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ATHENS, SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1848.
The Spirit of the Age.
The most careless observer of the past, or the pres
ent. would probably be at no loss to answer the ques
tion —What is the distinguishing feature of the age
we live in 1 He would unhesitatingly reply, “ Pro
gress.” This answer would be true —viewed in al
most every aspect of society. To trace out the evi
dences of this “ progress,” in all its exemplifications,
would undoubtedly be a pleasant and perhaps a prof
itable task. The limits of an Editorial article,
however, absolutely forbid such an attempt. Our
purpose is a far less ambitious one, and contemplates
simply a glance at some features of the times, which
indicate the advancement already claimed jis their
grand characteristic.
The revolutions which are now taking place in the
“ Old World,” are among the more striking illustra
tions of the spirit of the age. The present year, not
yet half completed, has witnessed wonderful events
in Europe—the land of aristocracies and sovereign
ties. There thrones have trembled and fallen! —the
sceptre has been smitten from the grasp of Kings
and Potentates—-the people have made rapid and
headlong strides —however thoughtless and ill advis
ed they may prove to have been —towards that lib
ty which is exhibiting, in our own land, its benifi
cent spirit, and its happy effects. The question
naturally arises here, is it proper to call that pro
gress, which may, and probably will, prove only the
spasmodic action of an unquiet and excitable popu
lace, that may speedily bo convulsed again, and
thrown back into its former condition —or into one
equally, if not more, undesirable 1 To this we an
swer, that whatever may bo the immediate conse
quences of the late revolt in France, and the fate of
the Young Republic her people have created, the
Spirit of Progress is none the less evident in the
thrilling events of February, 1848. They are the
fruits of a consciousness, oppressing the people of
France, that the liberties they possessed were too
narrow and too restricted for the genius of the Nine
teenth Century. That the volatile and impulsive
spirit of the French people has betrayed them into
great faults in the outworking of their conceptions
of.a larger liberty, is not evidence that the Spirit of
Progress was wanting in their revolutionary move
ments. We are apprehensive that the French peo
ple are not yet prepared for the great task they have
undertaken. We can scarcely suppose that they
contemplated the full extent to which their move
ments would lead. They rushed forward with a
blind zeal and a reckless spirit; and it is not strange
that they accomplished results as astonishing to
themselves as to the world at large. We are pursu
ing this subject too far however —our purpose in al
luding to it at all being simply to exhibit one phase
of the great principle of Progress which is at work
in human society. The French Revolution of 1848
is an offspring of this Spirit; and even if it should
result—as many wise and thoughtful statesmen pre
dict —in an absolute hindrance to the developement
of true Liberty in France, the fact will only prove
that the principle is fettered and retarded by the ig
norance and passions of those whom it seeks alone to
benefit.
The “ Chartist movement” in England is another
exhibition of the spirit of the age—distorted, it is
true, by the ignorance and recklessness of the mass
es concerned in it —but, nevertheless, it is the up
heaving of the oppressed and weary spirit—attempt
ing to throw off burdens that, although long sustain
ed, have grown at length intolerable. We do not
sympathize with the Chartist demonstrations, or
with mobocracy in any shape ; but we respect, not
withstanding, the demands of the millions of Great
Britain for active and efficient redress of their
wrongs and grievances. We rejoice in the failure of
the rash attempts of Mr. Fe argus O’Connor and
his compeers, to overthrow the fabric of the British
Government; but we desire, still, that the reforms
in the administration of that government, so loudly
called for by its subjects, shall be granted; and it is
because we believe that they will be conceded by
the rulers, that we rejoice when we see the Chartist
demonstrations end in vapour ! The Spirit of Pro
gress, in the fast anchored isle, needs not the aid of
an infatuated, iguorant mob to assist in its develop
ments. A liberal Constitution, the model of our
§ ® unr abie S3 il a. ir saa ta ¥
own, will foster and carry it forward. But we will
turn from these manifestations of the progressive
spirit te contemplate others not less interesting.
