The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-11
"a LARGE CIRCLE OF LADY
RIIAnERS''

a very charming and intelligent wo-
man writes to the editor of The Times
Dispatch saying that "your very clever
| light of a large circle of lady readers
! in Norfolk" but protesting against the
| cheerful reference In the article about
| Geraldine Farrar on Sunday to the
fact, or theory. as you please. that
| nobody goes to that town (Atlanta)
| who can in any manner stay away
| our correspondent conveys the mean
ing which we meant to convey when
she says: "You surely mean that no
one stays away who can possibly get
there You may cast slurs upon the
red headed widows Of Houston, Texas,
poke fun at the Old North state: but
when it comes to Atlanta the peerless,
be guarded; WELD your most facilc,
fascinating pen: she deserves all the
bouquets that can be thrown at her.
and more, too. Richmond is fine,
Charleston is finer; but the finest of all
is Atlanta" That reminds us of a
story that is told about Horace Cree
ley, who was regarded as an expert
in farming. One of his many CORE
spondents wrote to him asking wheth-
err or not guano was good to put on
potatoes. and his answer was: Per
sons of vitiated appetite might like it.,
but / prefer gravy on mine"
Stopping only long enough to say
that the smart thing that we said
about Atlanta slipped In when VIC
weren't looking. we would remark that
we have the greatest admiration OF
Atlanta because in all the history of
freaks there has never been a connlu
nifty that accomplished so much with
so little. That is why we really like
it and always cheer for it when any
body else is cheering against 1t, and
that gives us the right, at least we
assume the right, of saying what we
really do not think abou, it and its
funny ways.
But, dear Madame, we wish you
would revise your order Of precedence,
so that it Will read thus: Atlanta is
fine, Charleston is finer; but Richmond
| takes the rag off the bush and knocks
| down the pcrsimmon every time.
Moreover, while we have been taught
Texas. we have never poked fun at the
Old North State. Nobody could do that
without exciting our most serious dis
pleasure. We have a standing agree
ment with the editor of the Charlotte
Observer to keep the MeclllenburG
Declaration top of column, next to
reading matter" all the time, his idea
being that it doesn't matter so much
really what is said so that something
is said, North Carolinians, of the Neck
Icnburg sort. believing that it is bet
ter to be exposed for their historical
inveracities than never to be exposed
at all. AS we have remarked before,
North Carolina is one OF the greatest
States in the United States, Judging by
the North Carolinians we have i'll
Richmond and who do their trading in
this town; but it must be remembered
that our most intimate touch hereto
fore has been with the psalm-singing
variety who have not yet grown into
the ritualistic stage of development
They are coming, however, Father
Abraham, a hundred thousand strong"
and they are coming to Richmond
which has more banking capital than
any other town in the South and which
could buy out Atlanta, and pay for it
in cash If it cared to have II, which it
doesn't.
our correspondent will understand
that all this explains why swe wear
our rue with a difference and why we
throw her these violets even if they
be withered