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[For the Southern Field and Fireside.]
• POPULAR ASTRONOMY.
The science of Astronomy derives its name
from two Greek words : asiron, a star, and no
mos, a law. It may be defined, the science
which treats of the laws of the heavenly bodies.
Os all the natural sciences, this can boast of the
highest antiquity. It cannot indeed be known
with certainty, when men first turned their at
tention to the study of the stars. The sons of
Seth, the immediate descendants of Adam, are
said to have inscribed their observations on two
pillars, one of brick and another of stone; and
the Jewish historian. Josephus, says that the
one of stone was standing iu Syria in his day.
The Chinese make pretensions to a very remote
antiquity, respecting the cultivation of the sci
ence among them. But whilst the origin of the
science is hidden in the mists of uncertainty,
there is no doubt about its having at a very early
period engaged the attention of mankind. Chi
nese; Egyptian, Arabian and Chaldean records,
go to show that the study of the heavens dates
back to a period anterior to that of any other of
the Physical Sciences.
That the Hebrew Patriarchs also gave atten
tion to the subject, is abundantly evident from
their writings. There are allusions in the book
I of Job, to certain stars and constellations, which
bear the same names at the present time that
' that they did in the days of the man of Uz;
throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, astronomi
cal references may be found. Indeed, the mode
of life of the Ancients, peculiarly fitted them to
the study of that branch of Astronomy called
“ Uranography,” or, “ The Geography of the
Heavensthat is, the searching out and naming
1 of stars and clusters of stars; their course,
time of rising, &c. In the olden time, (as is
' now the case in many countries in the East,)
people wore mostly pastoral in their pursuits,
and consequenely nomadic in their habits. They
wandered from place to place with their flocks
and herds, lived in tents, and kept watch by day
and by night over their property, and of course
would observe a great many phenomena which
\ escape the notice of people living as we do. —
Our habit is when night comes, to retire to our
' houses and our beds, and thus we fail to ob
serve many wonderful astronomical and ntmos
* pheric phenomena, and many of our people grow
up and live to old age, having no knowledge of
the starry heavens, unless, perchance, some old
domesticated African, given to night rambling,
may point out to them the “ Seven Stars,” “Job’s
[ Coffin,” or the “Pointers.” The most remarka
ble meteoric display on record, which took place
f in November, 1833, was seen by comparatively
few people, as was also the recent Aurora Bo
realis, the most brilliant perhaps ever seen in
this latitude, and all because they occurred at a
time of night when nearly everybody was
asleep.
But, whilst it is true that attention was di-
I rected to the study of this great science at a
very early period, it is questionable whether
f much progress was made in it, particularly as it
respected the Solar System, and much that was
learned was perverted to superstitious uses.—
Astrology was more studied than Astronomy.
It was much easier to understand that the earth
was in the centre of the Universe, and always
“ this side up with care,” (as it is still with a
I great many) and that the sun, moon and stars
went round it in 24 hours, than to see how it
f was that the Earth, in common with the other
Planets, revolved around the Sun as the centre
of our system, which is only one of the many
millions scattered through the vast expanso of
space. But few questioned the doetrine that the
heat and sickliness of summer was augmented
by the Dog Star, while fewer still doubted that
t the “ signs” should be diligontly consulted in
many matters pertaining to our earthly estate ;
f —which foolish superstition is perpetuated by
the Almanacs that are scattered over the coun
try, having a frontispiece showing the part of its
> body the moon is supposed to govern when it is
in a particular “sign,” or in other words, when it
is between the earth and any particular constel
lation in the Zodiac.
I Yet it is true, nevertheless, that Astronomy,
properly speaking, was understood to conside
' rablo extent among the Ancients, and perhaps
to greater extent than is generally supposed.
