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1852.] fiiitnr'u Dfpartmntt. CHARLESTON, S. C SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. 3, 1852. THE NEW YEAR. The recurrence of that interesting period of t j nie the New-Year —is a proper occasion for the interchange of congratulations and kind wishes between friend and ‘associates. Iho present an niversary finds us, however, in circumstances which make such greetings not only proper, but obligatory. Counting by dates, this is ihe fifth year of the existence of our journal, a period of time which warrants us in the exercise of no vain belief, that its value has been recognized, for cer tainly had it been otherwise, its days had been long since numbered. Many who, at first, doubt ed its success, have long since ceased to doubt, and are now among the most hopeful of its friends. We may be pardoned, perhaps, for in dulging a feeling of pride in this triumph over their too cautious counsel, while we call upon them, at this point of our progress, to rejoice in the success already achieved. The chief cause of congratulation, however, which presents itself now, is the change which we have just effected in the form of our journal. This change must, inevitably, affect its character and tone, for every reflecting reader will perceive, at once, that a higher and stricter standard of me rit must be applied to the contents of a journal designed for preservation, than that which is ap plied to a more ephemeral sheet. We shall take a deeper interest in, and expend more thought and labour upon, the new series, from the consideration that the work may become a part of the home li brary in many households. We feel satisfied, also, that it will grow in the regard of our readers in consequence of the change, and hence it is that we consider the occasion one for especial con gratulation with them. We have little to say in the way of promises for the coming year. Conscious of an unceasing desire to increase the value of our journal, we shall avail ourself of every facility, and press into our service every accessory of progress. We have denominated the Gazette “A Journal of Thought and Event.” By these two words we intend to represent the two great spheres of Mind and Mat ter—the Intellectual and the Physical Worlds. Under this broad banner, we may fitly exclaim— “No pent up Utica contracts our powers, But the whole boundless continent is ours.” How successfully we may redeem the pledge implied in this title, and in the simple, but elo quent motto which we have adopted, our readers must decide. We have then—to borrow a figure—refitted our . “vessel, and launched it once more upon the sea of adventure. Its progress will depend upon the fa vour ol the public ; that is the breath which alone can till it sails, and waft it swiftly and safely into the haven. It is ours to see that the vessel is staunch and tight—that it is well rigged and well provisioned. It is ours, moreover, to exercise a SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE. perpetual vigilance at the helm ; all these duties we shall endeavour faithfully to discharge, and with this brief manifest,, we shall at once weigh anchor for the New-Year’s voyage. BILLS PAYABLE. Among the annual visitors which the holidays bring to our fireside, the only unwelcome ones are those gentle reminders of the outgoings of our purses, or rather the extension of our credit, to prevent the same—called bills. The ring whicli announces them is not an ordinary tingle. It has a sharp, preremptory sound, as if the bell knew at once the importance, and the unwelcome nature of the intruder. The blue lined foolscap has a fold peculiar to itself—the very entries are m blacker ink than usual, the sum total, particularly, staring the unfortunate recipient in the face, with the most black and distressing positiveness, figures are capable of expressing. It is a style of card we are not at all anxious to see the rack filled with, and yet, like the besieging host—“still they come.” There is the dry goods bill, with ma dame’s dresses, and the children’s cloaks ; —the boot-maker astonishes you with a list of works upon the understanding, which he has furnished to the order of yourself and family ; —the milliner, the dress-maker, the tailor, the grocer, all in fear ful array, have remembered what you have had, if you have forgotten it, and are, by no means, more disinterested in their charges than you would be in their place. We know of but one rule to avoid the intro duction of such visitors to your household—pay ing for each article as it is purchased. Very simple in itself, it is a system of book-keeping that will be found to answer admirably. Then you are not tempted to go beyond your means. Three or four more cents upon a yard, are nothing when they go down in a bill, hut add up conside rably when the amount is paid at once. You can silence conscience by the morphine of credit, for an expensive shawl,’when prompt payment would rebuke the extravagant spirit calling for its pur chase. Little things make large amounts, and yet it is often easy to exercise self-denial, if ne cessary, at the time. Apart from a certain inde pendence in itself, there is nothing like cash pay ment, to avoid unpleasant reflections of what is to be forthcoming with the more agreeable holi day remembrances of your friends. If you can afford to purchase a thing, you can afford to pay for it ; if not, common honesty would deny the indulgence. To be sure this a rule to which cir cumstances may make exceptions, but, as a gene ral principle, to avoid the gradual accumulation of embarrassments that have fettered many a fu ture, the best motto we can give, is the oft re peated, but seldom regarded proverb—“ Out of debt, out of danger .” ” AN APOLOGY! Very seldom have we been under the necessity of making an apology to our readers for any thing connected with the meehanical department of our journal, but the delay in the issue of this number makes it necessary for us to state the cause. Three weeks ago, the steam engine of Messrs. Walker & James’ establishment came to a sudden stop by the giving out of the boiler. It was entirely too small for the amount of work required of it, and with the knowledge ol this fact, they had ordered a new engine of much greater power. The new engine is now at work, but, in the mean time, a vast quantity of press-work has remained unperformed. The de lay ol the December Schoolfellow was thus oc casioned—and but for this untoward accident, this number of the Gazette would have been in the hands of our city subscribers on New-Year’s day. For the same reason, the January Schoolfellow, and the Quarterly Review, will bo issued later this month than our publishers intended to issue them. Other work has also been unavoidably delayed. The iron pulses of the new engine will beat with untiring energy, however, until all ar rearages are brought up, and things resume the even tenor of their way. il of do^sip. A Christmas Festival. The German School, attached to the new Ger man Church, in Hasell-street, under the pastorate of Mr. Muller, celebrated Christmas night, at Hi bernian Hall, in a very appropriate and pleasing manner. The hall was decorated with much taste, and a beautiful Christmas tree blazing with nu merous wax tapers, and bearing all sorts of gifts and bonbons, was the centre of attraction. The happy children performed their recitations, songs and choruses, with great success. The German Christmas is proverbially a season of joy and gladness, and not a little of the spirit of the Vat erlaud prevailed upon the happy occasion to which we thus briefly allude. A January Sonnet. Now hail the first born of the waxing year, In the white lap of Winter cradled fast; Around him pitifully howls the blast, And on his pale cheek hangs a frozen tear! Cold is his bed, and cheerless as the bier, On which the dead December breathed his last, No fiower-scented air hath by him pass’d, No ray of Nature’s beauty lingered near— No voice of birds nath greeted him at morn, Or sweetly sung, at eve, his lullaby ; Unlike his sisters of the spring—forlorn His lot, in gloom alone to live, to die, Yet hail we now with joy, the joyless one — That with his birth a Nkw Year is begun ! Railing Against Rails. A Mr. Thomson, of the Tennessee Assembly, opposes all rail-ways as demoralizing, and sug gests the prosecution of all who travel to promote their extension. His zeal for the public morals is commendable, perhaps, but the public will be very apt to pay little regard to his “railing accusa tions.” Frederica Bremer. This distinguished lady reached Stockholm on the 22d of Nov., just in time to take part in the funeral obsequies of her eldest sister, Miss Marie Bremer, from whom she inherits a handsome for tune. The Greek Slave. An old lady who visited the celebrated statue of Power, a day or two since, exclaimed to her daughter, as her eye rested on the snowy marble, “La, Jemimy, it ain’t a nigger after all.” Ima gine Jemima’s confusion ! 7