
IT, Atkinson, amiable and useful though he
e. should give the patient public a rest and
lat if he wants to spread the truth. according
Atkinson. that he do 50 under a name less
miliar and less well-worn than Atkinson. |
'e can assure Mr.. Atkinson that truth under.
rather over, any other name would be quito
effective.