The Heliocentric theory was taught by Pytha
goras, a Grecian, 500 years bofore Christ, and it
may be that Joshua so understood the matter,
notwithstanding he said “ stand still, thou sun
upon Gibeon, and thou moon in the valley of
! Ajailon.” Men of science, of the present and
past times, would make use of the same form of
’ speech in describing a similar phenomenon. It
is very common to speak of things as they ap
pear, without having respect to scientific cor
rectness. Indeed, it is often necossary to do so,
in order to teach the truths of science. Sir Wil
liam Herschel was accustomed to speak of the
Sun rising in the East, and setting in the West,
though, strictly speaking, the sun does not rise
or set.
’ Therefore the pious man need not stumble at
th# apparent discrepancy between the Scriptu
ral record, and the Copernican system, neither
may the unbeliever exult in a blunder that he
thinks disparages the Divine inspiration of the
Holy Scriptures. But, in common with other
departments of physical science, Astronomy has
I made groat progress in modern times. Sinco
the rise of Copernicus in the fifteenth century,
r many minds of tile highest order have been di
rected to it. Previous to that time, the Ptole
maic Theory almost universally obtained belief.
Copemieu3 rejected this, and revised the Pytha
gorean system. Ho Was succeeded by Gallileo,
Kopter, Sir Isaac Newton, the Herschels and a
host of others, down to the present time, who
t have advanced this scienco to a greater extent
than perhaps any other.
f It has not been without severe struggles,
however, that Astronomical Scienco has made
its way. “ The Church ” was bitter in its de
nunciations, and violent in its opposition. Co
pernicus escaped its fury by dying, and Gallileo,
on his knees before the tribunal of the Inquisi
tion, was forced to say that the Earth did not
t move; but as he rose to depart, he whispered
in the ear of a friend: “ but it does move, though."
t Ecclesiastical thunder cannot drown the voice of
Scienco, and men are fust learning tho lesson
that tho Church’s business is with things spirit
! * ual, not temporal, and that whenever it departs
from its high calling to control that which it
does not understand, and which is under the di
i rection of another power, it ceases to be the
\ Church, however arrogant its pretensions.—
Men in the church, who study the developments
( of Science, have a right to call in question the
teachings of other men, and expose them if
wrong ; but the Church, ns a disciplinary body,
? should have no dealings with these things. But
with all tho progress which Astronomy has made,
still a vast, unexplored field invites the research
i of scientific men. Times and seasons, courses
1 and revolutions have been calculated and ascer
tained ; and as the telescope is improved, worlds
4 upon worlds come within tho range of extended
vision, and yet tho immense horizon continues to
recede. Will it ever be explored ? Never in
} the present state —perhaps never in the ever-
SKX SOTOEESI VXS&B Am YXBSBXSS.
coming future. As relates to those parts which
have been explored, and those things winch are
known, we purpose to furnish some develop
ments in succeeding papers.
Lamkix.
[For the Southern Field and Fireside.]
SOUTHERN LITERATURE.
BY FAXXY FIELDING, OF NORFOLK, VA.
Random Thoughts regarding the same—Free and unaec
tional character of Literature—Northern and Southern
Interchange—Southern Dependence upon Northern
Literati—Southern Authors and Northern Bookwrights
—Ephemeral Literature—Success not an invariable
test of Merit—Southern Patronage of Northern Liter
ary Enterprizc—Respective Merits of Northern and
Southern Literary Journals—Whose is the Fault?—
Where shall Reform begin?
Why can we not have a Southern literature ?
We sire not oblivious to the well established,
hanl'y attained position of our own Literary
Messenger, or our Southern Quarterly, or l> De
Bow," whose respective merits in their own pe
culiar classes of literature —miscellaneous, com
mercial and statistical —so justly locate them
among the first of the great lights iu our world
of letters; neither design we to question the
equal claims of Northern successful competitors
in tho same field. Provincial prejudice and
“ odious comparison,” then, ignored, the query
is iterated—why can or do we not have a South
ern literature?
What do we mean ? To lay a tariff upon the
myriad Northern publications—books, maga
zines, newspapers, with which our reading pub
lic is deluged, and compel Southern readers to
patronize the Southern press and its offspring—
“ home institutions,” as the favorite phrase runs?
