Year: 1866

Il
Meanwhile, having thus applied the match
to the train of popular indignation, / sat
down, in great equanimity of spirit, to
await the explosion. 1t came with terrific
power, Manchester, long stiff and torpid,
with the signs Of death upon her, Rrst
shook convulsively, then groaned slug
gishly, and finally broke into storm Of
rage. Men noted for coolnsss made my
letter an occasion Of the most vigorous and
sublime blasphemy. Others eased their
swelling souls by preferring against me the
amiable but indefinite accusation OF lying:
One lady, said to rank high In Church and
State, rushed frantically into the street
and magnanimously offered the use OF ner
finger nails for removing my eye-balls from
their sockets, provided some one would
bring me within her reach. Our sagaclous
reporter, discovering that public ieehDg
was against me, jumped into the Richmond
Times, and vociErously cxclaimed-in
substance, at least" Ye people, ever pre-.
cious to my soul, Struggle abuses you, and
of course is your enemy; l praise you;
ergo, stick to me-"


Thus ran the tide, and to confess the
truth, it pleased me immensely. II re-
yealed the fact that our town has some
lingering vitality. If the people had not
grown furious over my letter, my disap-
pointment would have been gricvous. I
hereby make my bow of gratitude for
every angry emotion and harsh utterance
provoked by my letter.


Indeed, my past success emboldens mo
to strike another blow. This / do Oh
principle. heard "circuit rider" onco
say that the most effective way to make a
backslider pray was first to make him
swear. The idea of the preacher was to
excite the poor fellow to commit a very
wicked deed, by which his conscience
would be stirred into life. This would
produce self-condemnation, and force him
finally to knucklc in genuine pcnitcnce.
Elegant plan. shall try it on Manchcs-
ter. will draw before her the portrait of
her ugliness. This, of course, will arouse
her into violent but unSeemly rage.
| When this abatcs she will naturally pass
through the diSagreeable experience Of
being ashamed of herself, after which her
condition will be favorable for listening to
| counsel.


Now for little more abuse. The ladies'
beratc me terribly for asserting that tho
| Manchester houses arc not well kept. l
repeat it. They are not. AS general
thing, they are miserably kept. BY this
do not mean to intimate that our house,
keepers do not every day make their
beds, sweep their floors, or wash their table,
ware. NV conception Of a wcll-kcpt house
includes far more than this. ] regard
house as properly kept when it does not
leak nor smoke when its cellar is dry;
when its walls are well plastcred or neatly
papcred when its doors, free from creak-
ing, lock easily and securely; when its cx-
terror is bright with paint when its win
dows have no glass broken and no Stats lost
from the blinds; when its porchcs ara
blessed with sound ratings, and steps which
threaten no violence to life and limb;
when the walkways are laid out with taste
and regularly swept; when the yard is full
of shrubbcry, all neatly dressed when
the enclosure has every pale in place, and
shows the civilizing effect OF paint and
when its gate swings firmly on its hinges,
and shuts III its own accord. SHOW III"
a house in this condition, and very gladly
will | write over its gateway well kept
How many such houses has Manchester
can tell YOU exactly, for have had tho
matter investigated. Prepare to blush


when declare the number to be Gre.


If any one will walk from the bridge to
the head OF town he will observe that OF
the right of Hull street, out oi nearly 100
buildings, only fourteen are freshly and
handsomely painted. Others show that
long ago they were under the brush of a
painter whose knowledge of chemistry
was very defective Many are rusty and
smoked, and not few on the verge of col


lapse. Some of them, hidcouS, grim, anil
> frowning, seem fit abodcs for bats, owls,
and hobgoblins. And all of this is seen Oh
our principal street.


The wretchcd taste Of our people is
strikingly exhibited in the character OF tho
new buildings recently erected. | OBJ
served on yesterday two framed dwellings,
newly constructed, standing near each
other, and already occupied. These aro
right on the ground, with yards unturied
and uncncloscd. One OF the best houses
which have been put up OF late was 50
thinly and niggardly painted that it already
begins to wear faded hue. Some of the
old houses have had additions and repairs
bestowed upon them. In nearly every case
they are poorly done, and out OF taste.
Except in four cases, We have not respec


table sign over any of our establishments.
The rest are gotten up without style or
ncatness.


Little brother came in last week with
. the surprising news that they We're build


ing o new church somewhat to tho


rear of that "Rat Castle" known to fame
as the Old Tavern. Upon inquiry, learn
that the oddly-conceived structure, sup
posed to be church, is designed for resi-
dence. The man who invented the plan for
that house ought to emigratc for his health.
His brain, like the house in question, is evil
dently turned around.


Our Town Hall has the exact appearance


of a small brick cottage which had run up
, to seed. 1t is wonder and pity that tho
wind does not blow the unsightly fabric
from its base. am told that the only en-
trance to the chambers of this glorious
mansion is by means of side door and


dark, winding stairway. respectfully sug-
gest to our city parents that they prepare
coat Of arms for Manchester, with the
significant and appropriate motto, Down
ward" STRUGGLE.
Psi shall publish a letter soon, the
,, subject of which will be "The Ghosts OF
! our Invisible Fathers"