Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 152, 24 July 1888, Page 2

Correspondence

[We are not responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.] ON "IsiMAEL." TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— On reading in the Stab of Saturday last a letter, oyer the signature of " Ishmael," a visistor would notice two things— first, ' the notable scarcity of people of good taste in the community ; and second, the remarkable instance of good taste shown in that letter. Would it be too much to say that for absence of vulgarity, and as an example of good breeding, that letter is superior to anything Lord Chesterfield ever wrote. Fo rits studied avoidance of anything which could hurt the feelings of those who were kind enough to contribute to the evening's pleasure, it is indeed a pattern which I, for one, shall keep in remembrance. That the writer is unable to see anything but stupidity, and want of meaning, in drawingroom and concert songs, might be attributed by some people to want of intellect. Doutless it is to be attributed to superior intelligence and love of classical music. I can easily see " Ishmael" shrink at the bare mention of Buch a song as "My Norah." Had I been in his place, I should probably have taken refuge in absorbing the delicacies provided by the ladies, had a bilious attack afterwards, and penned a letter which would have been quite as striking an instance of vulgarity and bad taste as "Ishmael" is of the converse. I trust, however, that the gentleman who sang "My Norah" will not feel extinguished by our want of appreciation. It is his misfortune that he cannot rise to our level m the matter of music, in which we are as critical, and of which we are as good judges, as we are of good taste. I was glad to see, however, that the gathering was a success. If "Ishmael" will only add himself and his followers, few though they be, to the all too sparse congregation of St. John's, I can assure him that he will hear other gospel than the gospel of respectability preached there. He! will be taught, by a man who is in earnest, that to do justly,' to love mercy, and to walk humbly- with God is the gospel of the Church of England here, and he may perhaps in future be more considerate to those, whom he thinks are as far below him for Intel- , ligence, as in absence of yulgarity, and keen perception of good taste.— -I am, &c, A VISITOR