We think not —dear as these “institutions” are
to us, and hallowed as we hold their every as
sociation. Literature is, and ought to be, froe as
the air we breathe. It is the soul’s aliment, and
a§ the component gases of that atmosphere
which nourishes our physical man are wafted to
us from North, South, East and West, laden
with the health-giving essentials gathered hither
and thither, so let the literary atmosphere minis
ter to the moral man of the beneficial influences
gathered in all the various quarters through
which it has circulated in the world of letters.—
Let us, however, exchange compliments with our
Northern authors, publishers, Ac.; they arc not
dependent on us for their literature, shall we
court a servile dependence upon them ? Concede
the monopoly or contend for a fair interchange?
Now, while in literary taste and talent we
succumb to none, —while poetry, oratory, ro
mance still boast tlicir champion successors to
immortal genius passed away,—let us consider
a few other facts in this couneqtion. Southern
authors write books which are published North.
Southern writers, whose prose or poetic produc
tions are of a more fugitive style than claim
copyright dignity and “calf” or “muslin” and
board surroundings, dispose of such to enrich
the periodicals of the North.
For the book trade, the matter of getting out
a work by a Southern author is no easy matter,
as all the appliances of book making are in the
hands of Northern book-wrights, and while we
cannot say that those are generous, it is worse
than puerile to exclaim against a system the
result of our own apathy.
Os Southern periodical works we have none,
(or so few that we may soy none) save those
above designated, which may boast of more
than a mere local circulatioir. Editors all over
our land arc subject to spasmodic attacks of lit
erary enterprize, resulting now in a new maga
zine, now in a family newspaper; the original
contributions which constitute these, may, some
times, certainly boast ability, sometimes respect
ability, sometimes, alas! anything else than
either of these Sometimes “ Anony
mous,” (whose personification would be better
represented by substitution of the word “ Select
ed,”) figures largely in the table of contents and
is not unfrequently the most accomplished con
tributor of the whole “ brilliant corps;" agents
are emploped to canvass for the young adven
turer; subscriptions, many or few, are collected,
when, lo! comes a collapse. The ephemeral
character of such enterprises, doubtless, is pecu
liar to no locality, nor is their longevity a conclu
sive test of their merit. Many such ventures,
in higher latitudes, embark and founder every
year, but some survive and breast it bravely
over the billows of popular opinion, as witness,
for instance, a certain “Magazine” flourishing in
ita twentieth or thirtieth volume within tho en
virons of our soi disant “ modern Athens,” es
saying to foster the poetic genius of Young Amer
ica upon such sugar-kiss-verse as is made up of
rhyming “hearts” and “darts,” “smiles” and
“wiles,” Ac., and whose proso belongings re
joice in a fit and peculiar adaptation to the lucu
brations of its poetic muse.
Os Southern periodical writers, perhaps not
one tenth labor for home journals—and why ?
Southern periodicals cannot afford to pay for
contributions. We ask their proprietors the se
cret of this parsimony, and they tell us, “because
we are not patronized.” And they significantly
call our attention to the fact that Harper, Go
dey, Graham, -‘Putnam" with its seditious sen
timents, clashing with those o f every—l will
not say, true Southerner, but true nationalist, —
numberless others in this form; the Home Jour
nal with its inequality of merit, its sometimes
refined and elegant literature, its sometimes
namby pamby stuff; the New York Ledger with
its “ flash” and “fancy" romances, Ac., flood our
reading rooms public and private ; and when
agents solicit subscriptions for us, say they, we
are told by our own people that they already
pay for as many papers as they can afford, more
perhaps, all from the North as it turns out. For
ourselves individually—let us be candid, render
ihg unto Ciesar the things that are Cmsar’s —we
know few Southern papers which wo would as
soon read as tho Home Journal, with all its ine
qualities, and for the Ledger, aye, even with its
“ sensation” stories and Mr. Everett out of the
question, —what have we, as yet, to compete
with it? Better “sensation,” “flash,” “fancy,"
—anything than the flat and flabby nothings,
such as are without doubt served up for such as
like such food, by the caterers to many of our
Southern “ Weeklies, ” “ Semi - Monthlies, ”
“ Monthlies,” Ac.
