Newspaper Page Text
appearance. The only efficient preventive that we
know of, is strict cleanliness—not only individual,
but general . The city authorities everywhere should
,ee to it that all sources of miasmata are thoroughly
removed. With such precautions, they may reason
ably hope for exemption from the scourge, or, at
p. a t, f>r a great abatement of its virulence.
We have a word to say on the subject of popular
fear, as a cause of the aggravation of disease. We
remember to have met, recently, with a little fable
in point. The Cholera, upon its entrance into Cai
ro. met an English traveler, who demanded of it
vrhat number of victims it intended to slay in the
c ity. The Cholera replied that it would be satisfied
vith three thousand, and so passed on to its work of
death. Some time after, when it had ceased its rav
ages and was leaving the place, it was again met by
the English traveler, who exclaimed—
“ Did you not declare that you would slay only
three thousand victims in Cairo ! How is it, then,
that you have slain thirty thousand 1”
Aud the Cholera replied—l have performed no
more than my purpose. It is true that thirty thou
sand have died in the city. Os that number I slew
only three thousand. It was Fear who destroyed
the rest!”
Fear is, indeed, a terrible adjunct to the Destroy
ing Angel, while on its special missions of Death. —
It becomes all, therefore, who are exposed to the
ravages of Disease, to maintain the utmost possible
self-possession, and by no means to allow their im
agination to get the better of their rea-on and ac
tually induce the very evil it dreads. We have too
much reason to believe that this is often the case,
and that where Disease makes one victim, Fear
makes many!
Recklessness is an extreme as much to be avoided
as Fear. The wise man will observe a happy me
dium between them, and while he takes every proper
precaution to avoid the contagion, he will not, on
the other hand, fall a victim to his overweening
fears! May He who directeth “ the pestilence that
walketh in darkness, and the destruction that wast
cth at noon-day,” deal mercifully with us, and pre
serve us from death!
The Schoolfellow.
Our readers will pardon us, wo trust, for bringing
this work again before them, for we deem it a mat
ter of no small moment. To give a right bias to
the youthful mind is certainly a great work, and we
earnestly hope to accomplish this by the wide circu
lation of our Juvenile Magazine. It is, we humbly
conceive, the very method to create a literature of
the South. The young constitute the only class in
whom it is an easy task to create literary tastes. —
Wo desire, therefore, to contribute all we can to the
education of a generation of men and women who
shall appreciate fully the value, and enjoy the re
sults, of a cultivated intellect.
The first number of our Magazine is ready, and
we confidently claim for it a degree cf excellence,
both in its contents and its execution, never yet sur
passed in the beginning cf any similar enterprizo
North of the Potomac.
It is beautiful and cheap, and we will make it in
creasingly attractive if our friends and the friends of
the young will sustain us in the attempt. Teachers
and parents should not hesitate a moment to foster
such a work —and we earnestly invoke their imme
diate support.
<Dur (Scssi}) Column.
“ A happy New Year” to you, dear readers—and
may it bring you all the happiness you can reasona
bly desire, and less trouble than you might with
equal reason anticipate! The “New Year” is an
appropriate season for such wishes, since there are
few who do not make it a period of good resolutions
for the future. Let us not be content with resolving
merely : let us all act our good intentions —that by
virtue of our own deeds, through the grace of an
All-wise Being, we may enjoy such “ a Happy Nciv
Y'ear ,, as we have never yet experienced
The most wonderful intelligence yet received from
tho Gold Region is reported for the Boston Herald,
find claimed as the exclusive property of that Journ
al! We have not room for all the particulars, but
present the following synopsis of this astounding in
telligence. It will, doubtless, increase the emigra
tion to California in a degree hitherto unknown,
and we should not be surprised if all our readers
should engage passage at once for C’hagres! But
to the news, which w T as brought by the barque
Ariel, Captain Tu la ‘her. Her cargo was gold dust
to the value of eight millions of dollars, and —a
quantity of hides and tallow ! Captain T. reports
tho exciLcmcnt in the “ region ” to be tremendous.
