ONE WORD MORE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1218, 30 January 1886, Page 3

ONE WORD MORE.

( To tU Editor.) Sib,— l am glad to find that afte* a week's cogitation " Lethe " is again " to the front," but extremely sorry to hear his confession re the " awful thickness " of his head ; for had he appended such a confession to his critique this controversy had not begun, and consequently your readers would not have had inflicted upon them "untold agony," and poor '' Letbe" would have been a perfect stranger to that "'unreßt and almost pain" which he so much speaks of. Begarding the definition of blank verse your readers, I presume, will be ready to accept Mr Bracken's dictum, which appeared in your last issue ; by it you will see that he and I are at one in the matter. The fulsome praise at last accorded me by " Lethe " is indicative of the temperament of the writer. " Aut Cccsar aut nullus," wnich, being translated, very neirly means "a' sugar or a' saut." The axiom " Extremes meet " has been fully exemplified in " Lethe's " letters. " Lethe " speaks of " Gone " being the product of my brain or somebody else's (pure diction). Aiter so unmercifully thrashing the wee bantling, he evidently wants me to| get out of the difficulty by owning that I am not its real but only its putative father j or it may be, after a more intimate knowledge of my ability as evidenced by our friendly intercourse in your journal,he will even concede that I am a poet of superior worth to the author of " G-one." But, my dear " Lethe " (you see I speak lovingly !) this must not be ! Throughout the period of its ill-usage I have stuck to the malformed infant, and shall continue to salve and lotion it till it reaches the stage of convalescence ! Surely you will give me credit for my devotion ! Here is a quotation from "Lethe's" last production, of which I would have taken no notice only I know the burning desire in "Lethe's" bosom to hear others speak correct English will be sufficient excuse for my drawing his attention to his own incorrect English. " Between you and /, Mr Editor," &c. Now, Mr Editor, do not throw the blame on the P. D. — unfortunate wretch — as the difference between "I " (as it is) and "me" (as it should be) is as " wide as the poles asunder." This is but another example of " Lethe's" — I will not call it blundering — ignorance; all the more intolerable as he sets himself up as a critic of the works of others. I hope all are, now satisfied, and I hold out the hand of friendship to my opponent, and give to you my thanks for your courtesy. In conclusion, I wish to whisper into your ear (it is well to | gain the ear of an editor) the lessons I have learnt from "Lethe": — (1) Know a little about a matter before you condemn it (as witness the diving, searching, drawing, unrest, pain, and agony of "Lethe"); (2) though it is not' absolutely necessary that a critic should have kisaed the blarney-stone, still he should remember the higher as well as the lower function* pertaining to the office. — I am, &c,