And have three thousand years matur'd | Can thy strong call relieve the burden'à

ORIGINAL PAPERS.

FOR THE EMERALD.

THE WANDERER,

No. L.

THE difficulty of giving general satisfaction to the variety of taste, genius, sentiment and dispositions of a large community, is sensibly experienced by every individual who has occasion to solicit public favor.

these remarks without personal experience; and though it would be affectation in him to declare that he is regardless of public favor, yet it is truth to assert that he can only obtain it by first gaining his own. He is not unfrequently amused however by attending to the remarks which his weekly labor of leisure occasions. Sometimes indeed he will not deny that his best exertions are received with indifference, and the periods he had attempted to polish for a long life are carried in a week to their irretriev able bourne. Sometimes however From the writer of a period- the vanity of an author is gratified ical paper for instance, one class by seeing them figuring in the colexpects ease, elegance and dignity, umns of a distant Gazette, or spoacute penetration and discrimi- ken of in the circles of fashionable nating remark; another regards literature. These however serve to nothing but the playfulness of wit, convince him that the old man and turns over the researches of labor his Ass is a very pointed fable, and with a sneer, and laments the dull- that the Emerald and the Wanderness of an author who does not al-er would be equally unfortunate upways amuse with entertaining sto- on the application of similar rules. ries and ingenious humor. An hun- It appears however to be an opindred other peculiarities will be found ion generally adopted, that periodiamong as many individuals, and an cal publications are of summer Essay like the picture of the Artist, growth; that for a little time perwill be carped at by so many critics, haps they may luxuriate in a ich that every sentence will alternately soil, open their beautiful flowers, be the subject of unqualified appro- and scatter delightful fragrance; bation or extravagant censure.— from them may be gathered an orTo gain unanimity of praise from namental bouquet that may do well this contrariety of taste, is a vain enough to dandle in the hand, but expectation, but the way to unite that they cannot stand against the most voices in your favor, is to cold of winter or furnish a chaplet of adopt the culinary precept and con- evergreen: that forced by artificial sult no body's taste but your own. heat, they bloom without strength, THE WANDERER does not make and are liable to droop and expire

BB

in the common temperature of the without root withering in the sunclimate. That some ground has shine, or changing by some antibeen given for such reflections is chysaline process from the transient not denied, and it ought also to be splendor of butterfly beauty, to the acknowledged that there are many tiresome insipidity of vermiculous instances in which they are errone- life. The same exertions will not ous. The plants of the green house always be equally successful, and however are always among the lux-circumstances sometimes may conuries if not the necessaries of life, and it is possible to keep alive that cheerful fire, which can protect them from every inclemency.

spire to prevent the full exercise of the same talents; yet these accidental aberrations should conclude nothing against the reputation of a performance in which variety is a constituent excellence, and which makes no pretensions to other honors than can be derived from occasionally mixing cum utile dulci.

The sentiment or belief that a periodical performance will degenerate, like most astrological prophecies, is the very cause of the fact. Encouragement and applause are oftentimes necessary for the A difficulty however equally great spirited continuance of any long and much more dishonorable to the and arduous labor, and the rewards community, is thrown in the way by which genius receives, supply it the contempt and disregard which with materials for nobler enterprize. attends native productions. That "Where nature has bestowed great any thing pretending to claim alli"powers the love of fame burns ance with literature should be of "with a proportionate ardor, and American growth, is sufficient for "the exertions of men of genius suspicion and generally for censure. " are called forth and rewarded by To this folly and want of pride, we "the admiration which they natu- have formerly taken occasion to "rally excite." This remark, in-advert. But allow as facts what tended originally for one of the no- the Wanderer will very readily adblest prelates of the English Church, mit, that the subjecs of polite literais applicable also to the more hum-ture are mostly exhausted, that esble and limited designs of a periodi-say-writing in particular has been cal paper. Though it boasts not pursued till there is no longer novgreat powers," it most common-elty; that the genius of Addison ly has the expectations that are con- has anticipated every grace of style, nected with industry, and though not and the powers of Johnson every entitled to a rank among the splen-subject of invention; and that the dors of genius, it has some claim objection is true against present from the assiduity of labor. However writers which was advanced against indifferent may be the execution of the elegant Mackenzie and his able any individual, yet the abstract po- associates in the Mirror and the sition will be universally acknow-Lounger, that "their dreams have ledged, that a periodical paper, de-" been dreamed, told and interpretvoted to subjects of elegant and "ed before; their visions have been entertaining literature, is beneficial" seen by former seers, their letters to a community; the most cruel" from feigned characters are mereand insidious stroke therefore which "ly echoes, their allegorical ironies can be aimed at a publication of this" scarce ever present humor, otherkind, is to represent it as falling off" wise than in old clothes which she from original worth, as a plant" had before worn threadbare."

66

all the villany of great vices and all the meaness of little ones. Without discovering one ray of intellect, or a sentiment of courage, he makes more lasting difficulties in society than it is in the power of human ingenuity to redress.