ir °u and copper were so scarce that they used gold
tor nai sand bolts; also for sheathing ships. 1 hey
were also casting cannon balls of gold, and a Rail
road from San Francisco was in course of construc
tion— the rails of which are of solid gold! Meat
Was fried on golden gridirons, and the yellow metal
was usurping tho place of iron and tiu. —But still
more wonderful than all this is, tho reporteddiscov-
§®®ifa s® 53 a, aim a¥ ®assit ir s ♦
ery,—and who, for a single moment hesitates to be
lieve most implicitly in the truth of the report—of a
vast gold forest, covering an area of two hundred and
fifty mile3 square, and abounding in trees of im
mense height, averaging a hundred feet in girth—
and all of the purest gold. Beneath this forest lie
inexhaustible mines of diamonds, whose lustre makes
the surrounding regions bright as noon-day, even at
midnight. The inhabitants are represented as a
very singular people. The boys play with splendid
polished diamonds, instead of marbles. Criminals
convicted of great offences, such as the stealing of a
ten-penny nail, are choked to death with diamonds
poured out of huge golden ladles ! \ ive la hum
bug ! V ive l age d'or ! .... We cannot deny
our correspondent, “ Bayard,” the privilege nc
corded to our fair friend, “A Learner,” of a
place in our “ Gossip,” especially as the former
makes so very handsome a bow in dismissing the
subject. We therefore subjoin his reply in full,
and quite agree with him in his wish that he may
sometime enjoy “a little of ‘ A Learner’s’ excel
lent housekeeping.”
To “A Learner:” —
As I happen to be an ardent admirer of every wo-’
manly quality, I was not at all surprised at meeting
your smiling face in the Editor’s cozy sanctum. In
this home-like spot I beg you to listen for a single
moment. In your first letter, you speak of Lady
Montague, “ who introduced vaccination into Eng
land.” In your second you say, “ the introduction
of innoculation is all that was claimed for her.”—
Again, in your last epistle, you ask, “ Ilow does it
happen that, for so many years, the faculty agreed
that vaccination was a great blessing I” They still
think vaccination a great blessing, and have ever
thought so ; but innoculation—the practice introdu
ced by Lady Mary —has been dropped.
You think I would like you, if I knew you. Well,
so I should; and only regret that your being un
known and invisible prevents my enjoying a lew of
your illustrated puddings. If “the road to a man’s
heart is through his stomach,” there must be a
“ short cut” to his head; and, since 3 r ou have storm
ed the citadel of my affections, why not capture the
throne of sensibility by—a pudding 1
Christmas times are so near, that I must bid you
adieu, and trust that, if ever we meet face to face, I
may enjoy a little of your excellent house-keeping.
With a merry Christmas to you,
I am yours, &c., BAYAR.P.
I I
Stmertcati PcrtohCcal press.
• ■ ■
The Daguerreotype, and Foreign Miscellany. —
Boston : Crosby & Nichols.
We welcome this beautiful Eclectic once more to
our table, and deeply regret to have missed all the
previous numbers of Vol. 111, of which the one just
received is the fifth. If the publishers can make
good the deficiency, we shall be greatly obliged, for
we would rather miss almost any other work in pre
ference. The Daguerreotype is decidedly the most
elegant work of its class now published, and an ex
cellent judgment marks its selections from the va
rious periodicals of England, France and Germany.
It is published semi-monthly, at Three Dollars per
annum.
The Mistletoe, for January. 18-19. Athens: John
W. Burke.
This is the first appearance of a neat monthly, dc_
voted to the advocacy of the Order of the Sons of
Temperance, and one which, we doubt not, will re
flect credit upon the cause. It is edited by Mes-rs.
John W. and Thomas A. Burke, whose taste an l
ability are well displayed in the number before us.
In addition to 24 pages of excellent reading matter,
is a handsome wood engraving of “ The Smith
sonian Institute,” at Washington. As the “Mis
tletoe” is offered at One Dollar per annum, it should
command a very large patronage. Wc hope our
young friends will succeed to their hearts’ desire.
Litteel’s Living Age. Boston: E. Littell & Cos.
We cordially greet this well-established and fi
vorite Magazine. It is too well known to need many
words of praise from us, but we may be permitted
to say that it contains the choice literature of Eu
ropean Journals, at a cheaper rate than any other
work with which wc are acquainted. It is sent to
subscribers either in weekly or monthly parts—the
former containing 48, and the latter 200 pages, mak
ing four volumes of 600 pages each in the year—for
the sum of Six Dol’ars. The weekly parts are
chargeable with newspaper postage only, and are
very desirable, as they are laden with the freshest
and choicest articles from Frazer’s, Bently’s, Cham
bers’, Sharpe’s, Tait’s, and other Magazines, beside
the various Quarterly Reviews.
