Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-06
Cuba Crews 'Replv.


Oak Grove. Tanadega Ala, Oct. 1. 1895
Editor State Herald:
Irish courtesy-possibly an inheritance
of the famous Joe Mulhatton" also
renders 1t imperative that l should gra-
ciousiy acknowledge compliments
broadly paid" and "delicateIy insinu-
ated'' In the above clipping from the Age
Herald Ben Adhem," and fortunately
coincide as to the estimation of my "su-
perb ability in controversial line" That
ability must assuredly have impressed
Ben 'Adhem," else he had not been so
modest as to resort to an unknown nom
de plume In attacking one of his "home
folk through the columns of distant
sheet. Possibly Ben Adhem" deemed ii
unlikely that Cuba Grey would read his
article in the Aldrich-Herald. A thought
Iul friend however, supplied the unsus-
pecting Cuba Grey that bonnie bouche
of Ben Adhem's" literary effort. DE
nunciation satire, irony. and invective"
shall not, at any rate, constitute the
staple of this paper" since l only feel in
clined to laugh good naturally at the
stern accusation brought against me
by my devout admirer, Ben Adhem.
Does Ben really deem me so little of q
lawyer as not to have known better than
lay myself liable to prosecution for al
bel by stating that "Talmage burnt the
tabernacle, thereby securing pecuniary
benefit to himself?" Was Ben not rather
emulating Joe Mulhatton" himself
when drawing upon his own Imagination
for facts CD concerning my allusion to
the burnt tabernacle and Talmage 2"
l actually remarked in my article that
possibly some of Talmage's bright views
upon life were rosy colored from reflected
light, lately cast by brilliant flames of
magnificent tabernacle, which costly
edifice might be rebuilt with profit to
one conducting such enterprise" I fur
Their remarked: Gould 1t be possible that
In 1rNla H.
spontaneous combustion, due to the eff
feet of some discourse pronounced by
the eminent divine within the sacred
walls. Such fervent eloquence as the
eminent divine INDUCES might be cal
culated to combust mansion built by
mortal hands"
Now, these are my Identical words re-
garding Talmage and the tabernacle. 1
wrote nothing of Ben Adhem's charge
that "Talmage burned the tabernacle in
order to secure pecuniary profit" That
statement Originated" with Ben. not
sumo that item Of denunciation himself
or borrow some strength from his evil
dent relation, Joe Mutation" with
which to refute suit for libel" should
Talmage pause from contemplation Of
life's bright side" long enough to honor
any Talladegian with notice. Ben should
study law just a little bit ere he proceeds
to charge Talmage with grave crime
and actually attempt to palm such utter
ances off as that of Cuba Grey. What. in
my article, can Ben bring forth as sub
sanitation of his grave charger" If
Ben's mental construction Is so extremely
brilliant as to supply ready inference.
then he and Talmage must settle the
matter. Joe Mulhatton to the rescue if
Ben gets the worst of 1t there but Cuba
Grey is really not supposed to be so Gift
ed as to supply brains and comprehen-
CT leo 10 hor. Inrc
is sufficiently taxed in preparation of ar
tfcles and really cannot assume respon-
sibility of furnishing comprehensive fac
ulty to unfortunate readers who fail to
recognize fact or else wilfully misrepre-
sent my statements. If Ben suffers eth
er from mental density or moral obliuuity
1t is not my fault, but only misfortune
when he attempts to report or lecture me-
Ben is respectfully requested to study
law before he jumps into court with a
case in which evidence" is lacking. In
ference goes for nothing 1 believe, in
legal process Ben is so bright that am
afraid hall of justice might "combust
spontaneously" If he plead a case in court
on the weighty base of his truly Mulhat
ton inference. Ben is modest and dis
claims any desire for controversy with
me. I fear that Ben Adhem"-the nom
de plume-is somewhat similarto Char
ity." My own nom de plume is well
known to Talladegians as boldly stand
ing for my proper title-Mrs. Mark Nc
Elderly.
l have not the advantage of knowing
just whomay be concealed under thetitIe
of Ben Adhem." If Ben fears me-" l
certainly do. not fear Ben, so he may cast
aside his. disguise, and then, upon the
field where Serious argument" and po-
lite satire tent, l will measure swords
with Ben. / promise not to annihilate
him utterly. I will only give him a
Slight skirmish." just to polish his wits,
which seem sorely befogged in regard to