ON A "VISITOR.''

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 153, 26 July 1888, Page 2

ON A "VISITOR.''

TO THE EPITOK OF THE STAR. Sib, — On reading in the Star of Tuesday last a letter, over the signature of "A Visitor," poor Ishmael noticed two things, — firstly, bis own lamentable lack of intellect (in "A Visitor's" opinion), and, secondly, the remarkable and astonishing intellectuality displayed in that letter. Would it be too much to say that, as evidence* of " superior intelligence" and of wondrous mental power, that letter is far above anything that the great Lord Bacon ever wrote? But, doubtless,, the dazzling intellect that soars majestic through the glorious empyrean af drawing-room songs and insipidity, scorns with lofty pride the humble labors of England's greatest philosopher ; perchance 'tis even above an acquaintance with those labors! Yet, — "how are the mighty fallen 1" — in the consuming fire of f his righteous indignation: against presumptuous Ishmael, f'A Visitor" has stooped to faulty composition I Haft he kept his temper, his transcendanfc genius would not have suffered him to use such expressions as, " in which we are as critical, and of which we areas good judges as we are of good taste," " other gospel than," and, " as far below him for intelligence as in absence of vulgarity" ; nor would he hare forgotten that these are such things as paragraphs. The right use of prepositions is said to be the test of English prose : if so, alas for •« A. Visitor !"

Ishmael, being deeply grieved to hear that "A Visitor" is liable to bilious attack^ would hint at ,the alleged uses of Anti bilious Pills, -but regrets that, in this matter, he ca&not speak from personal experience. By his touching reference to the " sparse congregation of St. John's " 11 'A Visitor* would seem to be a pillar of the Church, --a ' corner-stone ' a burning and a sinning light." .If so, 'tis not surprising that, in his opinion, the Church Social was " a success ; " and Isbmael rejoices to learn from such an authority that* in. Feilding at least, the Church of Eng- "* land sets before herself such lofty aims, and that she so perfectly attains those aims. "So mote it be I" But - he can assure . "A Visitor" that, i» other places of his acquaintance, the various Churches are simply so many social institutions, more or less effete to which it is considered respectable to belong; and^ in those places, the Church of England preaches, even more decide Uy than do the other Churches, the, glorious Gospel of Respectability. "A VisitorVMetter waa a challenge;, Ishmael; has- accepted that challenge.— -I am, &c, ~ Feilding, July 26, 1888.""