i
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ORIGINAL POETRY.
Written for the Southon. Weekly Port.
UNFADING BEAUTY.
BT J. H. L. HCNTER.
The nan who loves a rosy cheek
WHhin this world of Borrow'; '
Will find alas, lo his regret
Twill wither on the morrow :
And should he place his heart upon
A star-lit eye of fire, ,
Soon will time its brightness quench
And cause it to expire.
But lofty, noble, virtuous minda;
Withstand the shock of ages ;
And leave mementoes of their "worth
Upon our history's pages ,
And generous thoughts and holy love
And calm and pore desires, -Will
kindle in the hearts of all
Hope's never dying fires.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
METROPOLITAN CORRESPONDENCE,
LETTER XIX.
; - New York, Sept. 26, 1853.
BrevityDearth of Newt-Horticultural festival Thewea-
tkrr J-vReveti v4t a eoal fire Winter in the city The
Poor Charity How to bestow it Children in the Crys
tal Palace-The character of the Exhibition Philadel
phia recreant Results of the Fair Prof. Silliman's
Tour in Europe Dr Chalmers' Correspondence.
Mr Dear Post : I do not intend to inflict npon
your readers a long letter this week, and perhaps,
fur tjie first tim1, sinje i and they have been " ac
juent" I may Lave to close with an apology for
the brev ity of my periodical dispatch. The budg
et of rews for the past seven Jays would be speed
ily exhausted. Literally nothing has transpired to
frighten our planet, r at least this portion of it,
V out of its propriety", since last I bad the hap
piness. of 'addressing you.
1 'A pleasurable feature of the week .was the an
niversary of the New .York Horticultural Society,
with its wonted display of flowers the poetry of
tire. 'earth, as stars are said to be the '.poetry of the
skies--arjd of fruits, which perhaps, -by a poetical
license, we may call the prone of the earth, or by
any name which uhall indicate their more substan
tial" and satisfactory -nature. I cannot tell vou who
exhibited the finest dahlia,, or who . produced the
lst 2air not of dahlias, hut ir $( .' for I was
unable to attend the pleasant festival of the ard
Hie'rs. .
The weather, has change- itie,'e I wrote to you
last and the piping notes of. Autumn aw becom
ing familiar to our ears. Instead of gatherings up
on the balconies and door-steps of. the houses du
ring the twilight there, are gatherings about the
fi-st fires of the season. You may hear, in the
back arlpr, the cheerful :mark " Well ! I must
say that a coal fire is a very pleasant tiling.' though
a fortnight ago the man who uttered it would have
been counted crazy. C'ircun stances do indeed al
ter cases, Happy now is that-, household, where
te cellar is well stocked with the shining hoards
of carbon; and with the equally important piles
of dry kindling wood; for of what use is coal if
you cannot make it burn ! It is quite a different
thing, my dear Tost, to kindle a coal fire from that of
igniting a stack of wood ! When it is once fairly
lighted, however, it burns in a manner to do the eyes
good. How it glows' an J brightens! how it radiates
its warmth into every corner of the room, mellow
ing the bright tints of the tapestry, flashing iu the
gilding and crystal of the chandelier, softening the
lights and relieving the shadows of your favourite
picture, and giving to the whole apartment an at
mosphere of con. fort and coziness which it never
could wear in the dog-days, or iu the dog-nights
either.-;
I prefer the city, iu the winter and the country '
in the summer. . When the coid winds whistle
around the farm-house, and the air is full of the
whirling leaves- all brown and sere-r the charm
of the country is departed; and cannot be renewed,
however bright the tire burns within the dwelling.
In the city, upon the eonlrrry the winter aspect
is delightful to me, for every thing is suggestive of
the comfort within its Walls. As the season' ad
vances into raid-winter, our home hour3 will multi-
ply. liierainner, uituenu m ivo
tbe table -t five; and the shutters will be closed
attfi the gas burhing-bfightly even at that hour. A
long evening will lollow and unless extraordinary
temptations take us abroad, it will be passed at
Lome with book, or chess, or music, or it may be
all happily combined.
