ILL TIMED RIDICULE.

Evening Star, Issue 3051, 28 November 1872, Page 4

ILL TIMED RIDICULE.

To the Editor. Fir,—Will you allow me to notice in your columns a paragraph which appeared in the last issue of the Echo ! It is headed “ Johu Knox,” and contains several deliberate insults to the Presbyterians in Dunedin, I am aware that it is a rule amongst prudent people to treat such paragraphista as he of the Echo with silent cou'erupt. The rule is good, but it has exceptions. A kick or two occasionally mingled with contempt are necessary to k'-ep a im-ar. fallow in iaiod that continued outrage' on decency do not pass unnoticed,

This writer, in noticing the fact that a so* c:al galhern.ji is to 1>« i»«*H in Kn -x Church on Monday in honor of John Knox, says;— “ Several speakers will address meeting about Kuo;.." Whopc he gets his authority for this assertion, 1 cannot say positively ; but most likely it was from one of two inexhaustible reservoirs for the Echo's facts -the keyhole or the charwoman. But whatever doubts exist about the source of the fact, there can be none about that of the criticisms on the speeches to be delivered. Collectively they are spoken of as a “craw,” and as to “ contain nothing newand then the writer goes on to “ suggest an improvemerit.” Wc shall impure into tiic merits of this improved “craw” by-and-by. The source of that criticism will be found by those who look for it where impudence and presumption are plentiful. Even if the speakers should tell their audience “ nothing new,” the necessity for a repetition of old facts is surely commendable when one considers the egregious mis-state-ments made in matters of fact occurring under one’s eyes. An illustration is at hand, in the last sentence in the paragraph alluded to there occurs this assertion ; —“ Spiritualists assert the dead can visit the earth.” Fup. ly this }s a mis-statement. The idea of a visit being paid pre-supposes, 1 submit, the idea of life in the visitor, consequently a visit from the d.eod is an impossibility. The “ improved craw ” doesn’t seem to be any great things, whatever the original one may be. In conclusion, let me i ecommend to this wiitcr a more gentlemanly style of comment. “A good riddance of bad rubbish” was a nasty heading to put to a paragraph announcing the likelihood of the Rev. Mr Sutherland's leaving Dunedin. That he did a short time ago With a full recollection 1 of George Sutherland’s faults so ostentatiously displayed, 1 have no hesitation in saying this unsult was undeserved ; and furthermore, “take him for all in all he could cover a man like the paragraphist of the Echo with the shadow of his hand, — I am, &c,, Reader.