The recent and continual developments in Science,
and their application to practical purposes, are among
the best evidences of the progress of the age. What
a trophy of genius is the Electric Telegraph!—and, j
in this single instance, how distinct and interesting i
are the steps by which it has reached its present
excellence. Thirty years ago a German Philosopher :
discovered —we had almost said by accident; but
we will recall the thought, and say by Providence —
the wonderful fact which lies at the basis of the sci
ence of Electro-Magnetism, and of course of the pres
ent system of telegraphing. A few years afterwards,
Mr. Wheatstone, an English gentleman, applied
the principle in a very ingenious manner to the com
munication of intelligence between remote points,
and thus invented the Electro-Telegraph. Subse
quently Professor Morse contrived a far more in
genious and efficient method of telegraphic writing
which has now become so common that New York
and New Orleans are almost contiguous! And now,
to crown this splendid monument of scientific skill,
the telegraph of Mr. Bain, (imperfectly described
in our last number,) is pronounced by competent
judges the nc plus ultra of telegraphic instruments
until they shall be made either to utter articulate
sounds, or write a language intelligible to the com
mon eye.
Who has not felt emotions of wonder and delight
while gazing on the extended wires of the telegraph,
and thinking that upon that narrow path Thought
was hurrying along to convey its voiceless message
to the eye of the remote but watchful observer! —
Who has not exclaimed, as they have seen the rapid
vibrations of the instrument in the hands of the oper
ator, and thought that every pulsation spoke intelli
gibly to human hearts: —Surely this is the voice of
God!
There are those w ho affect to believe that everything
that now is, has been before in the history of our
race —that our achievements in the social, political
and intellectual spheres are but the repetition of the
attainments of the ancients. We cannot yield our
belief to this supposition —willing, as we are, to ac
knowledge that many curious arts existed in past
ages, of which only traces remain at this day. That
science was then as far developed as it is now,
is, however, a position which appears to us untena
ble on any ground. Did the noble steam-ship, in
ages gone by, ever cross the Atlantic in ten days 1
Did ancient cities, a thousand miles apart, inter
change their mutual greetings in as few moments as
it would take for their representatives to shake
hands 1 Steam and Electricity are the twin giants
which, under the guidance of intellect, shall yet re
model the whole form and character of human soci
ety.
The wide diffusion of knowledge, consequent upon
the cheapening of books and periodicals, by the in
vention of machinery in all the processes of their
production, is another grand development of this
spirit of the age. The education of the massess—
the elevation of the low’er orders to the scale of in
telligent, thinking beings—the development of high
and pure tastes among those who till the soil and
wield the axe —these are all phases of the controlling
genius of the age. Let us thank God that we live
in an age of Progress ; and let us cherish those prin
ciples and opinions which will prove the true conser
vatives of our happiness, and prevent those.catastro
phes which befal the ignorant and the head-strong,
who blindly obey the impulses to action and pro
| gress which they cannot resist.
The Story of the Acatlians.
The popularity of Mr. Longfellow’s beautiful
Poem, entitled “ Evangeline , a Tale of Acadie,”
which has passed through several editions in a few
months, is due, in great part, to the touching beauty
and interest of the story on which it is founded; a
story almost without parallel in modern history. A
; graphic narrative of the events attending the exile
of that primitive people, will bo found in our columns
this week, frofn the pen of Dr. Stevens, the histo
riographer of Georgia. It will abundantly repay pe
rusal.
Our Present Number,
Is sent to friends and acquaintances in different
i sections, to afford them an opportunity of examining
the paper, and to ail such we propose to continue
sending it, as to subscribers, except in cases where
this or the previous number may be returned by the
Postmaster.
Notices to Correspondents.
J. A. T. Please accept our thanks for the MSS.
sent. \ou poem shall appear, and we shall be happy
to receive the papers you speak of as in your posses
sion.
L. L. Leg-ends should be about a foot long. Do
you understand us 1
“* Leila Cameron” has our best thanks for her po
etic favors.
©ur (Sosstp Column.
.
