INSTRUCT ME.

Southland Times, Issue 551, 31 August 1866, Page 3

INSTRUCT ME.

(TO THE EDITOB OF THE SOUTHLAND TIJIES). Silt, — Having a propensity to study character, and having, "perhaps erronerously *, a strong belief in the doctrine that "a man can be measured by bis literary productions, I study closely what appears in the shape of letters in the local journals, and in the quietude of my sea-washed home con over the papers week after w*eek, and I think I can tolerably well decide the authorship of the various productions. For a longtime since I have observed that Invercargill has talent in galore ; we have the get nine '* stump declaimer" who looks upon all men more honored than himself as suspicious characters not to be trusted ; than we have the man with a mantle of many colors, and numberless aliases, who can see through a stone wall, penetrate the heart of any men, and expose the evil conceptions of all ; we have also the sentimental -writer who holds up the minor failings of his brother's to tbe public gaze. We have long had these men contributing to our amusement, if not to our edification, still it has been a source of grief to me, that there was no '* fimny man " to step in and relieve the monotony of the ponderous arguments of the persistant redressers of grievances, real or imaginery. I see, sir, you have found one — one I say, because with my mesmeric instinct, I have come to the conclusion, that the brilliant and exquite wit of "Soapy Sneeky," " Old Cockatoo," " Earce," &c, must all have come from tbe pen of your " funny man." I am delighted that you have such a contributer, but sir, I find one deficiency in all his writings ; he does not give an explanatory foot note to the genuine wit and humor, which doubtlessly all his letters contain — could you induce him to do this, as it is too bad that such masterly writing should not be appreciated, for so simple a reason as that it cannot be understood. — Tours, &c, A Boatman. Campbelltown, 29th August.