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Tnust be cherished. The candidate for the honors
c ,f successful authorship must be modest in his own
estimation of his labors. He must remember that
t he path he proposes to travel is a difficult one—
that
“The steep where Fame’s proud temple shines afar,”
is not to be reached by a single bound, except, per
chance, in the rare instances of brilliant and sudden
ly-developed genius—and that he who imagines
that he has already attained its summit, has un
doubtedly mistaken for the mountain of Famo a
grass-grown hillock.
’ ‘Phe reason, then, that we have so few successful
writers in the South, is to be found in the amount
of labor which is required to write well. Our pro
fessional men plead the want of time as an excuse
for not writing —conscious, as they are, that if they
cultivate Letters, they must do it with industry,
with zeal, and with perseverance. They are not
mistaken in their estimate of the labor of literary
composition. The mistake they fall into is this:
They do not consider that a brief space of time de
voted daily to such a pursuit would accomplish a
very desirable end, and, moreover, prove a most ac
ceptable recreation, after the exacting claims of
their professional duties. A single essay, re-written
a score of times, would be a better literary exercise
than twenty essays thrown off in the same period.
The former would be pruned, condensed, strength
ened, and better adapted to its purpose, in the exact
ratio of the time bestowed upon it. The latter
would be crude, ill digested and weak, in pro
portion to the speed of its manufacture. And here
let us remark that, for one to write well, it is abso
lutely essential that he write with a purpose. The
influence of the aim of every effort is often under
valued. He who aims to tickl^the fancy, or to
please the ear merely, will accomplish nothing wor
thy of fame.
These suggestions on the subject of Literary Com
position are made with an humble, though we hope
worthy, design of inducing men and women of abili
ty, in the South, to practice the art of composition;
and also to rebuke the ill-considered and spasmodic
efforts of those who think that they can write with
out thought, and who, when they have thus writ
ten, conceive it to be not only their duty, but that
of Editors, too, to publish their crudities.
The Prize Articles.
Before another number of our Journal is publish
ed, the Tales and Poems offered in competition for
the Prizes,—amounting in all to about thirty arti
cles —will be in the hands of the Committee of
Award, who will proceed to examine them, and at
as early a day thereafter as is practicable, deter
mine which shall receive the Prizes. As their task
will be a protracted one, we may not be able to an
nounce their decisions for some two or three weeks.
We once more repeat, that the Committee will have
the absolute control of the matter, without any ref
erence to ourself whatever, so that the strictest jus
tice shall be done to al'l competitors.
<U>ur (Sosstj) ©olurnn.
Most unmerciful is Punch upon the result of the
recent election in France, and especially upon the
newly elected President of the Republic —the Prince
Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte; and one of
the “ most unkindest cuts” of all is that where
Bunch says, “ His Majesty, the Sovereign People
of France, has just abdicated in favor of Prince
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte.” The pages of Punch
are filled with pointed caricatures of the “ progres
sive Democracy” of Paris; and, among others, we
have “ The Presidents’ Progress,” in which graph
ic delineations are afforded of the life and career of
the successful candidate, conspicuous among which
are the flight of the Prince and the fortress of Ilam.
Bunch also asks the following impertinent question:
“ Whist!— ln the game at present going on in
I'ranee, will Louis Napoleon lead up to the King, or
play the Deuce I” He also offers to bet any odds
that the first act of the Prince-President, when he
gets fairly into power, will be to expel Punch from
France! We shouldn’t greatly marvel, if he did!
Cur readers must pardon us, if we detain them a
! *ttle longer to chat of this prince of wits, and his
dyings and doings. Do they know that Punch
Publishes, every Christmas, an Almanack for the
Year! and that this Almanack contains more
genuine fun and fancy in any single page of it than
a 'l the brood of Comic Almanacs in the world be
s>de! It is even so—and we have been holding our
sides while shaking over the said Almanac for 1849.
L, but it is capital, and we wish every subscriber—
very paying one, we mean !—could be with us, to
‘‘ght, in our sanctum, to echo the peals of laughter
“liich its mirth-moving pages provoke. A fair
sample of the good things in Punch’s Almanack
‘vill be found in the usual department occupied by
L Lit worthy. Unfortunately, \ye cannot afford our
eaders specimens of the graphic pictures which pro
‘USfCy embellish its pages —not deformities of Art —
‘h- coarse creations of corrupt Fancy which com
§®®ita &a Ei il. atss& ta y s&smrins.
monly characterize Comic Almanacs—but gems of
Art, in design and execution, overflowing with Wit
and pregnant with meaning. It contains a whole
Gallery of Pictures, each significant. One page ii
devoted to “ The Great Sea-Serpent,” and quaint
enough are Punch’s ‘views’ of this “wonderful
phenomenon in Natural History.” Then we have
‘Political Pantomimes,’ a Panorama of “Liberty
Fair,” and a score of other fine subjects—all treat
ed with spirit, and every one of them, consequently,
“high” in effect May Punch publish many Al
manacks, and may we have a peep into them ! . .