Now as we arc the complainants, will not
some one better versed than ourselves in liter
ary economy and statistics, indicato the origin of
evils herein imperfectly hinted at, and devise
some remedial measures for radical wrong,
which has in some sort appealed to tho obser
vation or experience' of most of us ?
Matters seem to demand reform—where shall
it commence ? Shall first the people patronize,
that literary editors may bo indemnified against
all risk in contracting with contributors, or shall
they hazard enlisting and paying for.talent—
say the best we have amongst us—printing and
presenting a paper worthy of patronage, —at their
own peril venturing so much, giving the public
advance credit for its publication ? This tacit
bit of delicate flattery would doubtless find some
appropriators —perhaps we should say, appreci
ators, —whether sufficient to pay. the initiated
alone must determine. Now, while authors and
publishers alike remain in abeyance, will not
some sapient tribunal pronounce upon their re
lative duties ? Say, whether these on the one
hand shall risk writing upon the credit system,
waiting to hear if the scheme pays, or these
speculate in romances, essays and the like, ac
cepting large drafts upon the public taste, dis
cernment and discrimination as present indem
nity ?
—
FIRST AMERICAN NAVAL COMBATS.
BY LIEUT. A. J. PRESCOTT, U. 8. X.
Readers are always interested in first things)
and those who have read my previous papers,
will be pleased with a little description of the
very beginning of American power iq>on the
water. The first engagement that ever occurred
between inhabitants of American colonies and
enemies afloat, was a struggle between John
Gallop, who was engaged in fishing and trade
with the Indians, in a sloop of twenty tons, and
some Narragansett Indians, who had seized up
on a small vessel belonging to one Oldham,
known to have been similarly occupied.
Some time in May, 1636, the very year Har
vard College was founded, Gallop in his little
sloop, manned by two men and two boys, him
self included, was standing along the Sound,
near Plum Island, when he was compelled by
stress of weather to bear up, for a refuge, among
the islands that form a chain between Long Is
land and Connecticut. On nearing the land, he
discovered a craft similar to his own, which was
immediately recognized as the pinnace of Mr.
Oldham, who originally’ had screw of two boys
and as many Narragansett Indians. Gallop
hailed on approaching the other vessel. No an
swer. Running still nearer, he discovered four
teen Indians lying on the deck. Gallop now be
gan to suspect that Oldham had been overpow
ered by the savages, and he was confirmed in
his suspicion when tho Indians suddenly stood
before the wind in the direction of Narragansett
Bay. Convinced that a robbery had been com
mitted, Gallop made sail in chase, and when
alongside the enemy, fired a volley of duck-shot
at the savages. The Indians had swords, spears,
and some fire-arms, and they attempted a resist
ance, but Gallop drove them all below. And yet
he was unwilling to board his opponent with such
odds. So he devised the expedient of running
his vessel directly down on the weather quarter
of the pinnace. The shock much alarmed the
Indians, aud characteristically enough, six of
them leaped into the sea and were drowned.
Gallop soon run upon his enemy with greater
force than before, and the vessels were speedily
made fast to each other, the sloop opening a
brisk fire into the hold of the pinnace. Not suc
ceeding in driving his enemies up, he hauled up
to windward again with the intent of repeating
th»same attack, when four or five more of the
Indians jumped overboard, and found a watery
grave. One Indian now appeared upon deck and
offered to submit. Gallop took him on board
his sloop, and bound him hand and foot. An
other Indian soon imitated his example, and he
was put into tho hold and bound; but lest they
should, while together liberate themselves, or do
something worse, he was thrown in tho sea.
Only two Indians now remained, but what could
they Jo? They offered a weak resistance, when
their boat was stripped of all its goods, and was
afterwards sent adrift. The body of Mr. Oldham
was found on board the boat. He had been
murdered a little while previously, for his flesh
was warm. His remains were committed to the
water, and they sank into a common grave with
thoso of his murderers.
