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LITERARY.
S. A. ATKINSON, Editor.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 186:5.
WEAKLY GOSSIP WITH READERS AND COR
RESPONDENTS.
Querist. —"Who is the author of the expres
sion—‘vote for measures, not men f’”—lt is a catch
phrase in common use among politicians. It probably
originated with General 'Washington. It is related of
him that the year he died, 1799, he went to the Court
House of Fairfax county to deposits his vote. The
election was held in the market house, on entering
whieh it is related that a rickety pair of steps had to be
mounted ; and, when he reached them, a dozen by
standers took hold of the steps to prevent them from
falling In his ageent. Reaching the Court Room, he
rnet the several candidates, snd greeted them grace
fully. Coloin L n < ••cal® asked—“ Well, General, how
do you vote ■» were announced vine voce la
the Old Dominion, then, as they are now.) The Gen
eral looked at the candidates and said: “Gentlemen, I
vote for measures, not men and turning to the record
ing table, audibly pronounced his vote. This is proba
bly the origin of the phrase.
In answer to inquiries in reference to the
late of MSS. submitted to ns, we would iuform our kind
contributing friends that the mass of matter on hand is
suck that we havs been nnable to read critically more
than is necessary to supply our columns from week to
week. We hsve much in hand that is passable, but
which will lay over as long as we think we bitve some
thing better. Ws trust all will be assured of our wish
to treat them with perfect kindness snd justice, and of
our sincere thanks for their favors. The Fireside is
again on “rising ground,’’ so far as relates to its circula
tion, as well as the character of matter offered for its
columns, and we assure our friends that we have in
store for them a collection of choice reading during the
year.
Poeticub. —What is the significance of these
lines by Byron:
“ In Venice Tasso’s echoes are no more.
And silent was the songless gondolier.”
They refer to the aneisnt custom, among the Venitlan
gondoliers or boatmen, of a peculiar musical recitation
of long passages from Tasso. Every gondola had a gon
dolier at each end, both of whom alternated, each sing
ing a stanza, and thus chanting favorite pieces. This
custom is said by other authorities to be la existence
still, notwithstanding the declaration of Byron.
Curiosity. —“ Wbat is gorilla, and why is
Old Abe so called ?” It is the largest of the anthropoid
apes, and has arms and legs longer than other* of the
ape species, being sometimes eight ««• nine feet from
one outstretched liabd to the other. “Old Abe,” from
which came the term “ape,” 1* lean, laak and bony In
his making up, with long arms and legs; and, hence,tho
term ape at once suggest* the gorilla. Tho similitude
goes further, for the gorilla is perfectly untamable and
ferocious; and the natives regard th*m as brutes Into
which the souls of bod men have entered.
We are indebted to Miss Buio for the use of
a copy of the * Songs and Poem* of the South,’ by Hon
A. li. Meek, of Ala. The volume embraces a collection
of the occasional effusions of the author through many
years of his life, and though most of them have seen
tho light through the periodical press, we shall enrich
our columns with an occasional extract from it* pages.
The exquisite lyric—‘The land that we live in’—iu
another column, is from his collection of songs—and
though familiar to many of our readers, is worthy of
reproduction and rehearsal.
A SUBSCRIBER, in the army, encloses the sub
scription juice of the Fireside, which he desires direct
ed to his wife, remarking—* It is my only ehnnoe for a
Now Year’s Gift, and I am snre I could send her puth
i lng that would be more acceptable.’ He is a sensible
man—and we are pleased to find that he is not alono—
for similar letters are received daily.
Spinner. —ln reply to your inquiry in refer
ence to cotton cards, we would say to numerous others
who have written us on the subject, that the Georgia
works are notable to rill orders from abroad, and that
only a lew can be hail, which aro furnished to soldiers
wives, the pejr and in exchange for sheep skins at $6
j>cr pair.
Novice.—“ What ia grape shot ?”«It is a num
ber of iron shot or balls lied or quilted around a me
tallic spindle. The missile has tho appearance of a
bunch of grapes which gave rise to the name. The
balls fly asunder as they leave the gun, and are very
destructive.
G. E. B.— • The Old House on the Hill” con
tains many poetic Ideas, and is quite creditable as a
“mere boyish cfl'ort,” but is not altogether worthy a
place iu our columns.
Eva Holmes —“lf a man die, he shall live
airuin,” is on file for publication. Let us hear from you
again.
W. T. 0., lv ileiph, N. C. —Back numbers of
the new series may be had. We cannot supply them
for 1562.
M. H. 8., Rome, Ga. —We will publish the
lines to which you refer, if wt can obtain a copy of
them.