. . We publish, this week, as an act of justice to
Mr. Tyler, the proprietor of Surrey Gardens, Lon
don, an article from Douglass Jerrold’s Magazine,
refuting the statements made in the Remington let
ter, which We copied, some time ago, from Hunt’s
Merchants’ Magazine. Upon the strength of that
letter, we had set down Mr. Tyler, and some others,
as little better than savages, to suffer an ingenious
Mechanic to live in rags, upon the crust of charity,
and to sleep in a lion’s den ! But lo! how the pic
ture is changed! And we breathe more freely, now
that it appears reasonable to doubtthe “ fact.” We
are inclined to believe that Remington did not write
the letter attributed to him; for, if he did, we can
not understand his aim in affirming things, the
falsehood of which is so easily detected.
£f)e Htterarg WForltJ.
Foreign Items.
Mr. Macauley's History of England— The first
edition ot this work, consisting of 3,000 copies, was
immediately exhausted, and a second edition, revi
sed, is now in press. We learn from the “ London
Atheneum” that Messrs. Longman are to pay the
author an annuity of $3,000, for ten years, for the
right to publish his two volumes during that period.
If this be true, then Macauley has not only achieved
fame, but fortune also, with his powerful pen; and
liis success is in striking contrast with the pecunia
ry rewards of most historians.
Mr. Dickens’ Christmas Story. —According to
the London papers, 18,000 copies of this work were
actually sold on the day of its publication. This we
should call —fame !
Lamartine. —This distinguished French scholar,
poet and statesman, is preparing an auto-biographi
cal novel, the appearance of which was designed to
be posthumous; but the author having found a
willing purchaser at some eight thousand dollars, it
will speedily appear.
The Sale of the Library at Stowe. —The sale of
the splendid Library of the Duke of Buckingham
was to be commenced this month, and would proba
bly occupy four weeks, as there are no fewer than
30,000 volumes on the Catalogues. Many of these
are rare and curious editions of the Bible, antique
missals, and superb works of Art.
Prize Essay in Germany. —The King of Bavaria
has offered a prize of 100 ducats for the best essay
on ‘ The Effectual and Permanent Relief of the
Poverty of the lower orders of the German People,
and especially of the Bavarians.’
Domestic Intelligence.
Lectures on Don Quixote. —The Rev. Mr. Giles
is delivering very popular and delightful Lectures
on this great work of Cervantes, in New York, and
we can readily conceive that his theme affords am
ple scope for the Lecturer's acknowledged talent.
Free School Appropriation. —lt is no small honor
to Louisiana, that her Legislature has recently
made the liberal appropriation of $50,000, to be ap
plied to free-school purposes in that State. When
will all the Southern States “ do likewise 1”
Oregon and California. —The Messrs. Harper
will speedily publish a work on the above interest
ing regions, embracing much desired information.
It is from the pen of Judge Thornton, of Oregon,
late of the Supreme Court of that Territory. A
new edition of Fremonts’ book, with supplementary
matter, is also announced.
■ ■ T *
STfje sertotrical sress.
Godey’s Lady’s Book, for February.
Mr. Godey spoils his readers, by continually ex
ceeding his promises, and thus teaching them al
ways to expect something more beautiful than ever.
It is true, he has not hitherto disappointed these ex
pectations —but where is this thing to stop I We
cannot conceive that a thousand pages of choice ori
ginal reading matter, and a whole Gallery of Pic
tures —to say nothing of a conservatory of flowers,
and a boudoir of other charming things—can be
furnished to any one for the sum of Three Dollars!
And yet, upon our editorial honor, do we affirm that
such a thing looks probable, judging from the Jan
uary and February issues of Godey’s Book. Godey
cannot be outdone. This is our deliberate conclu
sion, after looking over the February number, which
contains altogether too many good things in Art
and Literature, for the price of it. Mr. Poe contri
butes a Fantasie, full of capital hits at ‘Antiqua
rian Researches.’ But we must not undertake a
Catalogue Raisebnee of its articles. The “ Ladies’
Dollar Newspaper,” a semi-monthly adjunct to the
Magazine, is an excellent journal, and, if it were
not for the overshadowing splendor of the ‘Book,’
would be more spoken of.
