CORRESPONDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3655, 29 December 1879, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

" MARY ANN ON THE KOW." TO TUB EDITOU OF TUB STAH. Sib, — I don't know how I should ought to bogin, but I feela sure as howyo'll excuse any mistakes as I may make if so be as yo put this into your valerable paper. Aa you know, Mr Editur, I am jist a woman, and that as I know by experience don't count for much, but it du seem to mo as if a woman can't be a Orangeman nor a male Catholic. (And as I said to my Jioi, eays, I, I dou'fc believe as how luvly woman is to the bottom of it this time eny how.) So she's suro to give a rite korrect version of the awfull row as happened on Boxin' Day. Well, Sir, me and my Jim had packed up our kits with sometlnn' to out, and I jist put on the kids' Sunday clothos, when Jim said as how ho thought we'd enjoy ourselves if wo went somewhere along with some o' they society chaps. And we v, ent, and sure enough we see'd somo o 1 them wo never seed afore and don't want to see no more. Juatas we were a turnin' up by the White Hart wo seed as how somethin was wrong ; for there right in front o 1 us was sich a sight as was enough to mako a woman's blood run cold. It completely turned me up sides down for suro. There was a heap o' great healhin (cos they couldn't ha been eny bolter) ; a crackin 1 tho heads o' tho poor fellahs as hadn't uothin' to turn round on 'cm with. And wo could ha 1 heard the blows a crackin 1 as if murther was boin 1 dono. Saya my Jim to me, says ho, you fctop hero saya he until I see if I can't cripple tho arm o' one o' them beggarß. An4 off ho went. Oh, Lor', Mr" Edilur, I can tell yez, my heart went plump into my mouth when I seed tome o' they feends a chaain two or three |poor fellahs, nr.d didn't they give 'em fits. One poor dear seem'4 as if ho was pretty well dono for; why, ye couldn't see him, ho was that smothered in !)iocd. I kinder think as how they had a stiff down on this chap, us they declared thoy'd do for 'im. As luck ud hev it, a peeler com'd runnin' up, and I do belove as how he saved that poor fellah's life, altho' he got it pretty hot hisself. Good Lor', ho went just as white as a sheet, and tho plucky way in which he wired in ought ter ba reconistd by the publick. I for ono won't begrudge somethin' towards it. I seed lots o' women u-cryin', as if. they wos frightened, as I makes no doubts they wos. I felt awfull bad for fear eny of the poor fellahs was killed, as I had to stop for my Jim. I couldn't leave High street, so I follered a lot to ilr Ellisdou's shop. I heered some o' the men say aa how it was kep' by a Mr Biggs, and us how they know'd he'd fix 'em up squaro, as he'd been a nienny years ah that Kind o' thing. Just then my Jim com'd along, and he giv'd a peep in and found out as how tho .men was doin' beutiful. I wonder wat we would a ha' doue if all tho chimists' chaps had a been out for a hollidsy. I think ts how wo women, arter all, ought ter stick up to the chimisb moro'n we do abuylu' bottles o 1 rubbishy scent. (Why there was Jemima Ann, my Jitn'g sister, if she didn't pison hoi 1 babby'g skin with that orful vilet powder she got from some cheap Jack.) And lots o' other things from them a3 aia't got any care to sell 'cm. I wonders how somo folks ud like to see the chimist a sellin' silk dresses, troaclo and wiggs over there counters. But oh dear me, I've! been and clean gone out o' the truck. Well, I Mr Editur, mo and my Jim, wo don't think as how the Ministers cau ha' done their duty as they ought ter. As I said to my Jim, eays I, they ought ter try to psrawado 'em to give up these horrid societys altogether. I kuow the Catholic?, or, as my Jim calis 'em, the Groenuns ; they was alhvays famous for being led by tho priests, and they are so mado that I they can't eeo a orango uolor'd rag without goin 1 stark mad. As every boddy knows this, just let our ministers eec what they can du with the Orange men ; they'd find it a sight j easier than a plucky little man of that order did on Boxin 1 day, whou ho rushed right in to tho iniddlo o' a lot o' raggamuflins and i larrikins, and getting hold o' a tremenjis big fellah— big enough to ha' put him in his out side pocket— ho begged him lo go home, which tho samo big fellah didn't see tho fun of, for, shoutin' "Let's go on, bovg; I'd like I