But is this to be called a great naval battle?
Yes —great for the times, aud for the first on our
waters Besides, the enemy was entirely anni
hilated, and their vessel in like manner. So that,
in one sense, it was the completest naval victo
tory, if we may so speak, on record.
The first naval action of the American Revo
lution was so striking in its way, and compara
tively so great, that a few words may be devoted
to that also. It has been called the Lexington
of tho sea, as it occurred soon after the famous
battle of Lexington. The news of the first guns
of the Revolution reached Machias, Maine, on
the 9th of May, 1775. At that time an armed
schooner in the service of the English crown,
called the Margaretta, was lying in that port,
with two sloops under her convey that were
loading with lumber on behalf of the King’s
government.
The 10th of May was Sunday, and an attempt
was made to seize Capt Moore and the other
officers of the Margaretta while in church. They,
however, barely escaped through the window
of the church to the shore, where they were pro
tected by the guns of the vessel, The schoon
er now dropped down below the town to the
distance of a league, where she was fired on
from a high bank.
The following morning, which was Monday,
four young men took possession of one of the
lumber sloops, and gave three cheers as a signal
for volunteers. Very soon a party of thirty-five
stout hearted men were assembled for the pur
pose of makiug an attack on the Margaretta.
Arming themselves with firo-anns, pitchforks
and axes, and throwing a small stock of provis
ions into the sloop, these lovers of liberty made
sail on their craft, with a light breeze at north
west.
Capt. Moore discovering his pursuers, and not
being apprised of the intelligence from Lexing
ton, made every effort to escape them. The
sloop being the best sailer, hg opened a fire upon
his assailants with lour light guns and fourteen
swivels. A man was killed on board the sloop,
and it immediately returned the fire. Soon there
was a general fire upon both sides, when at the
same instant the vessels came foul of each other.
A short conflict dow took place with musketry.
Capt. Moore was one of the first victims of the
struggle. Immediately the Americans was vic
torious, and took possession of their prize. Thus
the American Revolution was successfully begun
both upon land and water. —[Line of Battle-
Ship.
New Biblical Discovery.— Prof. Tischen
dorf, who had been sent by the Russian govern
ment on a journey of scientific exploration, in a
letter from Cairo, dated the 15th of March,
states, to the Minister of Saxony, Herr von Fal
kenstein, that he has succeeded in making some
valuable discoveries relative to the Bible. The
most important of these discoveries is a manu
script of the Holy Scriptures from the fourth
century: consequently, as old as the famous
manuscript of the Vatican, which hitherto, in
all commentaries, maintained the first rank.
This it will have to share with tho newly-dis
covered manuscript, if Herr Tischendorf be not
mistaken. In three hundred and forty-six
beautifully fine parchment leaves, of such size
that only two can have been cut out of one skin.
It contains the greatest part of tho Prophets,
the Psalms, the Book of Job, the Book of Jesus
Sirach, the Proverbs, the Song 3 of Solomon, and
several of the Apocryphal Books of the Old Tes
tament; but then the whole of the New Testa
ment is complete. Another valuable discovery
DR. FORBES’ LETTER TO ARCHBISHOP
HUGHES.
The following letter, which we received on
Thursday from Rev. Dr. Forbes, announcing his
abandonment of the Catholic Church, has been
withheld from publication in consequence of the
absence of Archbishop Hughes, to whom it was
addressed, but we infer from its appearance in
a morning contemporary that that prelate has
returned, and has himself given it to the press.
The announcement of Dr. Forbes’ retirement
from tho Catholic communion, which we made
on the 20th, was not generally credited even by
the Catholic priests themselves, who supposed it
was an exaggerated repetition of the fact that he
had resigned the care of St. Anne's church in
this city some months ago, owing to a dislike of
the arbitrary exercise of the Archbishop of his
authority over the inferior clergy, which imposed
an unpleasant restraint on one accustomed for
many years to the less stringent discipline of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. The report crea
ted great sensation, but the explanation proved
unfounded. Dr. Forbes, after nearly ten years’
experience as a member and priest of the Roman
Catholic Church, pronounces his adhesion to it a
grave error, and founds his conversion from it
not on personal disaffection, but on doctrinal ob
jections to the Roman Catholic establishment.
