SOCIAL GOSSIP OF THE SEASON.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 826, 2 October 1877, Page 3

SOCIAL GOSSIP OF THE SEASON.

Sib,—ln your notice to correspondence, of the 25th instant, you objected to my sketches, that they are low, course, and sourlious. In amwer to these obarges, if oharges yon please to term them, I shall briefly explain, that it may well be so. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs off thirties ? I cannot paint elegance and refinement of mind, and manners, and happy conclusions from out of the locality, in which my subjeotslive, move, and have their being. The initiated know this, and you may turn your eyes away from the realities, which have been already published in your paper, and let fancy diape the scene with beauty and goodness, but will that make the realities of my subject less sad. If the evil things of life aie to be remedied they mUBt be looked in the face. And evil things there are, so many, and so difioult to remedy, |that the wisest investigator may , well consider it best to desist and turn away. - You also accuse me of unmanlineas, well, if speaking the truth is that definition I must submit to your superior wisdom. Although I would most willingly subscribe my name to that letter ('Commune £onum'), and to all others that I have ever written, only by doing so, I think you must admit, that it would in a great measure destroy, and take the great aiimalus out of correspondence, it every one knew the writer. And particulary if the correspondence were on immorality and crime. You also remark,- that boaconstaictor like, I thought by slavering you over I might have ah eaty prey, and get the correal pondence alluded to published. To this statement I. give a direct contradiction, and still maintain, that no species of knowledge is ' more indispensable than newspaper con espondence under the guidance ot Bonna sense, which without such knowledge there is little avail. It is our surest protection from, wild political theory, and enables us to think and ace with confidence and security in public cmergience. Few t therefore will deny, that it ie of importance that conect ideaa on this sat jeot should be instilled in the minds of tne rising youths of jSew Zeaianu. Why is oriental natives ingtneial eo barren of. political instruction and literature? himply because it is Kbalift, Shahs, and Sultans that read newspapers, history, Ac, not the people. Justice and impartiality shouiu iiibpire the ...editor,-and ,ne.'should view all with t an e«qual eye. I hope sir, the attention jon afford to every ade ot opinion will (lnuute you to insert this letter.— 1 *m, &c, Cummunb Boutjm. Kihikihi, S. piember, 1577.