The American Metropolitan Magazine, for Jan
uary, 1849. New York : Israel Post.
This is the first number of,a new and very beauti
ful Magazine, of the illustrated order—and if it ful
fils the promise of its commencement, it will press its
rivals hard during the year. In all its appointments
it is mavked by real excellence. Its engravings are
original and superior—numbering three steel plates
and numerous beautiful wood-cuts. Os the former,
the first is a scene from Mrs. Kllett’s Women of the
American Revolution—Dicey Langston, whoso he
roism was recorded in our pages some weeks ago.—
The second is a picture of a juvenile culprit, caught
in the act of stealing the sweetmeats and getting his j
ears severely pulled by his mother, while his little I
sister peeps in to enjoy his discomfiture. It is a life
some picture. Mrs. Stephens, Miss Sedgwick, Miss
Gould, Mrs. Osgood, Mrs. Child, Mrs. Embury,
Headley, and several others, contribute the articles
to this number—making an imposing array of talent.
Holden s Dollar Magazine, for January, 1849.
There is no flagging in the energy of Mr. Holden,
lie redeems all his promises—and richly worth three
times the price is his excellent Magazine. We ear”
nestly commend this work to all our readers. It is
no catch-penny affair, we assure them. Nearly
eight hundred pages of choice reading, and nume
rous engravings, for a dollar!
Ihe Saturday Evening Post. Philadelphia: Dea
con & Peterson.
It would be difficult to find a better paper among
the mammoth weeklies, than the Post, it is well
conducted, and deserves a largo support.
Banking’s Arstract of the Medical Sciences.
Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston.
From a cursory examination of this periodical, we
a ’ c disposed to think it an exceedingly judicious and
valuable work. It is published half-yearly, and, as
its name indicates, is a Digest of theMcdical Works
published in Europe during thesix months preceding
each issue. The high reputation of its Editor and
his associates, for medical and surgical knowledge,
is a guarantee of the excellence of the analyses and
critical reviews presented in its pages. If any medi
cal periodical can boos more service to the physi
cian, who seeks to keep pace with tho progress of
his Art, we know not where it is to ho found The
number before us is tho seventh of the series, and
the publishers can furnish the whole to new sub3cri‘
bers. The price is $1 50 per annum.
The Mirror of tiie Times. New York : W. W.
Wallace.
This is anew weekly of a very handsome appear
ance. It is chiefly devoted to Odd Fellowship, but
embraces also General Literature. Its ample pages
are filled with choice reading, and attest the taste
and talent of its editor, Dr. Wallace.
Notices to Correspondents.
Florio. —Accept our best thanks. We send the
package desired, by to-day’s mail.
Jacques Journot. —Your favors are highly ac
ceptable, and your proposition a welcome one.
L. L.—Your,, favor shall have a place in an
early number.
T. W. L.—Your letter came iu clue time. We
hope to see you in a few days.
*** To other correspondents, whose letters are
unanswered, we promise early attention.
©ui* 3300 ft Kafile.
Publishers and Authors who desire to have their
Books noticed in this Gazette are requested to send cop
ies to Editor through Stringer &. Townsend, New-York’
or Carey & Hart, Philadelphia.
A Dictionary of Poetical Quotations, consist
ing of Elegant Extracts on Every Subject. By
John T. Watson, M. D. One vol., 12m0., pp.
Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston.
Dr. Watson has performed a delicate operation —
to speak in tho language of lus profession —in pre
paring this volume, w hich was really needed. It is,
of course, an omnium gatherum, but an exceedingly
attractive and judicious one. The subjects embra
ced are arranged.alphabetically, and the quotations
are generally admirable. They are accompanied
with the names of their authors, and frequently with
that of the poem, whence they are taken. Who,
that knows the value of such an index to poetry,
will bo content without a copy of this Dictionary I
Poems, by Oliver Wendell Holmes. New and En
larged Edition. One vol., 12m0., pp. 272. Bos
ton: Win. D. Ticknor & Cos.
Wc cordially welcome this handsome edition of
one of the most genuine poets our country can boast.
