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The demoralizing and degrading concomitants of
the theatre and the ball-room, the drinking saloons,
g imbling-houses, “ third tiers,” etc., cannot he too
severely condemned, or their existence too much de
plore 1. They are the very vestibules of hell, and
should be shunned as such by every lover of virtue
and good order, and warning voices should be raised
against them on every side. But these have no ne
cessary and inseparable connection with the drama
and the dance, which, we are permitted to hope,
may yet be redeemed and made potent instrumen
talities in the elevation and advancement of man
kind. Can any one possibly be harmed by witness
ing the performance of Ilamlet on the stage 1 Did
the inimitable dances of the Viennois Children ever
exert an unhealthy influence 1
No one objects to the written drama, and the ex
traordinary enthusiasm with which the Shaksperian
readings of Mr. Hudson and Mrs. Butler have been
received, encourage us to believe that wo may soon
witness the legitimate acted drama in all its parity
and completeness, and entirely disconnected from
every thing that can have a tendency to contami
nate or degrade it. It will then fulfil its proper
function, in the development and culture of the hu
man soul, and become the school of material har
monies.
The people of this country need amusements
more, perhaps, than those of any other. We want
relaxation from that intense devotion to business,
which is dwarfing our intellects and withering our
hearts. We are proverbial for the settled gloom of
our national character. To relieve this, we must
have more frequent holidays and public festivals,
and give amusements a more prominent place among
us. We must cultivate the growing taste for con
certs, operas, excursions and social reunions, and
thus break the monotony of our every-day life.
Above all, we should never prescribe or discoun
tenance the innocent games of childhood. We
should rather encourage and join in them. Adult
persons, of sedentary habits, need active out-of-cloor
amusements, or at least exercise of some kind in the
open air, almost as much as children ; and it is a
false dignity, or a mistaken pride, that prevents
mon from participating in the stirring sports of the
play-ground. The teacher, who occasionally joins
his pupils in a game of ‘‘ shinny” or “ town-ball,”
strengthens rather than weakens his influence over
them, and acquires health and strength by the
physical exercise which these games furnish.
The most rational, and, consequently, the most
effectual way to guard men against the pernicious in
fluences of improper indulgences, and impure and de
moralizing associations, is to furnish them with in
nocent and rational amusements, and to develop the
taste for them in community. If we would prevent
men from partaking of unwholesome or poisoned vi
ands, we must place within their reach palatable
and nourishing food. It is only when the taste has
become exceedingly depraved, that they will choose
the former in preference to the latter. Very often
the wine-cup is resorted to, in default of the genial
excitement of social intercourse and rational amuse
ment, simply as a refuge from ennui and desponden
cy.
We commend this subject, thus briefly touched
upon, to the consideration ofonr readers. *
©ur ©osstp Column.
The following capital story is told by “one who
knows” of Doctor Maxcey, and cannot fail to amuso
our readers. On one occasion, several of the stu
dents of South Carolina College resolved to drag the
Doctor’s carriage into the woods, and fixed upon a
night for the performance of the exploit. One of
their number, however, was troubled with some
compunctuous visitings, and managed to convey to
tho worthy President a hint, that it would be well
for him to secure the door of his carriage-house. In
stead of paying any heed to this suggestion, the
Doctor proceeded, on the appointed night, to the
carriage-house, and ensconced his portly person in
side the vehicle. In less than an hour, some half a
dozen young gentlemen came to his retreat, and
cautiously withdrew the carriago into the road.
When they were fairly out of the College precincts,
they forgot their reserve, and began to joke freel} 7
with each other by name. One of them complained
of the weight of the carriage, and another replied,
by swearing that ‘ it was heavy enough to have the
eld fellow himself in it.’ For nearly a mile they pro
ceeded along the highway, and then struck into the
woods, to a cover which they concluded would effec
tually conceal the vehicle. Making themselves in
finitely merry at the Doctor’s expense, and conjec
turing how and when he would find his carriage,
they at length reached tho spot where they had re
solved to leave it. Just as they were about to de
part—having once more agreed that ‘the carriage
was heavy enough to have the old Doctor and all his
tribe in it,’ —they wer3 startled by the sudden drop
ping of one of the glass-door panels, and by the
well known voice of tho Doctor himself, who thus
addressed them: —“ So, so, young gentlemen, you
are going to leave me in the woods, are you I Sure
ty-as you have brought mo hither for your own
£® IS ‘3* SI gIE 53 Ball If &!&£{&¥ (s &®& If “3* B *
gratification, you will not refuse to take me back for
mine! Come, Messrs. , and , and
■, buckle to, and let us return; it’s getting
late!” There was no appeal; for the window was
raised, and the Doctor resumed bis seat. Almost
without a word, the discomfited young gentleman
took their places at the pole, and at the back of the
vehicle, and quite as expeditiously, if with less noise,
did they retrace their course. In silence, they drag
ged the carriage into its wonted place, and then re
treated precipitately to their rooms, to dream of the
account they must render on the morrow. When
they had gone, the Doctor quietly vacated tho car
riage, and went to his house, where he related the
story to his family with great glee. Ile never called
the heroes of that nocturnal expedition to 1m ac
count, nor was his carriage ever afterwards dragged
at night into the woods ! .... We heard an an
ecdote, recently, of “Old Zach,” which, if true,
(and we will not vouch for it.) is a capital illustra
tion of his popular soubriquet, “Rough and Ready.”
