"SCRUTATOR" IN REPLY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2139, 8 January 1897, Page 5

"SCRUTATOR" IN REPLY.

(TO THE EDITOR L W.TI.) SIK.—In your last issue 1 see Father O'Donuell has discharged a whole 'bulletin'' iu reply to my letter of the previous week. Really after struggling through the rev. gentleman's prolix production I felt asham ed of the result of my very feeble effort as a pen wielder. Certainly I think Father O'Donnell has mistaken his vocation, for, as a quill-driver, he should gaio the topmost rung of the ladder. He rebukes you, Mr Fditor, for inserting my letter, which he stig-m;Mi->-s as containing " mean and wily insinuations" " base muendoes" "mendacious frothy vapourings," etc. Father o'f)onnell also cmsiders my letter beneath contempt, and nc takes the trouble to indict upon us a whole column of denial in language more choice than forcible. He mistakes abuse for argument. I'fancy he committed tbe same mistake in penning his epistle as he did when delivering that little speech of his. The rev. gentleman became over-excited with the force of his own argument (?) and lost himself. He then threw down the gauntlet. aud i- now enraged because someone picked it up. I notice he has divided my letter into clauses in quite a legal manner, aud arraved and forcibly dealt « l'h each clause (or falsely alleged accusation) to suit his-owu purpose. What a capital platform debitor he would ma ne—he would annihilate his opponent with the strength and refinement of his retorts.

Father O'Donnell overshot the mark and mistook me in one instance at least. I would net pofar forget myself or presume to call hjm a that the sore point?) 1 simply said liis speech " savoured " of the bigotry he attributes to otliers. He distinctly stated that the Protestant colonists objected to a puUic urant to the Catholics (not on account of incapacity in teaching, but solely on account of their religion—that it was not the schools, but the Roman Catholic religion —that we objected to. And ayain that they (the Romans Catholics) had always borne the cross of persecution for their religion's take, and they considered it a dory to do bo. Does not that alone "savour of bigotry"? Decidedly Father O'Donnell's letter distinctly proves that he, at all events, would bear any form of persecution in a.mild

and Christianlike manner ; if smitten on one cheek it is plainly seen he would tnrn the other. The tone and style of his epistle proclaims a tolerable amount of the Christian spirit that his innocence would assimilate. One cannot bur admire the clerical spirit iu wh'ufa father O'Donnell'ilptter is written. Assuming that'l am tr.e|"empty-heuded v brainless biawler and bhjckliead" he declares, secure iu his o* n coAvietioo of injured irreverence, would it nob have been more generous—not to say priest-like—had he tendered me his benign pity instead of hurling such choice epithets ut Iny luckless head ? I dare say, after such an onslaught from so able a penman, it may be thought to be my boiinden duty to crawl an ay to some darkened corner UQBeen by my fellow men, and hide my insignificant self for ave. ißrft, aomehow, despite the force of the bombshell, the recovery was speedy and the after effect was—amusement ! Had I been a abort-hand writer I conld have taken down the whole of the speech, and should not then have had to trust to my (using the expression applied) "'• fat-wrapped brain " for the outline, truthfulness of which is corroborated by others present on the occasion. Perhaps it is owing to that organ being so ''barren, clouded, obfuscated," etc.. etc., that I fail to recollect any portion of Father O'Dounell's address wherein he condemned any parent, Catholic or Protestant, foi taking advantage of the State schools, even iu the absence of R.C. scholastic institutions. Sectarianism is a difficult and dangerous subject to deal with,'and the further a clergyman of any calling keeps from it the better. I say again, even though I be subjected to another column of ridicule and abuse, that some of Father O'Dounell's remarks at the distribution of prizes, etc. wore uncalled for upon such an occasion and ia a mixed community. Note the difference in the cl ising address of the preceding year. Did Father (now Dean) Burke so commit himself ? Not at all. His liberal mind and broad views always gained respect and admiration from those with whom he was brought in contact. It would be well if Father O'Donnell entertainer! some of his esteemed predecessor's sentiments and spirit of .tolerance. My concluding paragraph seems to be another sore point (and it was only a chesnut; after all). Let anyone, after reading the rev. gentleman's closing paragraph, give a candid opinion as to which is the most objectionable. But then, unfortunately, I am •'in happy ignorance of what true culture is. not haviug ever l>et-n brought into contact with refined ladies." I fear I must plead guilty. Hence the reason why I fail to appreciate the hiyhly cultured, refined tone i-f Fa: her O'Dounell'o letter. Undoubtedly his early training has "eradicated " everything vicious, aud developed every noble trait in his character, as evinced by the volley of daiiity adjectives dischart«ed against poor offending " Scrutator " for daring to criticise so exalted' a Father O'Donnell vows not to tike any further notice of un •'frothy, mendacious vapouring*." Well. silence is Eolden. Still, should he alter his mind, and feel inclined to further analyse my short comings he can easily do so through the medium of a " gifted literary scribe" (the phrase is borrowed, not original) amongst his own flock, who will only be too glad to fly to his relief, and— curiously enough—their literary productions are so much alike as to render distinction almost impossible. There is the distinction without, the difference. No name need lie attached,: as his elegant noble st>le is too well kuown. to be mistaken. I am, etc., Scrutator.