DR. FORIIES TO ARCHBISHOP HUGHES.
New York, Oct. 17, 1859.
Most Rev. John Hughes, D. D., Archbishop, Ac.:
Most Reverend Sir: It is now nearly ten years
since, under your auspices, I laid down my min
istry in the Protestaht Episcopal Church, to sub
mit myself to the Church of Rome. The inter
val, as you know, has not been idly spent; each
day has had its responsibility and duty, and
with these have come experience, observation,
and the knowledge of many things not so well
understood before. Tho result is that I feel I
have committed a grave error, which, publicly
made, should be publicly repaired.
When I came to you it was, as I stated, with
a deep aud conscientious conviction that it was
necessary to be in communion with the See of
Rome; but this conviction I have not been able
to sustain in face of the fact that by it the natu
ral rights of man and all individual liberty must
be sacrificed; nor only so but the private con
science often violated, and one forced, by silence
at least, to acquiesce in what is opposed to mor
al truth and virtue. Under these circumstances,
when I call to mind how slender is the founda
tion in the earliest ages of the church upon
which has been reared the present Papal power,
I can no longer regard it as imposing obligations
upon me or any one else. I do now, therefore,
by this act, disown and withdraw myself from
its alleged jurisdiction
I remain, most reverend sir,
Your obedient servant,
John Murray Forbes, D. D.,
Late Pastor of St Atane’s Church, N. Y.
—[Veto York Post.
——
The Deaf and Dumb Asylum of Georgia.
is located near Cave Spring, Floyd county. The
first appropriation for the support of the indigent
Deaf and Dumb, was made in 1834 and 1835, at
which times $8,200 were appropriated, and a
commissioner appointed to receive applications
for the benefit of said fund, and to convey the
mutes to the American Asylum at Hartford,
Connecticut, and to provide for their support and
education. In 1838, an annual appropriation of
$4,500 was made for the support of the Deaf
and Dumb at Hartford; and in 1845 the Act was
changed so as to authorise them to be supported
and educated at the Cedar Valley Academy in
Paulding county, or any other Academy in this
State, “ where the same kind of education can
be acquired on terms equally economical as those
of said American Asylum at Hartford.” In
1847, Commissioners were appointed to purchase
land on which to build an asylum, and the bal
ance of the undrawn appropriation of 1847, and
half of the annual appropriation of 1848 author
ized to be used to purchase land and erect
buildings. In 1850, the undrawn balance of the
annual appropriation for 1849 and $4,000 addi
tional, was appropriated for buildings and furth
er improvements. In 1852, the annual appro
priation was raised to SB,OOO, and $7,000 more
was appropriated to purchase and put up slates
for Asylum, and to supply the building with
water. In 1854, the Commissioners were au
thorized to apply and expend such portions ne
cessary, of the annual appropriation of SB,OOO
for 1855 and 1856, to the erection of a cabinet
shop, in purchase of apparatus, and the re-cover
ing the main building. In 1856, in addition to the
, annual appropriation, $8,600 was also appropri
ated for repairing and enlarging the main build
ing, for work shops and for the purchase of text
books for the Asylum. The following have
been the appropriations for the rears named:
1834 $3,000 1849 $4,500
1835 5,200 1850 4,500
1839 4.500 1851 4,500
1840 4,600 1852 4,500
1841 4,500 1853 8,700
1842 4,500 1854 8,000
1843 4.500 1855 8,000
1844 4,500 1856 16,000
1845 4.500 1857 8,000
1846 4,500 1858 8,000
1847 4,500 1859 8,000
1848 4,500
$136,500
The cost of the lands and buildings of this in
stitution has been $20,231 44, which sum has
been paid out of the above appropriations.
