The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-08-30
Enron oP THE JOURNAL:

EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:
Dear Sir A fortnight ago some
women, interested in hniidina ""~s
sv,nly Episcopal chapel here, got up
lawn fete TO increase the building
fund. This was one of the most enjoy.
able, altogether innocent and finan.
cially successful affairs of the kind
that ever occurred in Manchester. The
people of the neigeborhood know this,
and have yet TO HEAR any word other
than of highest commentator regard.
ing this festival. Your last issue,
however, contained an anonymous let.
ter designedly written 10 spread abroad
false idea of this festival, 10 cast
reflections upon its management, and
discredit the cause for which It was
arranged. An anonymous letter i
Justly considered by all 10 be beneath
ones notice. But, unfortunately, such
a letter carries with it much the same
sting as malignant gossip, and, when
printed, many people are affected by
It's insinnations who would rate al
their true value the criticisms Of one
having the manliness 10 speak out
over his own name.
What are the facts Among score
or so of booths was one in which
Aunt Sally" dummy, held a clay
pipe in her mouth as a target Tor base.
balls. Those succeeding in their aim
chose prize. II was fun for young
and old. The prizes were necessarily
Of small value, and were contributed
by different people, including several
Manchester merchants. As prizes for
men-who usually do not banker for
tin horns, gum, and iacks-in-the-box--
there were pipes and cigars, possibly
cigarettes also, though do not know
about that. No boy was given pipes
or cigars, at least that was the inten-
ton. II, by chance, some lad got
hold OF a pipe, he may have taken il
home. Indeed, il is known that one
young fellow of sixteen or seventeen
did 30. am perfectly sure, however,
that readers Of the JOURNAL will
hardly accept this as proof that lads
were furnished with pipes, cigars and
cigarettes.
But this Friend OF the Boys" heard
OF tor says he did--and forthwith
heaps up mountain from his little
AMI hill. He did not care about the
ant hill, or even his artificial mountain
either. but here was chance 10 aim n
thrust at the fete and its object.
There is a snug self-righteousness
about the writer Of this anonymous
letter which smacks Of insincerity. A
fair and open criticism would be well
coined, but the insinuatlons OF one
Uho hides his identity are not 10 be
trusted. lnnncndoes are, after all, but
a cheap form of condemnation.
Let me suggest 10 the writer Of this
anonymous letter, whose identity is
not 80 altogether unsupported as he
supposed, one or two simple things.
IL may be fine 10 pose as " "A Friend
Of Boys" bat il Is finer thing 10 set
before boys an example Of open and
manly criticism-not of mere cowardly
insinnaiion. Boys like manliness in
sport. They usually make their own
estimate Of any kind Of underhand
play.
Ii is fine thing 10 be concerned for
the welfare Of this, or any other, com
munity, bal finer thing 10 abstain
from unkindly and unfair criticism 81
ones fellow. Christians Of another com
munlon.
NJ, reason for answering this letter
u MOI thai may defend the ladies who
had charge Of that fe,e. Every one
knows thai such defense Is quite need
less. Rather. | wish 10 contemn a
method Of anonymous criticism which
IL not only unehristisn, bui IL cowarily
and even ungenilemanly.
4. l.. MINER.