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fliall reappear with, we hope, increased energy, and
with a determination to deserve the good will and
support of the people of the South.
©ur Column.
A merry Christmas” to you all, dear readers ;
;ind, as a tit pendant to our cordial greeting, let us
chat awhile of the occasion which calls for our greet
jn,r? a nd which has ever appeared to us the most de
lightful of all the holiday-times embraced in the year.
It is true Christmas is not kept by us as it is by the
<rood people of England, nor do they now observe it
wiih half the zest of the olden time. Then, it w T us
a much gayer and more universal festival —and a
modern reader would scarcely credit the many
Arange records we find of Christmas observances. —
It, was a season of mirth and revelry, sometimes, it is
Uue, degenerating into dissipation and riot. We
Pave often admired the picture of Christmas drawn
by the old poet, George Wither, which commences
as follows:
“ So now is come our joyful’st feast,
Let every man be jolly;
Each room with ivy leaves is drest,
And every post with holly.
Though some churls at our mirth repine,
Round your foreheads garlands twine —
Drown sorrow in a cup of wine,
And let us all be merry.”
As the old poet had no opportunity of becoming a
“ Son of Temperance,” we suppose he must be ex
cused for his wine-bibbing propensities. Hear him
further:
“ The client now his suit forbears,
The prisoner’s heart is eased;
The debtor drinks away his cares,
And for the time is pleased.
Though others’ purses be more fat,
Why should we yune, or grieve at that 1
Hang sorrow’! care will kill a cat —
And, therefore, let's be merry!
Doubtless many of our readers are familiar with
the graphic description of this festival time, by Sir
Walter Scott:
“ On Christmas Eve the bells were rung,
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung ;
That only night, in all the year,
t'aw the stoled priest the chalice-rear.
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen,
The hall was dressed with holly green—
Forth to the wood did merry men go
To gather in the mistletoe.
*'** * * * *
Then enme the merry maskers in,
And carols roared with blithesome din ;
If unmelodious was the song,
It was a hearty note and strong;
Who lists may in their mummery see
Traces of ancient mystery.
White shirts supply the masquerade,
And smutted cheeks the visor made ;
But oh, what masquers richly (light,
Can boast of bosoms half so light.
England was merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again:
’Twas Christmas broach’d the mightiest ale—
’Twas Christmas told the merriest tale—
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor man’s heart through half the year.
There is a wholesome and freshening influence ex
erted upon the popular mind by the observance of
such festival occasions as the present, and for this
reason we are always happy to see it kept with a
joyous zest. If it be ever so doubtful that this was
the season of the nativity of our Saviour, there is,
nevertheless, reason enough why it should be kept
as a glad festival by the people. It is the close of
the year —an appropriate time for thanksgiving —
and, moreover, there cannot well be too many op
portunities for all classes to unite in those social
pleasures which characterize the Christmas holi
days. May our readers live to see many happy re
turns of the day ! .... We are sure our readers
will thank us for introducing to them the beautiful
story, by Mrs. Childs, entitled “ r ihe Neighbor-in-
Law.” We find it in the People’s Journal, one of
the numerous cheap but beautiful Magazines for the
million, which distinguish the present periodical
Literature of England The “ \ ellowFe
ver” is carrying off hundreds —perhaps, we might
say, thousands—in all our large cities, and we hear
of its appearance in smaller places throughout the
country. Its chief symptom is an “itching palm, ’
and its victims rave about “ uncounted gold” and
bushels of glittering dust! Our readers will doubt
less understand that we allude to the Gold Mania,
which prevails to such an alarming extent in many
sections, that we half fear they will be depopulated!
By late accounts from New \ork, we leai'n that
there are forty vessels up for the gold region—and
everywhere men are crazy to goto the “ El Dorado”
so recently discovered. We earnestly deprecate this
eager thirst for gold, which can thus suddenly in
-1! une the imagination, and run riot with the reason
of men—inducing them to throw aside their busi
ness, and embark in an enterprize of doubtful issue.
Even allowing that gold exists in California in im
mense quantities—few of the thousands who seek it
w ill realize it without a sacrifice of an alarming char
acter—to some it may be of health —to others of life
and to still others of—virtue! The inordinate
love of gold is a terrible evil, and a few months hence
the gold region of California will be little better
aftMEIiSIBEI DL.mriSlEiitE'tr ®&BB'i?TFB.
than a pandemonium ! llow truthfully says the
poet:
“Gold, gold, in all ages the curse of mankind ;
Thy fetters are forged for the soul and the mind :
The limbs may be free as the wings of a bird,
And the mind be the slave of a look and a word:
To gain thee, men barter Eternity’s crown —
Yield honor, affection, and lasting renown !”