It is the custom of the Senate to appoint a Comrnti
tec, immediately after the inauguration, to inform
“ his Excellency” that they are ready to receive
any communications from him. The Committee
waited upon the President in tho reception room,
and, with due etiquette, made their announcement;
to which the General replied, “What! ain’t Bliss
delivered those nominations to the Senate, yet 1 1
sent’em half an hour ago!” Risum non teneatis
amid!” .... Do Israeli says that tho ballads
of the Early Minstrels were first published by tho
harpers! A correspondent of the Literary World
remarks, that he has examined the Catalogues of
the Messrs. Harper, without being able to find any
trace of them ! .... The New York Courier &•
Enquirer relates the following anecdote of Mr. Col
lamer, of Vermont, the New Post Master General:
“ He is, to*an extent, rare even in this country of
wonderful opportunities and facilities for success, the
artificer of his own fortunes, having raised himself,
by the most strenuous efforts, from poverty to his
present place. To illustrate his exertions and his
merits in this regard, we may, without impropriety,
repeat here a remark we heard him make at a din
ner of the graduates of his Alma Muter —the Uni
versity of Vermont—over a year ago. Speaking of
one of the early Presidents of that Institution, who
was in office while he was in college, Mr. Collamer
said he never hoard him utter what seemed to him
a harsh reproof, but once, and that was when he di
rected him never again to appear in the recitation
room without shoes. The harshness of the remark,
he said, sprung from the fact that he hud no shoes.
He procured some, however, and for the sake of
economy, carried them in his hand to the door of
the recitation room, and then put them on.”
.... The Boston Correspondent of the Literary
World, copies the following simple but beautiful and
touching ballad, from a forthcoming volume of
poems, by James T. Fields. It is believed to be
founded upon an incident which occurred during the
author’s voyage to Europe in 1847:
BALLAD OF THE TEMPEST.
We were crowded in the cabin,
Not a soul would dare to sleep,—
It was midnight on tho waters,
And a storm was on the deep.
’T is a fearful thing in winter,
To be shattered in the blast,
And to hear the rattling trumpet
Thunder, “ Cut away the mast!”
So w r e shuddered there in silence, —
For the stoutest held his breath,
While the hungry sea was roaring,
And the breakers talked with Death.
As thus we sat in darkness,
Each one busy in his prayers,—
“We arc lost!” the captain shouted,
As he staggered down the stairs.
But his little daughter whispered,
As she took his icy hand —
“ Is n’t God upon the ocean,
Just the same as on the land V*
Then we kissed the little maiden,
And we spoke in better cheer;
And we anchored safe in harbor
When the morn was shining clear.
.... While in Augusta, we had the gratification
of attending the performance of the Kiliuiste Fami
ly, and were highly amused and delighted with the
talent —both musical and dramatic —displayed by
the sisters, but chiefly of,“ little Emma ” She is a
child of eight years only—and yet she sings, dances
and acts with all the self-possession, address and
spirit of a woman long accustomed to the stage. In
the character of tho “ Dashing Young Tiger,” she
manifested astonishing abilities. Her voice is sweet,
full and flexible —and none can hear or see her in the
various parts without surprise. The eldest sister is
a graceful dancer —plays well on the liarp, and sings
correctly. The “ youngest” is only three years of
age, and performs her little parts to the amusement
of all who witness them. We commend this talent
ed Family to the patronage of the public—every
where assured that all who see and hear them will
be truly gratified The original manuscript
of Washington’s Farewell Address has always been
in the possession of D. C. Claypoole, the publisher
of the first daily paper in theU. S., who lately died
at a very ad vaneed age in the city of Philadelphia.
.... P ople in limbo are said to crave tea—espe
cially Liber-TY.