Graham’s Magazine is still in existence, we be
lieve, though we have had no ocular demonstration
of the fact since the New Year set in. Has our
friend Graham given us the mitten “?
The Knickerbocker, for January.
This popular Magazine enters upon its twenty
third volume with the present issue, and we are
pleased to greet its familiar face, and examine its
budget of varied attractions. The contributors to
this number are, chiefly, Messrs. Parkman, Hos
mer, Palmer, John Waters, Brent, Haywarde and
Swan. The papers are, in general, of great inter
est, and we particularly admire the fine ballad, by
Wm. Pitt Palmer, entitled ‘ The Falcon and Dove,
a Christmas Carol.’ The Editor’s TaWe is various
ly and agreeably furnished, though wemust express
our regret to see a small ebullition of personal ill
will against a worthy and distinguished author,
which the Editor would do wisely to restrain.
Littell’s L iving Age, for January 27.
This admirable Eclectic is exceedingly punctual,
never failing to appear in season with its load of
treasures from the best sources of British and For
eign Periodical Literature.
Notices to Correspondents.
M. A. S.—Thanks for the translation of La Rou
lette, which shall be published as soon as we have
leisure to arrange it for the press.
Anselmo. —ls there were no other reason for the
non-appearance of your verses in the Gazette, the
fact that they are offered without your real name, is
sufficient and absolute This remark will apply to
all who are in the same category. We do not de
part from our rule, except in extraordinary cases.
Ella Floretta.— Your name is only a refinement
on “ Laura Matilda,” and your verse —pardon our
bluntness—is on “an equal par” with the effusions
of that most sentimental lady. We annex a sam
ple—la voila!
I mourn that he is far away—
Beyond the deep blue ocean—
My bosom swells with the mild play
Os unrestrained emotion:
Oh, when once more his manly form
My willing arms imprison,
Above the darkness of Life’s storm
Joy’s planet will have risen!
Can’t say, Ella Florctta, exactly what time that
will be, but we hope he will como soon, and keep
you from writing verses for at least —the rest of
your life-time.
T. S. P.—Your paper cannot be stopped while
you are in urrrears. It seems strange that any one
should ask such a thing. Pay up, and we wil
stop the paper.”
C. W. B. —Your poem will be published in the
next number. Accept our warmest thanks.
F. L. M.—ln reply to your query, we would in
form you that if a club of twenty subscribers for
“ The Schoolfellow,” with the fifteen dollars, is
made up and sent to us, free of postago, we will
mail the work to each subscriber separately. The
January number can be supplied to all new subscri
bers for the present year.
The Isle of Hope will appear in our next, and the
fair author will, doubtless, pardon us for suffering it
to have been overlooked.
(Due 3300fc 2Tatle.
Publishers and Authors who desire to have their
Books noticed in this Gazette are requested to send cop’
ies to Editor through Stringer k Townsend, New-York,
or Carey k Hart, Philadelphia.
Parker’s Philosophy, A School Compendium of
Natural and Experimental Philosophy, embracing
the Elementary Principles of Mechanics, Hydros
tatics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Acoustics, Pyro
nimics, Optics, Electricity, Galvanism, Magnet
ism, Electro-Magnetism, Magneto-Electricity and
Astronomy. With a description of the .Steam
and Locomotive Engines, by Richard Green Par
ker, A. M. One vol pp. 384. New York :
A. S. Barnes & Cos.
We have no hesitation in pronouncing this one of
the very best manuals of Natural Philosophy in use
—and the fact that it has passed through twenty
one editions, is certainly significant of its superior
merit. We have tested the value of this book, and
found it, even in its earliest editions, clear, compre
hensive and practical. The “ Appendix” to this
edition contains, in addition to well-arranged ques
tions on the text, one hundred and sixty-four engra
ved illustrations of philosophical experiments, and
figures of the necessary Apparatus. The work is
brought down to the latest discoveries and improve
ments in Science, and contains much valuable infor
mation concerning Electro-Dynamics, and particu
larly of the Magnetic Telegraph. We have been
frequently askdd by teachers to recommend a text
book in Natural Philosophy, and we have uniform
ly recommended Parker’sr. We know of no ele
mentary work superior to it.