;to see them as til stop us -," and flourishin' ; their slicks, on they went.. I heard some ■ zaan in the crowd* siy at how one o' the I ministers wanted to her this Orange lodge (made just for eich purpose. 1 ein't beleva ifc. As my Jim says, siys Ip, "A rerv pretty kind o' a miri-to he'd he." " Yes." fays I, ! " and if he did," ear* I, " I hopo ai hou-'ho's satisfied," s its 1. "I wonder how he'd like to be pushed up to a mad Bull with a red raghisflelf," saya I. Tdo hope m how it '11 bo pub down, and that eny thing »* can annoy and disturb the puhiick will be kep' down to,, as this kind o' thing jnighlent end so well as ifc done- this tme. In the-ovenin' mo and ray Jim -went along the street, and one drunken old villin thought as I was pretry stout like, that I was a walkin' mugaaeene, VO3 he com'd up with "Hi eay, mis?ee, liev ye got, anny gutipowther. ([ looked at 'im with *ecorn ) " That man," says I to uiy Jim, " must be of 1 a eangwinarry turn 0' funnel. But still ho kep' btggin' for " gunpowther." Another fellah— one as didn't know much 0' the row — com'd up an' said, "What's the matter— a row?" "Yes" "Ob, on the divisional question. We'll lick 'em yet; by haven, we'l] lick 'em yet." Says Ito my Jim, " The old \illun," says I, "he wants a lickin' hiaself." When tLo procession com'd back at nigh*-, lor, ifc did one %ood to see the way the people did run to give 'em a good cheerin'. And my Jim, he lifted mo up as if I was no more en a babby and runned 1 ke mad, and didn't ho cheer ; and Mr Kditur, the women wasn't back'ard in comin' forward; didn't they go it ; and the fatuns was'ent behind no how. Ilowsumorcr, it's all well as ends well, and if they wots caught gets made a hoxainple of, I don't suppose it'll happen again. Yours to command, MARY ANN. NEWSPAPER CRITICISMS. The following letters appeared in this morning's Ly Helton Times.— TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— ln your issue of Dec. 22, there ap--1 poars a letter from Mr Truman on Theatrical and Musical Criticisms, and as my name figures rather conspicuously in said letter, I trust; the sonso of justice which seems to perv.vle your journal, will permit me to set Mr 'I ruman right in his proposition. In the first place, no true artist shrinks from fair and impartial criticism, in fact he rather invites it, as it is the only glass in which the artist, can see himself, and thereby correct the errors which may (unconscious to himself) have crept into his picture. The actor who takes nature for his guide, and art for Jiis assistant, may, through frequent repetition, become blase, and so Euro of his power as to glos3 over the more subtle points, and thereby give at best but a poor reflex of his earlier efforts, and it is only through the medium of criticism that his 'mind can come to realise his faults. But it must be criticism of such a character that he can respect— not the effusions of the cynic who is pre-deter-mined to see good in nothing. Mr Truman saya he has read tho ZVmesand Press, and he can see no just cause for complaint. lam afraid he has read more of the Times than tho Press, or he would have seen in the latter journal tho statement that " The Irish Exilo " was beyond tlio pale of criticism, tliat it was bad, improbable, faulty. He would have eoen a general censure of the wholo thing without the manliness of showing why or wherefore. This— pardon me — is^whafc I call unjust criticism. I must congratulate "Mr Truman" upon the aiutcncss of his observation in discovering niy meaning in what he is pleased to call an innuendo, as I trual I left nothing unsaid to convey tho impression that outside influence had been used, to produco the romarks in the morning Press on my first appearance, more especially as I hav9 been railed upon by more than 0110 gentleman of tin's city to disclaim any indorsement of the article in question. One of the said gentlemen assured me that the criticism complained of in tho Press (all savo the description of the play itself) had been committed to paper before my arrival in the city, and for "Mr Truman's" benefit I will 6tate that this is what I cull ungenerous treatment. If, as Mr Truman says, they had here patiently waited and wilnessed the whole performance, and then given their honest opinion, it would have mot with rospect from me, however adverse it might have been. But when the representative of a paper leaves the theatre before the second act is over, and makes the statement at the box office that " We don't like him," it is hardly presumable that a fair or impartial criticism will bo the result. Of the Lj/lteUon Times I havo nothing to. say, except that I have met with a spirit of fairness ; they have " nothing eitruuated, nor set down aught in malice." But I think, Mr Truman, beforo taking up the gauutlet in defence of criticism, should at least post himself as to tho facts of the case. Trusting you will pardon mo for my intrusion on your valuable space. — I am, &0., J. J. WALLACE.