We have but a word to add, and it is one of advice.
Do not, dear reader, relinquish an honorable em
ployment, which is yielding you a reasonable sup
port, for the delusive hope of finding the philoso
pher's stone in California. Believe us, the true phi
losopher’s stone is patient, persevering industry in a
lawful calling!
Cfje Slmcrtcau s)crtoMcnl s3ress.
Godey’s Lady’s Book, for January, 1849.
Mr. Godey certainly seems determined to defy
competition, in the elegance and variety of his ad
mirable periodical, and if we did not know that its
price was only Three Dollars per annum, we should
certainly suppose it would be at least twice that
sum. In the number before us there are 72 closely
printed pages of matter, and more engravings than
we have time to count! Among them are two very
fine steel-plates—two colored steel-plates, one a flow
er puice, and the other an equestrian fashion plate
—besides numerous excellent wood-cuts, of which the
best is a choice illustration of a very clever story by
Arthur, entitled “ Butter is Riz.” All of these at
tractions are comprehended in one number of Godey,
and the public have reason to believe that each suc
ceeding issue will be, at least, equal to this. Any
person remitting Three Dollars to the publisher, re
ceives not only the “ Book,” but a capital semi
monthly Journal, entitled the “ Lady’s Dollar News
paper,” both for one year. Now is the time to sub
scribe, reader.
Holden’s Dollar Magazine, December, 1848.
This is an excellent number of an excellent Mag
azine. Wo consider it “ cheap exceedingly” at the
price, and if it were twice as much, ’twould still be
cheap. The “ Pulpit Sketches” are alone worth
the subscription. That of Rev. Charles G. Somers
in the present issue, is full of interest. Commend
us to works of merit and cheapness combined, like
Holden.
Western Literary Emporium, for November, —
Stowell & Langley, St. Louis, Mo.
The first number we have received of a Western
Magazine, freighted with genuine literature, ar
ranged with excellent taste. It is now nigh the com
pletion of its second volume, and in January will
commence its third with increased interest. It is a
handsome octavo of 64 pages, with a fine steel plate
—cheap enough in all conscience ; and we hope it
will prosper abundantly.
(tCU The Southern Literary Messenger, The Odd-
Fellows’ Literary Magazine, the Union Magazine,
and the Western Literary Messenger, all for the
present month, are on our table, and we are pleased
to see that all of them will commence the New Year
with increased attractions. We shall give them all
a special New Year’s greeting.
©uc 3300 ft (Table.
Publishers and Authors who desire to have their
Books noticed in this Gazette are requested to send cop
ies to Editor through Stringer it Townsend, New-York,
or Carey & Hart, Philadelphia.
Select Poems by Mrs. L. 11. Sigourney. Sixth
edition—with illustrations. Revised and correct
ed. One vol. 12m0., pp. 338. Philadelphia: Ca
rey & Hart.
The rank which Mrs. Sigourney holds among the
female poets of the country, is an elevated one ; and
it is alike creditable to the popular taste and popu
lar feeling, that her productions are held in high es
teem. Her poetry is characterized by great ear
nestness of feeling, generally combined with simpli
city and grace of diction. Her versification is al
ways melodious, and the flowing numbers commend
more effectually to our hearts the lofty and noble
sentiments they embody. It is a distinguishing trait
of Mrs. Sigourney’s genius, that it is always digni
fied. It does not expend itself in erratic and nonde
script efforts ; nor does it pander to a sickly, mawk
ish taste. The themes of her pen are exceedingly
varied, but around them all she throws the witchery
of a pure inspiration.
The devotional poetry of Mrs. Sigourney is ex
ceedingly chaste and tender —possessing more of the
truly spiritual element than that of Mrs. Ilemans —
England’s sweetest poetess —to whom our gifted
countrywoman has been frequently compared. Our
limits forbid an attempt to draw a parallel or mark
the contrast between these two distinguished ladies,
one of whom, being dead, yet speaketh to ten thou
sand hearts, while the other still lives to throw the
charm of her imagination around the scenes and ob
jects of every-day life—the lofry and the humble
alike —and both are beloved for what they have
written.