In the letter of our New York Correspondent , pub- j
lislied this week, you will find, dear reader, asingu- j
lar coincidence of sentiment and language with the !
letter of our London Correspondent in our first num
ber. Written, as these letters were, in totally differ- j
ent parts of the world, and professing to be exponents ,
of the public feeling in those widely-separated quar
ters —the similarity is a pleasing indication of sym
pathy between the people of the United States and
Great Britain, on the subject that has so recently
agitated the latter Our friend and corres
pondent, Charles Lanman, Esq., has recently pub
lished in the National Intelligencer a very graphic
and interesting letter from the Gold Region of this
State, conveying much practical and amusing infor
mation. Another “ Indian Legend ” from the pen
of this young and popular writer will appear in our
next number On entering our office this mor
ning we found the following communication which
we are assured is genuine. It is signed a “ Native
Juvenile,” and, to “ encourage youthful talent,” as
the phrase goes, we cheerfully publish it. Indeed,
we have seen worse conundrums than this from our
little correspondent . Try again, Willie ! “ Mr. Ed
itor : Why is a county in Georgia like the month of
May 1 Answer: Because it is Meriwether, (merry
weather.)” In this connection, we beg leave, dear
reader, to offer you another. Why is Louis Phil
lippe more advanced now in the alphabet of sover
eignty than he was before his abdication 1 Dost
give it up 1 Well, “ Bekase,” as Snowball says,
“Bekase —then he was A king, and now he is X
king!”.... The London Punch thinks it was ve- I
r? improper to attach such a name to the Chartist
Petition —that “six-million” docuflient reduced to
less than two by simple arithmetic! —as “No
Cheese,” and suggests that “No Bread” would have
been more appropriate The excellent story
by Hood, in our Electic of Wit, has reminded us of
an amusing incident that occurred at Springs,
a few summers ago. Among the belles of the season,
Miss E. F. was preeminent. She was the admired
of all beholders, not less for her vivacity and wit than*
for her beauty. Like most of her sex, who are more
than commonly gifted, she was lbnd of a practical
joke, even if it cost something to achieve it. Among
her most ardent admirers was a youth, a student from
a neighboring college, with more wealth than wit.
He was exceedingly self-conceited, and among other
false assumptions, was the idea that he had touched
the heart of Ellen F. She perhaps encouraged
somewhat this opinion of our Collegian, who was in
the seventh heaven of delight, at the idea of his con
quest. At a favorable moment he proposed to her;
and she replied, with much blushing, that her father
would not consent to her being married for at least
two years, a confession which she made with such ev
ident chagrin, that the ardent lover urged her to fly
with him at once, and pleaded, that once married,
her father would “ forgive and forget.” The maiden
hung her head, and finally, if silence gives consent,
censented to leave with him that night, for a neigh
boring town, where the marriage was to be consum
mated. Before they separated, it was arranged that
the fair E. should be accompanied by her maid ser
vant, and that the carriage should start from a point
j near to their Hotel. Every thing went satisfactori
|ly to our hero. He was punctual to his time, and
| after waiting impatiently a few minutes, two female
! figures approached the vehicle, the steps of which
were already down. At this moment, a light was
seen and voices heard on the piazza of the Hotel, and
eagerly seizing the trembling form of his beloved,
whom he recognized by her white dress, notwith
j standing the shawl and veil which enveloped her —he
■ placed her in the carriage, and beckoning the maid
to follow, sprung in himself. The carriage drove on
at a rapid rate, accelerated by the sound of a voice,
crying out, “ Halloa driver, stop ! stop! I say !” Our
hero pressed the shrinking maiden closely to his side, 1
and having put aside the envious veil, pressed her
lips with eagerness, lie spoke not, however, except
to murmur, “My angel; Oh what happiness to call
thee mine ! ’ At length, he addressed a question to
his silent companion, whose head had sunken on his
shoulder. Receiving no reply, he fancied that she
slept, and in the sober certainty of his waking bliss,
he resolved to let her sleep on, thinking how much it
’ would benefit her so to do.
Ihe distance to A. was only eighteen miles, and
ere the sun had risen, the carriage stopped at one of
the hotels in that town. Judge, gentle reader, of the
mingled astonishment, rage and shame which were
depicted in the face of our hero, as he discovered,
when he assisted his lovely companion from the car
riage, that he had run away with Ellen F’smaidser
vant ! whose face was irradiated with a broad stare of
merriment, that was reflected back from the counte
nance of the soi disant attendant, and the grinnin< r
face of the ostler, who, fortunately, was the only one
at that early hour, to greet the travellers. Our hero
fled incontinently from the spot and from the town,
and resolved never again to elope with a lady in the
dark! .... Dear reader, why is this last item of
‘‘ Our Gossip” a capital one I Because it finishes
the column!