Miriam. —‘The Death Angel’ is ‘too fancy
free’—and the transitions are too sudden and strained.
"Bassanio" —“A Geranium Leaf” is respect
fully declined.
“Callie."—Dou’t ask us Buch a question.
() Ask your heart
THE SOUTHERN FIELD AND FIRESIDE.
AWARD OFTHECOMMI EE ON PIIIZES.
Editor Field and Firetide: laving h««n ronstitu
ted a Committee to auist you in swarding the prises
ofiered for literary compositions—tales, essays and
poems—we have carefully, and to the best of our ability*
in the time allotted, made our decisions.
We ware gratified to find so many evidences of supe
rior ability and talent manifested in the specimens be
fore us. Indeed, the most embarrassing part of our
task is, a decision between the several compositions of
such eqqal merit as to defy onr acumen. Wo think
when published the discriminating public will coincide
in our opinion. True, we might consult our individual
predilections and tastes in our award; but this would
be doubtful juttice where two or three are so nearly
equal in literary merit as to cause judgments more ma
ture, and minds more gifted than ws claim to possess, to
oscillate. Hence, we are compelled to adjudge the two
of each in kind the best. But, while we do thia “«»
necessitate" we cannot help hoping that the public may
be gratified with the publication of several Tales, Es_
says and Poems highly creditable to our beloved iouth;
for whether treating of fancy or fact, all are imbued
with high, elevating and ennobling sentiments, in strik
ing contrast to the of Literature, (if it may b e
so eallea.) with which our Southern youth have been
surfeited from the assumptive North. God grant us a
prosperous career, socially, education ally, morally, snd
politically.
Os Talcs we select:
“India Morgan , or The Loet Will
“ The Randolphs of Randolph Hall."
In this connection, we would express our delight with
the tale entitled "Constance."
Os Essays we select:
“ The Ueee of Poetry
“ Characters of Poetry"
Here we wOnld remark, that it is an intellectual treat
to read the essay entitled—“ The sin that doth so easily
beset us”—though we do not ajrree with the author iB
Ills elevation or estimation of the theoretical over the
practical—the world of fancy over the world of fact—
The first necessity of every nation is tbepractical: the
theoretical is the result of excellence in the practical.
Os Poems we adjudge the superiority to—
“ Marching to Death
** The Rainbow Dream."
Augusta, Ga., January 8,1868.
Henry J. Osborn a,
1). G. Co TTINO.
STORY WRITING.
A correspondent, in expressing a'deep inter
est in the cultivation of a literary taste among
our people, seeks of us some directions in the
art of story-writing. Having never ventured
on the sea of fiction, and possessed of perhaps
fewer of the qualities necessary to succeas in
that department of literary effort than the mer
est tyro among our contributors, we are reluct
ant to venture any crude suggestions of our
own as a guide to others. There is an art in
doing anything well, though even the most ex
pert artizan may be unable to define the rules,
or lay down the* laws which uuder the guid
ance of his own hand, inspired "by his own ge
nius, produced the most admirable results.—
Poetry is au art, and yet who may assumo the
task of giving rules or directions in an art the
most noble and exalted of all others, and which
has been not unworthily termed divine? If we
consult the critics we Bhall find their definitions
ss variant, and tbeir differences as radical as
tbe diagnoses of ‘the doctors,’ whose propensity
to ‘differ’ has passed into a proverb. One declares
poetry nothing but the quantity of syllables ; a
compound of iambics, trochees, and dactyls, &c. :
another declares it ‘a thing of God;’ and if we
are to be led by such conflicting definitions we
shall be involved in a mist of perplexing scho
lastic refinement. But no one needs to be told
what the eject of poetry is ; the pleasure and
exaltation it produces ; how like music it
4 takes the prisoned soul, and laps it in Elysi
um.’ So, too, au asthetical definition of the
art of story-writing is not requisite to au appre
ciation of the charms of fiction. Nor does it
require au expert to tell us that a story to be
successful must be constructed in accordance
with a wTll-detined plan. It should have char
acters well-marked and natural, but not neces.
sarily numerous. They should have a 4 local
habitation and a name,’ and to be complete, a
story should convey a clear idea of their indi
vidualfty. It should be illustrative of the so
ciety of which they form a part; adorned and
varied by such sketches and terse dialogue as
the tact and genius of the writer may suggest.