■ I
Hamlet’s Tomb.—A recent traveler in Den
mark gives the following sketch of his visit to
the tomb of the great dramatic notoriety: “ A
trip from Copenhagen to Elsimore took us
through two of those royal residences that are
about to pass into other hands, viz: Friodens
borg, about twenty-two miles from Copenhagen,
and Marienlust, at Elsinore. Marienlust is a de
solate place in April, but most beautiful when
its trees, gardens and statues are decked in sum
mer garb. Situated on a declivity sloping to
the sea, tho little chateau looking out upon the
dear waters of the Sound, glistening with sharp
reflections in the sunlight, and bounded on the
horizon by the pleasant hills of the Swedish
coast. On the side the stronghold Kronberg,
which defends the passage of tho Sound, rears
its Elizabethan towers, while in the distance be
hind glistens the white house of Helmsborg, in
Sweden, crowned by au ancient tower, frowning
in dark tones on the surrounding country. The
innumerable shipping that stud the waters in
crease the charm of the landscape unsurpassed
in the beauty of its hues, the variety of its com
ponent parts, and the brilliancy of its colors.—
Turniug for an instant from the brilliant picture,
a different one presents itself. In a shady nook,
away from the sea, the eye rests on a pleasant
of Prof. Tischendorfs, is described as an un
doubted and complete manuscript of the Epistles
of Barnabas, and of the Shepherd of Hermes,
both belonging to the second century of the
Christian era, and originally standing in the es
teem of Scriptural Epistles. Herr Tischendorf
hopes, from the munificence of the Russian gov
ernment, that he will he enabled to give imme
diate puolicution t<> these three manuscripts.
1848 4,500
: grove of trees. There, in a sequestered spot
near a brawling limpid stream, stands the tomb
1 Hamlet. It is a little mound of earth, on the
top of which stands a small obelisk. This obe
! lisk is formed of stones recently superposed, re
sembling a cone. No inscription breaks’the
mystery of the place, anc the mind wanders un
disturbed in Shaksperian dreams, and such rev
eries as moss and litchen can create. The ghost
of Denmark has never frightened the peaceful
inhabitants of Marienlust, and to this may bv
ascribed the unbelief of Elsimore gossips, that
Hamlet ever lived in aught but the imagination
of our best known dramatist.”
Early Translations of the Bible.— The
translation of the Bible into English was com
menced at an early period. King Alfred “ the
Truth-teller,” as he was ealled, commenced the
work about the year 730. Adelmus translated
the Psalms into Saxon in 709. Other parts
were done by Edfrid or Egbert, 750; the whole
by Bede. In 1357 Trevisa published the whole
in English. Tindall's translation appeared in
1534, was revised and altered in 1538, published
with »preface of Cranmer’s in 1549, and allow
ed to be read in churches. In 1551 another
translation was published, which being revised
by several Bishops, was printed with their al
terations iq 1560. In 1613 a new translation
was published by authority, which is that in
present use. There was not any translation of
it into the Irish language till 1685. The Pope
did not give his permission for the translation of
it into any language till 1759.
i -fr 0
CHILDREN’S COLUMN.
Solution to Arithmetical Problem, No. 1
—The following communication is from a lad
aged twelve years :
Athens, Ga., Nov. 21, 1859.
Solution to Arithmetical Problem in Southern
Field and Fireside:
i of the number, multiplied by the number
is equal to 1-6 ofthe No., multiplied by the No.,
Which, by the problem, is equal to the num
ber multiplied by 5, —
Consequently, 1-6 of the number is equal to
5, but sis 1-6 of 30. Therefore 30 is the num
ber required.
A. Lonostreet H.
11l do it W ell.— There lives in New Eng
land a gentleman who gave the following inter
esting account of his own life. He was an ap
prentice in a tin manufactory. When twenty
one years old he had lost his health, so that he
was entirely unable to work at his trade. Whol
ly destitute of means, he was thrown out upon
the world, to seek any employment for which he
had strength.
