To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.
Sir, —I should be guilty of falsehood, were I to assert that I did not enjoy a hearty lauarh a Mr. SparroAvgrass's letter in last week's Times. In fact I laughed so heartily and" so long that my wife called me a fool for my pains, and this compliment quite restored my corporeal equilibrium ; for, between ourselves, I may say that my '' melius dimidium" rules the roast, and that my purely tranquil moments are those which I pass, pipe in mouth, at the Hotel. But, Sir, is not Mr. Sparrowgrass rayther too hard upon W. W.? I admit that his raillery is free from ill-nature, and that his sole object was to amuse (the evidence of Avhich is apparent in the cosmopolitan nature of his strictures, no one being spared) ; but, I have . derived so much benefit from the remarks, hor-<-' ticultural and agricultural, Avhich have appeared in your columns from the pen of "W.AV".," that I almost fear he may not be disposed to extend.them any further. All men have their ,; peculiar style of composition, and/* W. W.'s"-' is not free from a certain phraseology which,ah idle critic (whom I take Sparrowgrass to he) may poke his fun at; and perhaps,' Sir, you could not Avell l-efuse his, humorous contribution. But I pen these few,remarks,in the.hope that " W. W." may not be, disconcerted by. the strictures of his critic, but wijli'show his .appreciation of them by still continuing to make the columns of the Times the vehicle through which modern Pilgrims, like,-inyself, may derive the benefit of .his practical experience. As for Sparrowgrass, I hope his individuality may be discovered, and^that some/ d -d good-na-tured friend" may.probe the penetrable point of his armour.,"':' •.- / , .Yonr's obediently, C.B.A. Chri-tehnrch, March ,18th. [Thedetter of *' Sparrowgrass" was intended to ■..,. .rfmuse and not to wound; at least that was v the interpretation We put upon it, else we ' had hot inserted it. That man must be . thin-skinned indeed, who can discover in the •letter aught hut a riant nature overflowing ' with a spirit of fun. — Ed. L. 7.]
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Bibliographic details
Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 115, 19 March 1853, Page 7
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351Untitled Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 115, 19 March 1853, Page 7
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