NOTIONS ON "NOTIONS."

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1565, 11 August 1873, Page 2

NOTIONS ON "NOTIONS."

[to the editor.] Sir,— For some time past I have been a constant reader .of your paper, and I must say that latterly I have been greatly astonished- at your, .admission of articles headed "Notions" and written by a Writer under the- ■mm de plwme 11 Diogenes." I thought at first that he could never have had a kindf ond mother to direct his youthful path, or teach his lisping tongue to utter that language, of which he now makes such indifferent use, namely, in taking every opportunity of railing and ridiculing the weaker sex. I am not an Amazon, but, knew I the writer, 1 fear I should be inclined to serve him as Antisthenes treated his ancient namesake on his first visit to Athens. In your issue of the 2nd' he makes some remarks (that a true Englishman should scorn -to make) in which he compares women to monkeys. . I hardly like to ask the question, but can. Mr mother have been one? Surely if a woman chooses, to wear "improvers," high-heeled, boots," &c.,i she may ;be allowed.to consult her fancy. , The. lords of creation " may smoke,' snnff,' hobblerize, and do other things deleterious to health, but should poor frail woman be weak enough . to follow in the wake; of fashion, she is to become the subject of coarse comment by ."(Diogenes," Did he even make his criticisms witty, or laughable, it might be looked over, but no, they are vulgar. I fear the. women he has chosen for his criterion of womankind must be nearly related to Lais, whom Diogenes of old was said to visit. His writings on women would lead | one to suppose that he had been most assiduous in his attentions, to some amiable and lovely creature^ who, besides her beauty, has had wisdom, and, taking his good and bad qualities in the balance, has given her opinion that the: latter .predominate. ■ >' : -'. '.••'■ ' ■ •• ■ ■.; He is very curious about Mr Knyvett's advertisement — wishes • to' know/.ybu. know, " Can he tune any ear— a donkey?a for instance." If he is curious on that point let him apply to Mr Knyvett (or in Diogenes's peculiar and very funny style, Mr X.), and I am sure, that gentleman will be courteous enough to ans :we?|t2ttL Poor "Diogenes" ! Toacertaihextentypity him ; he can think of nojnobler means of distinguishing himself in the eyes of the weaker sex, whom he affects to despise, ,than turning a Guy Fawkes and burning down the new Houses of Parliament^— or,. Heaven forbid ! invent a, new crinoline. Better devote his talent to making a whitebait net— and use it. • In your issue of the 9th he cannot refrain from insinuations at the professions of young girls advertised for Reefton, 1 and, to attract more attention to the word profession, he has put it within inverted commas. He is very funny, too, about the Progressive Harmonists. Why should he make fun of any person's religious opinions, so long as they do not attempt to coerce others ? Because I happen to be a Protestant, is that any reason I should quarrel with my Catholic neighbor because he follows a different faith to mine. No ; we in the Colonies should not despise one another for our . different beliefs, bu!t each walk according tp- his light. I am afraid the only way in which " Diogenes" follows the cynic philosopher is by imitating those vices which he may have possessed and none of the virtues which he did. . ; : To conclude, I would sincerely advise " Diogenes" vto return to his. tub, and remain till he can find some other subject to ridicule and scoff at. . -• „ • ; - ■ ■ ■ ' ■■•■' -lam: :.-, -„- ,-■' .'■--,. Not an Amazon. \ >.