Dr. Holmes is sometimes styled the Tom Hood of
America, and he is certainly entilled to all the hon
or the comparison suggests; for his poetry combines,
in a remarkable degree, the genuine, sparkling wit,
and the deep and often tender pathos which consti
tute the charm of the lamented flood. Asa writer
of comic verse, Dr. Holmes has, perhaps, no equal—
certainly no superior living. So exquisite is his
perception of the ludicrou®, that his humorous de
lineations aie absolutely irresistible. We have ocC
casionally presented specimens of his verse in our
columns, but must claim a little space here to afford
cur readers further evidence of his happy power.—
We quote from a lyric, entitled “ The Music Grind
ers:”
“ You think they are crusaders sen!
From some infernal clime,
To pluck the eyes of Sentiment,
And dock the tail of Rhyme,
To crack the voice of Melody,
And break the legs of Time.
But hark! the air again is still,
The music all is ground,
And silence, like a poultice, comes
To heal the blows of sound ;
It cannot be —it is, —it is, —
A hat is going round !
No ! Pay tho dentist when he leaves
A fracture in your jaw,
And pay the owner of the hear,
That stunned you with his paw,
And buy the lobster, that has had
Your knuckles in his claw ;
But if you are a portly man,
Put on your fiercest frown,
And talk about a constable
To turn them out of town;
Then cioso your sentence with an oath,
And shut the window down !
And if you are a slender man,
Not big enough for that,
Or. if you cannot make a speech,
Because you are a fiat,
Go very quietly- and drop
A button in the hat!”
In the present edition there arc several new poems
t)f great interest—of which, wc think “ The Stotho
scopc Song” and “Nux Postcocnatica” decidedly
the best.
It must not be supposed, however, from these po
ems, that Dr. Holmes cannot write any thing but
humorous verse. As is usually the case with tho
possessor of genuino wit, ho discovers, also, the most
exquisite sentiment, and his volume contains poems
that rival the grace and beauty of Tennyson, or
Barry Cornwall. We shall refer to this volume
again, when wc have leisure and space to do it nm
plcrjustico than at present.
Frank Forrester’s Field Sports, of tho United
states and British Provinces of North America.
By Henry William Herbert. In two vols., Bvo.,
pp. 360, 366. New York : Stringer & Townsend.
These elegant volumes do no little credit to their
author and his publishers; for, both in material and
execution, they arc truly admirable. To the sports
man they possess, of course, peculiar interest and
value, revealing, as they do, all the minutiar of his
exciting pursuits. But it is not to him alone that
they are valuable. To tho naturalist, and to the
general reader, they arc full of interest, affording
accurate information concerning the habits of the
Elk, the Moose, the Bison, the Deer, and all tho
game birds of tho North American continent. Tho
stylo of the work is graphic and pleasing. It is
beautifully illustrated with spirited wood-cuts, and
must undoubtedly-command a very large sale.
Hose and Gertrude, or The Mysterious Wed
ding. Translat and from tho French of Rodolph
Topffer. Now York: stringer & Townsend.
With French novels wo seldom intermeddle ; but
this is a work of very considerable merit and no
common interest. It is not of that school of French
Literature, of which Sue, Dumas and others, arc the
teachers. Topffer is a man of real genius, and one
whose writings, judging from this specimen, will se
cure for him an enviable reputation.
‘Rose and Gertrude’ is a charming narrative,
combining beauty and simplicity, with quiteenough
of the romantic to commend it. Tho reader who is
familiar with Zchokke’s story, “ The Journal of a
Poor Vicar,” may fancy, perhaps, some analogy in
this work to that most exquisite tale.
Model Men, Modelled by Horace Mayhew. Sculp
tured by IL G. Hiue. New York: Harper &
Brothers.
This is a very amusing brochure, well adapted to
amuse the reader in a Railroad car, or in n idl*
hour at the fireside. Tho readers of “Punch” will
recognize many of the sketches which appeared
originally in that Journal. Wo do not suppose
those models are types of classes to be found in the
United States; but they are certainly very well
done, and have quite enough of human nature about
them to be generally appreciated.
The Romance of Yachting. By Joseph C. Hart.
New York: Harper &. Brothers.
If those excellent and liberal publishers, tho Broth
-1 ers Harper, desire us to continue to esteem their
| names on the cover of a book, as a guarantee of its
excellence, they must not publish many such works
as the one before us. It is very dull, very destitute
of wit, or any thing else to supply its place. A fail
ure, most decidedly,
i—
s3- Notices of Pracebr 1 e-Hall, Proverb.for tb *
People, Dr Y ’ •. iversity Sermons, Li.V
and Remni t • h several other books,
areunavoi hJ ! ‘ i our next.
271