CKER, founded on facts within my own personal
experience. I mention this lest you should deem it destitute of merit; for
it possesses the greatest merit that any human composition can possess;
namely, truth. And in this respect, if in no other, my poem is beyond
dispute superior to the Iliad and Paradise Lost. However, tastes differ, I
am aware; and you may possibly prefer those two epics to mine! They are
longer, it is true; but then I think it will be conceded, even by the
critics of the POH school, that my metre is sufficiently long, even though
my story is short. While others measure their verse by the 'feet,' I
measure mine by the yard.' . . . D.'S paper, (of Georgia,) so thickly
interlarded with French, and Italian synonymes for far more expressive
English words, reminds us of an old 'ignorant ramus' in the country, who
was always eking out his meaning by three or four familiar Latin terms,
which he almost invariably misapplied. He observed one day to a neighbor,
who was speaking disrespectfully of a deceased townsman, 'Well, he's gone
to be judged. _E pluribus unum_--'speak no evil of the dead'--as the Latin
proverb says!' . . . '_The New World_' enters upon a new year in a very
beautiful dress, and with renewed attractions in all its internal
departments. Its large clear types, impressed upon good paper, are
exceedingly pleasant to the eye, and what they convey to the reader is
equally agreeable to the mind 'studious of novelty' and variety. The
success which it deserves, we are glad to learn it abundantly receives.
The '_Brother Jonathan_' has changed proprietors, cast its old skin, and
comes out as bright and fresh as a June morning. The versatile Mrs. ANN
STEPHENS (a lady of fine intellect, who has produced better prose tales
and home-sketches than any one of her gifted contemporaries) and Messrs.
M'LACHLIN AND SNOW, the resident editors of the 'Jonathan,' discharged
their functions to due public acceptance; but a name so _invariably_
connected with unsuccessful publications that it has come to be justly
regarded as the sure precursor and inevitable cause of failure, was at the
head of the journal as 'principal editor;' and 'down east' editorial-ings,
transmitted by the yard, and endless unreadable tales, claiming a kindred
paternity, gradually 'choked its wholesome growth,' and finally brought it
to a temporary end. The new proprietor however has wisely declined this
'principal' incumbrance; and having secured