Woodville Republican., 1903-01-24
OPEN LETTER TO Mr.. VEN
TRESS.

ARNA hFaRRf E@tP4F go - - ]
Mx. L. T. VENTREss.
My Dear Sir:-In common with
most Of my fellow citizens, j
have heretofore regarded you as a
gentleman Of amisble disposition,
Law abiding, ins-Ht upon promot-
ing peace and cOnteniment, while
discountenancing chickering's and
strife. What then must have been
my disappointment, on reading
your long array Of complaints about
the public roads in your late report
to the Board Of Supervisors, pub
lished openly to the whole country,
in the last issue of Our county
paper. Could you not see that
such language tends to arouse dis
content and mutterings, on a sub
ject hitherto justly ignored by
large majority of our people' Why
then cast a hrebrand among an
unsuspectipg people, satisfied with
themselves, their surroundings and
their public roads9 One, to read
your report, would believe that
You rode out that day on purpose
to find something to quarrel about;
aud forsooth, because you had TO
walk down a few hills, and up a
few more, ard c. reaching home,
send your team TO the farrier, and
the buggy with harness to the
shops; you must needs lose temper
and let us all know it. What evil
spirit could have lowered over
Lagrange that dayl Was the rice
not salted, or the bread overbrown,
or the coffee made while you yet
! slept, and tampered with by the
attendents before you were ready
for it1 For these evils might pal
late your subsequent conduct.
Now, I travelled over full fifteen
miles OF these roads TO day, aud
was not over four hours doing 1t,
nor driving thorough bred spar
either. But see now the difference
between us. After your trip you
were cross and Ill grained; while
after mine, / was so pleased with
my unbroken success. that / Joy
ously kissed every woman ant
child that thronged the buggy tc
meet me. Nay more. Scores d
our fellow citizens travel these
same roads every day, on foot, or
horseback, with every conceivable
form of vehicle, and none evel
, utters a word Of complaint. If {
loaded wagon stops..in one Of your
derided mudholes. the teamstel
quietly unloads, drives out, reioads
: passing fesolutely onward, Shout
ing Hosannah or whistling "cottor
eye Jo." Contrast this worthy ex'
ample of heroism Ia an humble
walk of life with your own want bl
equanimity. Should now our whi,
lon hero come to hill he CAM
pull up. what does he dol Does be
rush to the nearest printing office
to advertise his grievances Fal
from 1t. He simply "chocks" his
wagon, and calmly awaits the CON
ing of another team which he
knows from experience will gladly
help him up. Not long ago ! saw
six wagons, four buggies and .
whole jumper, standing on one hill
: just imagine what scene to bs
witnessed on that innocent hill, il
those eleven men had yielded to !
torrent of passion, unbuttoned theil
: collars and snorted as you did
But learnl lesson in philosophy
from their actions. They jusI
united forces, put wagon after
wagon on top of the hill, and Ii
less time than two hours, they
were all rolling merrily on theil
way. Was not that an admirable
: outcome I cannot but think Mr.
Ventress. that If more of your time
was spent In studying this homely
: philosophy, and less In grumbling
that you would be a happier man.
Your report reveals another un,
: looked for. and regrettable feature
In your character. 1t discloses q
: disposition to speak without due
: reflection. Thus you talk flip
PANTY Of pulling down hills, and
filling up mudholes as though il
were only pastime. Evidently
you never paused to consider the
immense amount of labor required
to do this work. Why Sir. il
would take four or FIVE men, as
many mules. two or three plows.