Uteran? PForUr.
and ho Hon. C. J. Ingersoll is engaged upon anew
volume of tho “History of the War of 1812.” He
has employed his leisure for many years in collect
ing the materials, and will doubtless give us an in
teresting and valuable work.
Longfellow is about to publish anew volume. It
is a prose work, entitled, “ lvavanagh, a Tale.”—
The scene is said to be laid in New England, in our
own times. We anticipate a rich treat when it ap
pears. The author of Ilypeiion and Outre Mer
could hardly write a dull book.
Messrs. James Monroe & Cos. are preparing, says
the Boston Correspondent of the New York Litera
ry World, to print a lac-simile of the beautiful
Cheswick edition of Shakspeare, to bo edited by an
able hand.
An abridged and cheap edition of Capt. Wilkes’
“ Narrative of the “ Exploring Expedition,” is now
in press.
Two new works, by .T. Fonimoro Cooper, arc !
announced, viz; “New York, Past, Present, and
Future,” and “ Sea Lions.”
On dit that Lamartine has lately written a dra
ma, entitled “Toussaint L’Ouverturc,” which he
has sold for 25,000 francs !
It is stated in La Democratic Pacifiquc , that a
Memoir of Fenelon, in his own hand-writing, has
been discovered among some old manuscripts in the
Douai Museum.
Frederick Dickens, brother of Boz, has lately mar
ried a young lady of the name of — Weller !
Henri Boernstein, a celebrated journalist of Paris,
and the correspondent of tho New York Tribune,
whose articles, over the signature of “11. B.” have
attracted so much attention, is on his way to this
country 7 . He comes on a mission connected with tho
subject of emigration and colonization.
(Tfjr ftntmcaii s)enoMcal Jkess.
Littf.ll’s Living Age. Boston : E. Littell & Cos.
A capital review of the works of Fredcrika Bre
mer, leads off the March number of the “Living
Age,” and is followed by a variety of choice papers
of popular interest. It is published every week, at
Six Dollars per annum, and is decidedly the cheapest
Eclectic Magazine in the world!
The Noirm British Review. American Reprint.
Feb., 1849. New York : Leonard Scott & Cos.
Wc always look impatiently for the arrival of the
“ North British Review,” for it is sure to come
freighted with choico articles, and seldom lacking
in brilliance. Especially is the present number wel
come, containing, as it does, a review of Macaulay’s
England—presenting a masterly analysis of that
magnificent work, and an earnest appreciation of
the Catholic spirit of its author. Nor is this the
only paper that interests us most deeply. There aro
fine articles on Chaucer and Campbell—two names
that link the present with the remotest era of Eng
lish poet ry. An able exposition of French Socialism
will afford the political reader a great deal of infor
mation.
We like tho tone of this Review —it is lofty and
independent. Much talent is displayed in its gene
ral management, and it is altogether worthy of the
large success it has met with.
We would remind our readers that it is published
at Three Dollars per annum, but furnished with the
London, Edinburgh and Westminster, all for Eight
Dollars—and “Blackwood” added to the list for
Ten. _
©ur Book EiTblc,
HP* - Publishers and Authors who desire to have their
Books noticed in this Gazette are requested to send cop
ies to Editor through Stringer At Townsend, New-York
or Carey At Hart, Philadelphia.
Tiif. History of England, from the Accession of
James 11. By Thomas Babington Macaulay.—
Vol. 1, pp. 198. Philadelphia: E. 11. Butler
& Cos.
We need not reiterate the praises everywhere so
lavishly bestowed upon this masterly production.—
Its appearance has created an excitement in the lit
erary circles, such as has not been known since tho
advent of Waverly and Guy Mannering. Every
body, from the savan to the boarding-school Miss,
talks of Macaulay and England. All have turned
students of history, and the last new novel seems for
the time forgotten.
Strange as it may seem, even in “this age of cheap
books, before us lies a copy of tho first volume of
Macaulay’s 1 listory of England, reprinted, verbatim
ct literatim, from the London Edition, tho retail
price of which, in Philadelphia, (a small advance on
this must necessarily be charged here.) is only twen
ty-five cents ! This throws the work within the
reach of all, and those who cannot afford to purchase
the more expensive edition of the Harpers, will not
fail to secure a copy of this. The remaining vol
umes will be issued as soon after the publication in
England as possible. A portrait of the author will
appear in Vol. 11. This edition is well printed, on
good paper, and though the type is necessarily small,
it is quite clear and distinct. *
Elements of Literature: or, An Introduction
to the Study of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres. Bv
E. A. Ansley, A. M. Philadelphia: .1. B. Lip
pi n cot t & Cos. 1819.