The characters should not be mere automatons,
or portraits, paiuted on flat surfaces, but should
stand out distinctly, and live and move earnest
ly and naturally in the situations in which they
are placed. Descriptive or sentimental elabo
ration should be avoided, especially in newspa
per stories; first, because they make the story
too long, and secondly, because the effect of a
tale is heightened by the ever-varying activity
with which the characters move about the
business allotted to them. The day of slow
coach romance has passed, at least, in this
country. We are too busy and electro- tele
graphic in our habits to pore over Tom Jones,
Sir Charles Orandison, or other five volume
tales. We do not say that this impatience es
elaboration is evidence of a more elevated
taste; but it is a fact and a suggestive one to
the writer of fiction. The slow novel may suit
the plodding Englishman, or the phlegmatic
Teuton, but our characteristics are essentially
distinct from either. Life with us is teeming
with novelty, enthusiasm, change; with them
it is staid, monotonous, and wanting in salient
aspects.
Story and legend, such as we read of in old
world chronicles, only exist in their primeval
earnestness and spirit in the far-off nooks of
the East, where the foot prints of the Druids
may still be discerned amid the crumbling mon
uments of a storied past. There, where peri
odical literature is unknown, and where the
whistle of the locomotive has not invaded the
seclusion of gray cairns and smoky hovels, the
story-teller, or newsmonger wanders from house
to house and town to town, reciting love-bal
lads or narrations of wonderful adventure.—
These peripatetic romancers, with their wallets
and their gossip make the rounds of the coun
try with periodical punctuality, throughout th e
year. They are usually tailors, and their offices
are as distinctly recogHized as those of the
priest. They are ostensibly in search of em
ployment, but are really retailers of toe scan
dal of the canton; orae’es of love affaira, and
of course great favorites with the young peo
ple—though regarded with distrust and aver
sion by the older heads.
The romance writers and periodical press of
to-day fill tbe same offico for an advanced civ
ilization that these nomadic story-tellers filled
for tbe rude and superstitions nations of the
East. Our writers of fiction may learn from
the simplicity of their legendary narratives a
valuable lesson. Whatever tbeir faults, they
were true to their own social conditions, and
adepts in a knowledge of human nature. They
gathered their materials from the wild life they
led, and adapted them to the taste and impul
ses of thoso whose entertainment they sought.
The great secret of successful tale-writing
lies in the creative power of the author ; not
the power of devising high-wrought and sen
sational incidents, but the art of creating inter
est out of the most trivial circumstances; the
power to weave trifles into a web of fascina
tion, and to reveal the lights and shades of
lire, and character, and m£ire. This power is
as high above all rules as are the inspiration I
of song or the charms of oratory.
THE AUGUSTAN AGE.
A little while ago, it was common to term
tbe days of Queen Anne the Augustan age of
English literature. In perusinir the works of
the writers of that age now, we are not so
deeply impressed with their greatness, and
simply feel that we are among v«P clever, men,
but by uo means among giants. In coming
down to this period, from those which preceded
it, we feel that we have' left the giants behind
us. We find a great deal of good writing,
abounding in rhetorical precision, artificial
grace, and here and there we discern some
thing like fervor and strength rising above the
smooth sea of prettiness ; but there is little of
what may with truth be called ‘‘great,” either
in the profundity of the imaginative faculties,
the loftiness of moral spirit, or the vigor Os
speculative capacity. No sooner do we pass
| tho times of Shakespeare and Milton than we
] fed that we have done with sublimities, and
the genius which has survived them has con
tented itself with nice little imaginations of
scenes and circumstances connected with the
artificial life of the times. The literature of
the eighteenth century is replete with a spirit
of taste and courteous gallantry; but the spe
culations of its philosophers, or the fancy of its
poets, go not far beyond the ordinary forms of
cultivated common sense, or keen impulsive
scintillations of wit. Here and there, we dis
cover a lumbering greatness in the intellectual
gait of Dryden aud his contemporaries, as if the
age still wore the armor of the old literary
formß, though wanting in their spirit. Thus
far in the nineteenth century even the affecta
tion of “great” in literature has ceased.
EXPLANATORY.
Owing to the delay incident to taking down
our old engine and putting up a new one, we
did not get off our paper last week as early as
.we have usually done. For the same reason
we are two days behind with the present issue
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
•‘Rmocbcm of the Southesn Fields and Forests,
Medical, Economical and Acbictltural.”
This is the title of s volume now passing through the
press of Evans 4 Cogswell. The volume is from the
pen of Dr. Francis P. Porcher, one of the most devoted
and successful botanists in the country, and equally dis
tinguished for zealous devotion to the cause and interests
of Southern Independence, in arts and industry as in
social and political relations.
We take pleasure in directing attention to the forth
coming volume, the sheets of which may furnish us
some appetising extracts.
We have received a copy of an able and interesting
address, delivered before the students of Gainesville
(Fla.) Academy, by Col. James Banks.