That the pleasure of talking should be any compensation to a man for hazarding the domestic peace of a family or the public reputation of a magistrate, shows a pitiable defici

Yet there are other titles to merit than originality. That which is recent has a chance for attention, which those that are older and better have lost; and the British classics with their undisputed claim to pre-eminence in every valuable point, would oftentimes be neglected, when the inferior productions of modern ingenuity would successfully lead to a similar improvement: Because we cannot outdo whatever has been done, no rea-ency of understanding or a miserson exists that we should not make tae attempt to follow at an humble distance; for successive trials lead to perfection, and the man who would check the attempt, or in deciding on its exccution, consider the source from whence it came, could not be considered very friendly to the literature of his country.

For the Emerald.

THE TALE-BEARER.

E.

able perversion of heart. With some things it may lawful to sport. We may justify a little harmless amusement, even with the feelings of our friends. Confidence may sometimes allow us to ridicule their fears, or laugh at Lis hopes. We may be gratified with suspense, or amused at the vain alarms of imaginary evils. This however is delicate ground that a prudent man would not choose to tread, but farther than this no one has a right to go. It can never be permitted to interrupt the friendship of individuals by

WHEN a man's tongue runs fast-representing in serious language

the thoughtless expressions of levity, or the unguarded declarations of momentary anger.

er than his judgment it can rarely be said of him that he is merely impertinent. From talking without necessity, he soon talks without rea- The tale-bearer is generally the son, and to supply subjects for gar-reporter of private conversation, but rulity takes the liberty of sporting is destitute of that correctness or with the character, feelings and re-judgment which is necessary to give putation of his friends. To inves- the same impression to his hearer tigate characters for the purpose of that the speaker intended. He seldisplaying them, to acquire secrets dom discriminates between seriousfor the pleasure of revealing them, ness or humor, between the good soon forms a prominent part of his natured freedom of friendship or engagements; and the BABBLER the ill designed declarations of enwhose incessant volubility frequent-mity. In officious haste he gives ly gave occasion to the laugh of a remark without noticing the merriment, changes to the odious circumstances which palliate, or the and detestable TALE-BEARER whose thoughtless mischiefs and ruinious remarks uniformly subject him to the smile of contempt.

The tale-bearer is the most odious character in society. He has

the occasion that might justify. It is impertinence of this kind which creates coolness among acquaintance and difficulties among friends, and the tale-bearer has frequently to reproach himself with alienating

the affections of those who had hith- My opinion of the poem, as a erto maintained an inseparable un-publication, is, I believe, by this time ion. A being so mischievous is a known. I now therefore proceed nuisance in society; his presence to give my reasons for this opinion. imposes a check on conversation Joy thrills the lute, and rapture tunes and almost on the countenance, for the strings.-1.20 one is afraid to indulge any freedom of manners when the illiberality of the tale-bearer may affix to it his own meaning and speak of it with what severity he pleases.

EMILIUS.

FOR THE EMERALD.

EXPERIENCE; Or "Folly as it flies." A poem, delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa society, at their anniversary, August 28, 1806, By Benjamin Whitwell.

A REVIEW.

Rapture is the excess of joy or sorrow, and I think, very incapable of tuning any strings whatever. Rapture is consequent, in this case, on joy, and therefore the lute is not tuned, till joy has finished playing. Joy makes poor music, I fancy!— Whence is the stifled sigh of discontent The faded cheek, the brow with wrinkles bent?

His ear no sound, his eye no visions.

move;

Cold is his bosom to the touch of love. Within the rosy wreath that twines his head,

The wizard Care tormenting thorns has spread;

The scene around with gloomy vapor chills,

When cheerful sunshine warms the dis

tant hills.

7.21.

This is a very good delineation of an old misanthrope, though I suppose it was not so intended. But when we are told, in the ensuing

IN the criticism of ephemeral productions, very little ability is for the most part requisite; I therefore enter on this review, with the expectation of detecting the faults of the performance before me, and of placing its merits in their most ad-lines, that care vantageous light.

Persuades the wretch the soft and silken band

It is presumed, that nothing, less than the most urgent solicitation of Of love parental rudely chafes his hand; his friends, would have induced Mr. We are hurried from this antiquatWhitwell to violate his better judged picture, to that of a youth, imment, in sending this poem to the patient of parental authority; and press; for although some passages the transition is so unexpected, that, may be found, which would not be notwithstanding it should be sup derogatory from a superior compo- posed professional study would have sition, yet, together with their pau-taught Mr. Whitwell the true discity, they derive no small advantage from being contrasted with other parts of the performance.--The plan of the poem, as appears from its long argument, is somewhat ingenious; but unfortunately, it is too often easier to conceive than to effect perseverance and ability are not always the concomitants of our fond intentions.

tinction between age and nonage, we
cannot help convicting him of an
anachronism in human life.
Like an old oak successive centuries
crown'd,

The bark decay'd, the root and heart
are sound.--1.39.

This must be a favorite figure of the author, I therefore pass it over -The word "crowned," however,