He said he went to find employment with the
determination that whatever he did, he would do
it weF. The first and only tiling he found that
he could do was to black boots and scour knives
in a hotel. That ho did, and did it well, as gen
tlemen now living would testify. Though tho
business was low and servile, he did not lay
aside his self-respect, or allow himself to be made
mean by his business. The respect and confi
dence of his employers were soon secured, and
he advanced to a more lucrative, and less labori
ous position.
At length his health was restored, and he re
turned to his legitimate business, which he now
carries on extensively He has accumulated an
ample fortune, and is training an interesting
family by giving them the best advantages for
moral and mental cultivation. He now holds an
elevated place in community where he lives.
Yoimgmen who may chance to read the
above statement of facts, should mark the secret
of success. The man’s whole character, of whom
I have spoken, was formed and directed by the
determination to do whatever he did, well
Advantage of a “Good Name.”— Walter
was sick, and his mother was trying to get him
to take some oil, but evorytime he looked at it,
he got so sick he was obliged to turn off and say
—“ Oh, mother, I can’t take it.” He was a good
boy, so his mother did not threaten to whip him.
or pour it down him, or even tell him any stories
to get him to take it, she only told him kindly
that he must drink it. While he was still shud
dering and hesitating, she said to a lady stand
ing by—“ The doctor says Walter is the best
child to take medicine that he ever saw.”
The words were scarcely out, when the little
fellow seized the cup, with the resolution of a man
and drank it of!'. The idea that he had a good
name, gave him nerve to overcome his loathing.
A good name is a great thing; strive to get it, my
little friends, and then you will naturally want
to keep it.— Temp. Crusader.
Guns for Children.— The Mobile Mercury
gives an account of the following accident which
resulted from the common practice of buying
guns for children:
We heard a day or two ago of an accident
which had nearly proved fatal, happening to a
lad by the bursting of a four dollar gun with
which he was shooting birds. The barrel burst
lengthwise, from one end to the other, the lock,
struck him in the forehead, tearing the scalp al
most entirely from his head, and laying him
senseless and quivering on tho ground. His
companion, a brave little fellow of thirteen years
old, ran to the nearest water, filled his hat with
it, and by repeatedly sprinkling it into the wound
ed boy’s face, restored him to consciousness and
assisted him home, first taking the precaution to
discharge his own gun, lest some further acci
dent might happen.
——_
[For the Southern Field and Fireside.]
ENIGMA, NO. IX.
I am composed of twelve letters:
My 8,2, (I—is what we often see.
“ 1, 7,12 —is very usefnl.
'• 10,4, 11, 7-ls:iwant
“ 8,2, B.ll—is identical.
My whole is the proprietor of an excellent family
journal. -
Answer next week.
China Grove. Laura.
ENIGMA, NO. X.
I am comjHisedof ticenty-six letters:
My 3,2, 20, 12—is a very useful metal.
“ 4,2,5, 21—a bird.
“ 22, 24, 7, 8,12 —name of a village.
“ 8.15 28, 9—beautiful flower.
“ 10, 28,11, 4, 12—belongs to a circus.
“ 1, IT. 16, 20. 2—much needed in a college.
u 18, 26,19,10, 7—a dangerous weapon.
“ 25 IS, 22, 2—something much admired.
“ 14, 5 22—favorite stimulant.
My whole is an important and edifying public docu
ment.
Answer next week.
Augusta, Ga. Fiaxk.
137“ Answers —Enigma, No. VII.: General Thomas
Sumter.
Enigma, No. VIII: William Henry Harrison.
Correspondence: Fanny, of Washington, sends cor
rect solutions to Enigmas VII. and VIII.
J. W. E., of Richmond Factory, answers No. VII.
Frankie Butler, of Mobile, sends solution to Enigma,
No. V.
The elegantly expressed solution to Enigma No. VII.,
by HC. I)******, “a particular friend of Natalie,’ 1 is at
hand.
“Investigator," of Quitman county. Goo., is thanked
for his skillful poetical Solution to Enigma No. V. He
is right, too, in his correction of the terms of proposition of
No. V.; but space cannot be found in the limited column
devoted to children for theflfty-odd linos of “Investiga-
I tor's” rythmical solution.
211