THE "STURDY MENDICANT."

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2491, 25 April 1871, Page 3

THE "STURDY MENDICANT."

TO THE EDITOB OP THE PRESS. Sir, —" In asking us to insert his letter, Mr F. H. Valpy need not have assumed the air of a sturdy mendicant, who threatens while he begs of the passer-by."— Vide Lyttelton Times, 22nd April, 1871. The following extract from Sir Walter Scott's "Antiquary," is so very appropriate to the case in point that I must ask you to have the kindness to insert it :— "Who is the familiar old gentleman?" said Lovel, when the mendicant was out of hearing. '• O, one of the plagues of the country—l have been always against poors-rates and a work-house—l think I'll vote for them now, to have that scoundrel shut up. O, your oldremembered guest of a beggar becomes as well acquainted with you as he is with his dish—as intimate as one of the beasts familiar to man which signify love, and with which his own trade is especially conversant. Who is he ?—why, he has gone the vole—has been soldier, ballad-singer, travelling tinker, and is now a beggar. He is spoiled by our foolish gentry, who laugh at his jokes, and rehearse Edie Ochiltree's good things as regularly as Joe Miller's." " Why, he uses freedom apparently, which is the soul of wit," answered Lovel. " 0 aye, freedom enough," said the Antiquary ; "he generally invents some damned improbable lie or another to provoke you, like that nonsense he talked just now—not that I'll publish my tract till I have examined the thing to the bottom." "In England," said Lovel, " such a mendicant would get a apeedy check." " Yes, your churchwardens and dog-whips would make slender allowance for his vein of humor ! But here, curse him ! he is a sort of privileged nuisance—one of the last specimens of the old fashioned Scottish mendicant, who kept his rounds within a particular space, and was the news carrier, the minstrel. and sometimes the historian of the district. That rascal, now, knows more old ballads and traditions than any other man in this and the four next parishes. "And after all," continued he, softening as he went on describing Edie's good gifts, " the dog has some good humour. He has borne his hard fate with unbroken epirits, and it's cruel to deny him the comfort of a laugh at his betters. The pleasure of having quizzed mc, as you gay folk would call it, will be meat and drink to him for a day or two. But I must go back and look after him, or he will spread his d—d nonsensical story over half the country." The editor of the Lyttelton Times has apparently ignored the judicious part of the Antiquary's speech, and has " rushed into print" before examining the thing to the bottom. I quite agree with the Lyttelton Timss that it is very wrong indeed and very improper that a Government subordinate should be a newspaper scribe, and when the vein is on poke fun at his betters, and no mercy should be shown when such an one is " unearthed" ; and of course when it is so very wrong in a poorly-paid Government man to contribute his "mite" to the newspapers, it must be far more improper for a well-paid and lusty Government dignitary. A pretty state of things it certainly would be if our railway clerks and. others of the same kidney are to take it into their heads that they are as competent to be our advisers as men, like, for example, the editor of the Lyttelton Times, his contributors, and correspondents, who have all been trained from their youth specially for newspaper writing, and moreover possessed of all tie talent in the country. I could understand if, had these presumptuous persons been even colonial treasurers, or secretaries, or even telegraph inspectors, I say I could fully understand that they should fill whole columns of the newspapers, because, you see such people are licensed and privileged beings, although paid by us, but then in elerfts, persons who are paid by the Gois something dreadful and should be put a stop to at once. The fact is this country is getting used up and overdone, and I sympathise with the Lyttelton Times at this spread of license and wasted ink. If I might venture to hint a word of advice to

the Times I might be allowed to suggest tho advisableness of shifting the whole plant, paper, type, editor, tfag-pole, and all to some quiet pretty little island in the Pacific (perhaps Mr Vogel might manage to make the island a place of call for the Yankeestcamcrs, then the Hag-pole would come in handy) far removed from opposition or chaff, where they could iudulgo. to the full, their peculiar idea that they are heaven born and the only persons entitled to spoil ink in the columns of a newspaper. No chance then of being taken in the rear by the smarting mitrailleuse ; no fear then of having sturdy mendicant Edio Ochiltrees following them. Let mc hopo however that they won't get eaten. But even then they have the satisfaction of knowing that should the darkies try it they will be pretty antiquated. At all events something must be done, and some decisive steps taken, to get rid of this perpetual and fearful annoyance. I am, &c, Onk for His Nob.