©ur iJoofe
s3= Publishers and Authors who may wish to have
I their books noticed in the Southern Literary Gazette ,
will please send copies for the Editor, to Messrs
i Burgess, Stringer & Cos., New York, who will
send a parcel to him every week by express.
Historical and Secret Memoirs of the Em
press Josephine; (Marie Rose Tascher de la
Pagerie,) first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. By
M’lle M. A. le Norman and. Translated from
the French byJACOB M.Howard, Esq. In2vols.
12mo. pp. 352,330. Philadelphia: Carey & 4 Hart,
1848
It has long been a wish of all who have a just ap
preciation of those peculiarly womanly traits, which
marked the character of Josephine, to learn more of
her eventful life, and of the dispositions with which
this admirable woman bore the reverses and sor
rows which formed so large a part of her destiny.
In these two volumes we have full information on
these points, and, therefore, they must be read by
every one with the deepest interest. Josephine’s
early life in Martinique, in France, and as the wife
of Beauharnais, is detailed with more minuteness
than in any other memoir of her given to the public ;
and in the story of her first attachment, and the res
olution with which she conquered it, when such a
struggle become necessary—of all she endured when
the victim of her husband’s false suspicions, and of
his constant unkindness and neglect—of their separ
ation, and her return to her island home —their
reunion, brought about by the conviction, he could
no longer withstand, of her truth and worth —and
then, when she was just beginning to realize the
happiness she merited, of her imprisonment, and the
murder of her husband. In all this we find as much
to admire and love, as in her after career, which is
familiar to all. Under all circumstances, Josephine
was faithful to the impulses of a true woman’s heart ;
and her very faults were often owing to the fact,
that she was guided too much by her affections, in
stead of the cooler, and generally more reasonable
dictates of the head. We admire in her the wife,
mother, and friend; and we cannot deal harshly
with faults which are pleaded for by so many vir
tues.
Most of her subsequent life is given us in her own
language, from MSS. purporting to have been pre
pared by her for the use of her children. They are
made plain to the general reader by copious notes,
even more replete with interest than the narrative
itself. We cannot enlarge upon all the admirable
qualities which distinguished this amiable and un
fortunate woman; but a perusal of this memoir would
induce even the most prejudiced to do homage to
her virtues and to mourn for her sad fate.
I he book is dedicated in the mosft laudatory man
ner to the Emperor Alexander, who is certainly re
garded by M’lle Normand with more admiration
than we feel willing to bestow upon him ; but much
of this is explained, wffien we remember that he was
the friend of Josephine, who reverenced her living,
and wept over her lifeless remains, exclaiming, “ She
is no more—that woman whom France sumamed the
Good—that Angel of Goodness is no more!”
Os the manner in which the translator has fulfilled
his duty we cannot speak very highly. There may
be great accuracy, but there certainly is a literal
stiffness in the style, which is most disagreeable.
The exaggeration and peculiar idioms of the French
language, which strike us as absurd and in bad
taste, are preserved throughout the book ; and their
abruptness and want of jelegance, diminish much of
the pleasure these handsome volumes would other
wise iuspire.
Tales and Stories from History, by Agnes
Strickland. 1 vol. 12m0., with illustrations,
pp. 370. Philadelphia : Lea & Blanchard.
This is an elegant little volume, and one which ev
ery youth should read. It presents, in a pleasant
•'and attractive guise, many valuable and important
lessons in History; and is calculated to create a
taste for instructive reading. Every tale is made a
vehicle for imparting some moral instruction; and
the amiable and distinguished author will have the
thanks of intelligent parents for this contribution to
their facilities for the proper training of their chil
dren.
The History of Ten Years— lß3o-’4O ; or France
under Louis Phillippe. By Louis Blanc ; Trans
lated by W. K. Kelly. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 1250.
Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard.
We are indebted to the publishers for a copy of
this very interesting work, and regret that our lim
its will not allow us to do more than give it a passing
notice. The recent startling overthrow of the
French monarchy has invested the life and charac
ter of the dethroned King with a deep interest, and
any production calculated to develope the causes of
the late Revolution, cannot fail to attract the atten
tion of the enquiring observer. From the cursory
examination which we have been able to give the
volumes before us, we are disposed to value them
highly as a philosophical as well as historical view
of the period they embrace—a period so pregnant
with great and thrilling consequences to the French
people.