1 he volume before us contains many of Mrs. Sig
ourney's best poems, among which wo particularly
admire “ The Martyr of Scio,” the exquisite verses
entitled “ Poetry”—“ Alpine Flowers”—“ Radiant
Clouds at Sunset,” and the oft-quoted, but not too
much admired little poem, on the death of an Infant,
which we quote entire—simply observing, that in
one or more editions of Mrs. Ileman’s works, this
little gem is improperly included :
“ Death found strange beauty on that polish'd brow,
And dash’d it out. There was a tint of rose
On cheek and lip. He touch’d the veins with ice,
And the rose faded. Forth from those blue eyes
There spake a wishful tenderness, a doubt
Whether to grieve or sleep), which innocence
Alone may wear. With ruthless haste he bound
The silken fringes of those curtaining lids
Forever. There had been a murmuring sound
With which the babe would claim its mother's ear,
Charming her even to tears. The spoiler set
The seal of silence. But there beam’d a smile,
So fix’d, so holy, from that cherub brow,
Death gazed, and left it there. lie dared not steal
The signet-ring of heaven.”
Mrs. Sigourney is not wanting in a delicate and
sparkling wit, which is occasionally exhibited in her
verse. A good specimen of this kind is afforded in
her address “To a Shred of Linen,” and “The
Thrush,” who said, “ I’ll p>ay my rent in music.”
It is no small tribute to the merit of Mrs. Sigour
ney’s poetry, that her publishers have been induced
to publish an edition in a very handsome style, with
numerous superb illustrations, of which we may
have occasion to say more hereafter.
A Universal Pronouncing Gazetteer. By Thos.
Baldwin. Seventh Edition—with a copious Ap
pendix and a Map One vol. 12m0., pp. 648. —
Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston.
The value of a good Gazetteer is not easily over
estimated, and we have found early editions of the
work under notice exceedingly useful. The present
edition is so much enlarged and amended, that anew
.value has been given to the work ; and we know of
none equally comprehensive and accurate in its geo
graphical details. The peculiar feature of the vol
ume is, however, the system of pronunciation, which
is defined by an orthography precisely indicating the
sound of the word in its vernacular. Take, for in
stance, a river in Italy, with the following name—
Bacchiglione. The pronunciation is rendered appa
rent at once, as follows—Bak-keel-yo-na ; and again,
the name of a town in Mexico, written Chihuahua,
but pronounced Chc-wa-wa. The Appendix con
tains the names of towns and rivers in Mexico, and
California —an important addition in the present
state of our relations to those countries.
Essays and Reviews. By Edwin P. Whipple.—
In 2 vols. 12m0., pp. 360, 370. Now York : D.
Appleton & Cos.
These very readable volumes are made up of the
author’s contributions to the Reviews and Maga
zines, and are chiefly discriminating and spirited
critiques, and Essays upon the great authors of
England and America. It is no small praise, we
consider, to say that these papers were worthy to be
collected into permanent form —for such is the mul
tiplicity of books at this day, that the appearance
of anew one should be regarded with distrust, un
til its actual merit, beyond the common run, is de
termined.
Mr. Whipple is one of the most vigorous Essay
writers of this country, and no one who reads his
capital articles on Macauley, Sydney Smith, The
Old English Dramatists, and Wordsworth, will hes
itate to pronounce him an adept in the difficult art
of criticism.
We admire the energy of his stylo—the nice dis
crimination of his judgment—the genuineness of his
admiration for the splendid writers of our age, and
the honesty with which he unveils their faults,
as they appear to his well-informed mind. W:th
all of his estimates of character we cannot agree.—
We might even censure where he praises, and where
he censures, praise—but this does not diminish aught
the relish with whioh we read his Essays. He is a
writer not only of great promise, but of highly re
spectable performances, and we can conscientiously
recommend his volumes to our readers.
The Female Poets of Great Britain—Chrono
logically arranged, ivith copious Selections and
Critical Remarks. By Frederick Rowton. One
vol. Bvo., pp. 533. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart.
This is a superb volume, issued in a style corres
ponding to the illustrated editions of Willis, Bryant,
Mrs. Sigourney, and other volumes by thesaiue pub
lishers, whose taste and liberality in getting up edi
tions de luxe, are not surpassed in the country.
Mr. Rowton’s collection is the most admirable one
we have ever met with, of the female poets of Great
Britain ; indeed, it is the only one deserving of the
name, and we hail it as a valuable addition to the
popular literature of the day. We have thought it
strange that the deficiency has so long existed, espe
cially as the British male poets are accessible in nu
merous compendiums. Some of the sweetest, and
some of the most enduring of English verse, is the
product of female genius, and we should consider
any library greatly deficient that did not contain
the complete works—or liberal selections —of “such
writers as Mrs. Homans, Mary Howitt, Miss Bar
rett, Eliza Cook, Miss Landon, Mrs Southey, Mrs.
Barbauld, Mrs. Norton, and many others.
