ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Dunstan Times, Issue 524, 3 May 1872, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

—o— I see by your last issue Vthat a casual spark from my steel pen has set the Alexandra forest in such a blaze, that all the water in the Gorge Creek will not more than suffice to quench the flames. In firing a random shot, one very frequently hits the proper target, but, on this occasion, I have to regret having inadvertently lodged my ball in the wrong bull’s eye. However in this instance instead of throwing myself on the sympathies of your readers, I shall appeal to the good understanding, and cordial feeling that has hitherto existed between my old friend and your correspondent—William Forrest, Esq. Years ago William—old fellow, ladjurod you by our long standing friendship not to attempt a joke, however lame an one, after the agonising, and excruciatingly convulsive efforts you made, to give birth to a stale piece of wit that died a horrible and lingering death before it had passed your lips, or you could utter its name. Why can you not let the departed rest in peace? Have the tortures you have undergone in attempting to create a laugh, at the expense of the dead and gone, conveyed no moral to you? Have the severe lessons that your friends imagined you had received in your futile attempts at being witty held forth no warnings to you in your green old age? One would think—that the experiences of the past, would have taught you to avoid the rock upon which you had so often wrecked your terrible attempts at being funny. Ah! old fellow, it is a common failing to dislike being set right, and it is one of .the weaknesses of old age to imagine itself young again, and to believe its utterances of trite aphorisms—the acme of wisdom, Row my dear Forrest, 1 could have forgiven you the vanity of imagining that it was you I alluded to as the Alexandra correspondent of the Tuapeht Times— well knowing as you did—that I was thoroughly satisfied there was no fun in you—Aye, and moreover I could also have stretched my natural kindness of heart, to have forgiven you fishing for the compliment that you took for yourself ; but, 1 never can forgive, (and it will be useless your representing our former friendship) no, never, the sacrilegious and ghoul like act of raising poor Washington Irving’s ghost, and f easting on the remains of his Rip Van Winkle. But despite my attempt at being severe in this matter —the memories of old times, and associations rise before me—and although I cannot but forgive you, I must ever regret the infatuation that induced you to imagine, that either the compliment or the beak was intended for you. I am, Your’s, &., THE 14 MILE CORRESPONDENT. April 23, 1872.