Acton, or the Circle of Life. A Collection of
Thoughts and Observations, cfesfgrted to delineate
Life, Man, and the World. One vol. 12m0., pp.
384. New York : D. Appleton U Cos.
This volume comes to us without the author’s
name—hut it possesses such unusual merit that in
stead of merely wondering for a moment who wrote
it, we cherish an abiding and an increasing curiosi
ty to know the writer. Assuredly, he is a man of
sound sense and enlarged views. His observation of
men and things has been varied and extensive. He
is a philosopher of the right stamp, and he moral
izes in a manner most agreeable to the reader.
The “ Circle of Life” is a comprehensive one. Its
circumference embraces large and important theo
rems, grouped together with good judgment, a pure
taste, and a refined fancy. To illustrate, we may
observe that it is divided into four parts, bearing the
following names: The Crystal, The Hour Glass,
The Rainbow, and The Fountain. Each of these
divisions is illustrated with an exquisitely illumina
ted design, as purely beautiful as any thing of the
kind we have ever met with. Under these general
heads, the author gives us Lacon-like paragraphs
upon many subjects—in which he exhibits a well
stored mind, a keen appreciation of the true and
lofty, a playful imagination, restrained always by
good sense. It is impossible not to be pleased with
the book ; and we predict for it a wide-spread popu
larity. It is just the thing for a companion volume
—at home or abroad. It abounds with fine thoughts
and is eminently suggestive of thought. Its philos
ophy, moreover, appears to us to be sound and pure.
We subjoin a paragraph or two as fair specimens o i
the style of the book —and we shall frequently en
rich our columns with selections, not copious enough,
however, to render it unadvisable for our readers to
possess the book. Under the head of Government,
we find the following:
Balance of Power. Balance is sometimes used
in the sense of remainder. Thus, when princes and
rulers have first helped themselves, the balance of
power means that small balance which is left in the
people.
Under the head of Philosophy, our author thus
contrasts
Philosophy and Religion We might say to
Philosophy—Take thou the head, amuse and in
struct the mind; but to Religion—Come thou, pos
sess the heart, elevate and refine the soul,
j Philosophy is designed for tho few—Religion is
! intended for all. Philosophy approaches us with
I the ostentation and dignity of acquired Science : Re
ligion appeals to us with the simplicity and efficacy
jof revealed truth and divine inspiration. There are
; two fountains of consolation within our reach. One
I is proffered by the limited hand of man ; the other
I is opened to us by the infinite bounty of God.
The thoughts of “Acton” flow as easily in verse
as in prose, and he pisses readily “from grave to
gay,” as witness the following Epigram, under the
head of Medicine:
Merit and Skill.
Your skill and merit both are such,
’Tis rare you ever fail to please ;
We all esteem your practice much,
If tried upon our enemies!
And here is another, under the title of “ Fops and
Fools:”
On a Shining Fop.
Your boots, my friend—unlike to mine—
With polished lustre brightly shine;
Had you bestowed such studious pains
To gloss the dullness of your brains.
It would not then by all be said —
•‘How much his feet eclipse his head !”
We close our extracts from this attractive and
j unique volume, by the following beautiful fancy, il
lustrative of the theme of Virtue:
Roses and Onions. —There is about as much af
finity between roses and onions, as there is between
virtues of a sweet smelling savor, and vices of a bad
odor. It is said that when Satan first touched the
earth, after his expulsion from Paradise, garlic
sprung up under one foot and onions under the other.
“ The last sigh of the virtuous,” saith an Eastern
poet, “ is more fragrant than the perfume of roses.”
The Story of Little John. By M. Charles Jau
nel, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Royal
College of Poitiers. Translated from the French,
by F. G. Skinner. One vol. 16m0., pp. 204.
New York: D. Appleton & Cos.
This beautiful little volume is fitly dedicated to
“American Mothers,” and is designed to aid them
in tho delightful but arduous task of “ training up a
child in the way in which he should go ” The hero
of the book was a foundling, whom his kind nurse, &
poor but contented cottager, called Little- John, and
adopted in the place of a son she had lost. The vol
ume is made up of Scripture stories and of original
fables —adapted to the juvenile understanding, and
alternately, in these forms, charming lessons of hu
man and of divine wisdom are taught. Many beau
tiful pictures adorn the book —and we doubt not,
many a soft blue eye will fill with tears, and many a
bright black one sparkle with emotion, over its de
lightful pages.
295