The suspension of this paper, during a part of Novem
ber and all of December, prevented us from sooner no
ticing the announcement of a new work by “PersoDne,”
the brilliant army correspondent of the Charleston Cou
ritr. The work is to be entitled; ‘-The Camp Fires
Battle Fields and Marches of the Southern Army.’’
The object ol the book will be to preserve a picture of
army lifo in every phase, and give incidents, anecdotes,
tricks, sketches and descriptions as they actually hap
pened, making it a work that will be both interos ting
instructive and amusing.
The writer desires contributions Sin any that can
give a true history of any daring deed that has marked
the battle-fold, or the character of the Southern soldier
as it has b<. n developed in any manner.
The same writer announces a volume in progress, il
lustrating the devotion of Southern women in the war
of Southern Independence. Any fact pertinent to this
subject will also be welcomed. Address F. G. DeFon
taine, Courier Office, Charleston, 8. C.
DRAMATIC.
Conceiving it to be w ithin the scope of a journal do.
voted to literature and the fine arts, we dedicate a por
tion of our space to the Drama, as it is represented in
our city, and to such dramatic Intelligence as we may
gather from our exchanges.
The Drama is at present represented in Augusta by
the "Thespian Family, or Queen Sisters.” VVe hail the
advent of this troupe, (whose organization is coeval
with our Confederacy,) as the dawning of a better and
purer day for the stage—a stage purged of the grossnes*
and immorality with which it has so long and so justly
been charged, such is the condition of our
country, with only here and there a city of sufficient
size to authorize the employment of leading talent, that
few save strolling stock companies, below par in Eu
rope and the larger American cities, have found their
way to the Interior, and our people have seen little save
the worst aspects of dramatic art. The manner in
wh(jk the Troupe now under consideration is organ
ized promises happily to adapt Itself to the conditions
of our society, and the higher order of dramatic taste.
The corps consists mainly of one family—six in lum
ber—accompanied by their parents, and under the man
agement of their,father, Mr. Waldron. Respected and
esteemed in private life, it is to be expected that they
will carry with them upon the stage the sterling quali
ties on which their social standing is based, and that their
virtu# and excellence will shed their influence on all
their dramatic associations. Hence, in this Trsupe we
recognize the lindens of a purifying and elevating pow
er which we hope will prove the inauguration of a new
era in the dramatic literature of our young republic,
and widen and enlarge its influence until the entire
dramatic world will feel its beneficial effect. Nor is it
extravagant to indulge these exalted hopes of the
bright and promising children of Thespis, who compose
this interesting family. That we are not singular in
our ideas, is sufficiently evidenced by a glance at any of
the numerous audiences which habitually attend their
performances. Among them may be found large num.
bers who conscientiously and habitually abstain from
attendance on any similar exhibition—a practical en
dorsement of the views we have expressed. In taking
up our pen, we had intended to go somewhat into detail
as to the performers and performances, but the length
to wMeh these introductory thoughts have carried us
will force us to defer that for another occasion.
In addition to the dramatic portion of the entertain
ment, the delightful music of the Palmetto Band is it
self a rieh treat, and one highly appreciated by our
lovers of music, who find in their performances an en
joyment which st least in these times we may say is
unattainable elsewhere. We wish and cannot doubt
that the Queen Sisters’ Tronpe will continue to meet
with the success that their merits so richly deserve.
In Richmond, Mr. Ogden is running a stock company
at the Varieties, with Miss Katie Estelle, and C. li.
Morton, old habitues of the Georgia theatres, playing
the leading business.
Buckley’s Serenaders are at the Metropolitan Hall,
delighting the ‘•masses’’ with negro minstrelsy.
Harry Maearthy te at the Broad street Theatre with
“Charley White's Excelsior 2few Orleans Burlesque
Opera Troupe,” having concluded his personation con
certs on Wednesday night, 7th instant, on which occa
sion it was announced that Lieut. Charles Hunt would
present him a gold watch and chain, valued at fI,OOO.
W. 1L Crisp and family are in Mobile.
Ida Vernon, the popular actress, is in Montgomery.
The lessee and manager of the savannah Theatre is
advertising for good actors and actresses, with a view
of opening that Theatre at an early day.
»
- —>* — -
The newspaper* of the country have, witu
only here and there an exception, increased
their rates of subscription. The weeklies are
nearly all issued at $3 to $5 per annum, aud
the dailies at $lO. The Macou Daily Tele
graph states that the paper on which it is
printed costs $7 a year, leaving only $3 and
the advertising receipts from which’ to pay all I
the other expenses. (