A judicious exposition of (he elements of Rhetor
ic, for B'ehools and Colleges, is a dosideratutn whicli
we would be glad to see supplied. Blair’s has en
joyed an extensive popularity, and certainly his
book has great merits ; but he is not sufficiently
modern. His illustrations are drawn from authors,
whose writings have long since become obsolete;
many of his rules might bo amended with great
advantage, and several of his discussions are quite
unsati.-factory. Campbell is far more philosophical
and profound than Blair, but too obs trust* for a
text-book. Dr. Whately has given us some valua
ble rules, but his work is not sufficiently practical
and comprehensive.
In the work before us, an attempt is made to sup
ply the deficiency, though the author modestly styles
his book “an introduction ” to tho study of Belles
Lcttres. Wo should rejoice, could wo hail the work
before us as tho contribution which supplies the de
sideratum to which we have referred. But we can
not. We have risen from the perusal of the book,
with the conviction that what is new in it is not true,
and that what is true is not new,
Mr. Ansley acknowledges, in his preface, that he
is “ indebted for the materials, of which his work is
composed, to tho Reverend Marinus do Boylesve,
and to Charles C- l’ix, D. D.,” whoso manuscript
treatises on these subjects wero in liis possession. If
Messrs. Roylcsvo and l’ix should write a preface,
they would probably confess that they derived many
of their observations from Kames, Blair, and others
of their predecessors. Blair defines style to be “ the
manner in which a man expresses his conceptions
by means of language.” In Mr. Ansley’s book, it
is declared to bo “the manner in which a man ex
presses his thoughts.” “ Clearness,” according to
Blair, “requires tho proper choice of words and the
proper collocation of them.” Mr. Ansley has it—
“ Clearness depends upon the choice of words, and
their arrangement in the construction of sentences.”
Besides frequent coincidences of this kind in the
statement of principles and rules, wo perceive that
not a few of the illustrations which were original
with Blair are presented without any credit.
Our author’s classification of thoughts and figures
lias tho merit of being very extensive; but many of
his specifications are distinctions without differen
ces, whilst others are wholly unimportant. He
enumerates, and gives us what ho calls a definition
of twenty different kinds of thoughts. Ho divides
into common, simple, naive, new, graceful,
fine, delicate, lively, brilliant, bold, noble, strong,
sublime, mean, affected, extravagant, showy, &c.
Wo shall not attempt an enumeration of the figures
which we find in the book. We cannot recommend
tho work as a school-hook. Among the things that
are not netv, however, are many valuable hints.
A Popular Cyclopedia of Modern Domestic;
Medicine. By Keith linray, M. D., Fellow of
the Royal College of Physicians, and Licentiate
of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinglnirgh.
First American Edition. To which are prefixed,
by tho Editor, Popular Treatises unon Anatomy,
Physiology, Surgery, Dietetics, and the Manage
ment of the Sick. Number 1. New York : Gatos,
Stedman & Cos.
This is not, like too many of the professedly tam
ily medical books, the offspring of quackery and ig
norance, but a truly scientific and valuable work.—
It treats upon the nature of tho distinctive symp
toms, of the premonitory signs of diseases, of their
pre-disposing causes, and of the methods of their
treatment, recommended by the most distinguished
physicians. Diet, Atmo- phere, Temperature, Bath
ing, Climate, Clothing and Exercise, are also spe
cially treated upon. The Treatises upon Anatomy,
Physiology, &e., prefixed to this ediiton, are well
adapted to popular use, and are exceedingly valua
ble. We commend tho work to the pjublic.
It is to be completed in twelve weekly numbers —
tho whole forming one largo Bvo. volume of 1000
jaages. *
Raphael ; or Pages of the Book of Life at Twenty.
By Alphonse de Lamartine. One vol. pp. 143.
New York : Harper & Brothers.
* Tho reputation of its author will ensure this lit
tle volume a multitude of readers. Among these, it
will doubtless find many admirers, but the majority,
we think, will, like us, lay the book down with a
feeling akin to disappointment. The lack of plot
and thrilling personal adventure, wc could excuse in
such a work, but we assured!, bad a right to expect
fidelity to nature and life. But this latter quality
is not always apparent on its pages —at least, so it
seems to U3.
This work wa3 announced in the papers as an au
to-biographical sketch, but wo can hardly suppose
that it is literally such, though incidents in his own
life may have afforded the author the hints on which
the work is founded.
Interspersed through the volume are many pass
ages of rare beauty, and such as will be admired by
every person of coneot taste.
It is beautifully printed, as is everything publish
ed by the Harpeis. *
above Book3 are sold by W. N.W hit*.
369