The Introductory Chapter, by the English Edi
tor, is a fine essay on the genius of the female poets
of Great Britain, in which just homage is paid to
the purity and beauty and pathos of their produc
tions.
The volume presents a goodly array of names, and
embraces a period of nearly four centuries. The
only poetess of tho fifteenth century was Juliana
Berners, who was a Prioress. “ Her style,” says
Mr. Rowton, “was excessively coarse and unfemi
nine,” for which, however, he very properly finds
excuse in the barbarism of the age. The first poet
ess of tho next ceutury was the beautiful and unfor
tunate Queen —Anne Boleyn—whose claim to the
title is regarded by some as apocryphal. Among
the early female poets is the name of Queen Eliza
beth who had quite a passion for verse-making, in
which so? attained no remarkable success, lhirirg
the seventeenth century, we notice a few names, of
which the most deserving are those of Katherine
Phillips and Anno Killigrew. In the eighteenth
century occurs the names of Mrs. Kowc, Lady Mary
Wortley Montagu, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More,
Mrs. Barbauld, and Mrs. Tighe. The latter was
author of “ Psyche’,” one of the most remarkable
imaginative productions ever written, almost rival
ling in artistic beauty the best works of later poets.
The latter portion of the volume is filled with gems
from the works of the distinguished ladies whose
names we first mentioned ; and we must again ac
cord to Mr. Rowton high praise for tho taste he has
displayed in the selection. There are also very beau
tiful poems by Mrs. (Fanny Kemble) Butler, and
Mary Anne Brown. Nor are the playful and spark
ling productions of Mrs. Abdy’s muse unworthy of
the niche they occupy. The American Editor has,
with great good taste, increased the number of se
lections from Mrs. Heinuns and some few others, and
introduced some names which Mr. Rowton entirely,
and we think strangely, overl< oked. Among these
are Mrs. Tonini, (Charlotte Elizabeth,) Miss Jews
bury, Mrs. Sara Coleridge, and Mrs. Gray, (Mary
Anne Brown.)
In closing our hasty notice of this volume, it
would be unjust not to mention the exquisite steel
engravings which really adorn it. They are nume
rous, and very highly finished. We know of no
book which would be more acceptable as a valuable
gift, than this.
Cai* Sallusth Cwsri, de bello Catallnario
kt Jugurthino, Schmitz & Zumpt’s Classi
cal Series. 16'm0., pp. 168. Philadelphia: Lea
& Blanchard.
P. V iRGiLii Maronis Oarmina. 16m0., pp. 438.
We have here the second and third of a series,
prepared for the use of Schools and Colleges, by two
of the best scholars and practical teachers of the
age. Their compact size, fine paper, and clear
type, are primary recommendations. But the quali
ty to which they owe their principal attraction, in
tho eyes of judicious teachers, is that they have
neither more nor fewer notes than they ought to
have. Twenty-five years ago, appearances indicated
that a deadly onset was about to be made upon Clas
sical Literature ns a branch of a liberal education
But, though some poweiful names were enlisted iu
this crusade, it seemed to have called forth the lat
ent energies of the friends of ancient lore, and tho
multiplication of editions of the Greek and Roman
writers, by the ripest scholars of the day, indicates
that the tide is turning, and the cause of sound edu
cation triumphant.
Thucydides. By John J. Owen. One vol., 12mj ,
pp. 683. New York : Leuvitt, Trow &Cos
A work expressly designed for College clasee;
The Editor has distinguished himself for his edi
tions of the Odysseus of Homer, and the Anabasis
and Cyropaedia of Xenophon. Might we suggest a
remark, we should say that these editions are all too
much cumbered up with notes. Here are more than
five hundred pages of notes to less than one hundred
and eighty of text; and the notes are rendered more
diffuse by the perpetual recurrence of references to
authority, which, in ninety-nine cases out of an hun
dred, are utterly useless, as pupils, generally, ar?
but scantily provided with these learned authorities,
and would not refer to them if they were $3 their el
bow. We regard Prof. Owen as high authority
himself, and would be perfectly willing to take hi*
word for whatever he might choose to advance on
any subject of criticism. His whole scries is invalu
able. The text used in the present work is that of
Dindorf.
Angelina Luxmore, or, The Life of a Beauty.
A Novel. By the Author of the Jilt New York:
H. Long & Brother.
There are two distinct romances in this history—
the one of a spoiled mother, and the other of a
spoiled child ; both of which are cleverly wrought,
and contain lessons which might, if headed, be of no
small benefit to fashionable ladies—especially to
beautiful daughters and ambitious mothers.
263