There is- a dark side to the picture of a city w in
terwould there wpre not ! The poor rejoice not
in the approach of winter, and of these th-re are,
and must be, thousands iu such a city as New York.
They are the victims, it may be, "of misfurtune of
: imprudence of dissipation of vice but from
whatever cause, they are objects ot our pity, and I
involuntarily say, as I think of their empty cellars,
their cold hearth-stones, their destitution of food
and clothing : '.God help the poor V
It seems strange that, with the vast and well
organized charities of this great city, there should
yet be such an amount of want as there certainly
does exist Beggars infest our streets, and increase
as surely as the population does. Would not that
legislation be wise which should forbid all street
mendicity, and provide amply for the relief of the
destitute at various points accessible to all ? I am
atisfied that if the private charities uow indiscrim
inately bestowed, were to flow, into some general
reservoir for judicious distribution, they would al
leviate Un limes the amount of suffering they now
do. The bestowment of money upon street beggars
is almost invariably an evil, or it is expended im
mediately at the dram shop, or if given to children
too young yet to be drunkards, it is taken home to
minister to the depraved appetites of a drunken
father, or it may be revolting as the thought is to
a besotted mother 1 If. there were established in
this city a Bureau of charity, with sub-offices where
the str; nger could bestow . his gift, assured that it
would relievo actual want, and that worthily, 6uch
a bureau would receive from liberal hands enough
to clothe all the naked and feed all the hungry in
the-city, even though the benefactions of the public
were not a whit increased. But I am occupying too
much space with this subject-
I have not had much leisure since I wrote last
to d-Axte to the Exhibition at tfie Crystal Palace.
An interesting feature of the attendance during the
past week has been the introduction every day of
five thousand children from the public schools.
They are admitted gratuitously, in accordance with
a provision in the grant, to the Association, of the
land which the Pala?e stands on. This visitation
is to continue during the present week, as there are
about fifty thousand children connected with the
public schools of this city. The little visiters make
good use of their privilege, that is,- they crowd as
much fun and frolic into their half-day's holiday
as they possibly can. Entering the Palace in an
orderly manner, two and two, they are no sooner
within and set at liberty by their teachers, than they
disperse in all directions and run through the naves
and courts and galleries of the building much as if j
they were playing 44 follow my leader " on the play
ground! The crowds of children, added to the
multitudes of adult visiters which the fine weather
has brought out, almost filled the Palace. 1 should
think that there must have been seventy-five thou
sand persons within the building during the six
days of last week.
The character of the exposition is no longer
doubtful Even the ill-natured, are compelled to
.grant that it is satisfactory, while the unprejudiced
are free to declare that it surpasses their highest
anticipations It is a somewhat singular fact, but
one which I am justified in declaring, that no por
tion of the couutry has been so faithless and un- I
just to the exhibitiou as Pennsylvania, aud partic
ularly 'Philadelphia. The papers in the 44 City of
brotherly love " have breathed any thing but a
brotherly spirit towards the Crystal Palace aud
are riot magrnauimous enough even uow to oo it
justice. Tliere is however another couut in the in
dictment and it is this: A very large proportion
of the Philadelphia applicants for space have failed
to occupy that which was apportioned -to them.
Were they afraid, at, the last moment, to compete
with their neighbors or have they kept back hum
a stiii more unjustifiable cause a desire to discred
it the euterpi ize ( It' the latter supposition be true,
they have signally tailed having discredited only
themselves, and lo some extent, their city.
Yes, my dear Post, the Crystal i'ahico is a great
success, i do not know that it will put money in
to the purses of its stockholders liut it will infuse
energy into the industrial ranks of our country
cumulating them lo greater effort for- iuiure ex
cehei ce iu every branch of human -labour. Our
ariizuus. have, seen wi.at .'Europe does,, and where
site excels theui ; and believe . me, they will not
long remain behind in the race.
This great exhi-
bition wul give n& 'more exquisite' fabrics -from
- American looiiis brighter examples ot ait trdui
American artists, and .improved processes and re
sults of mechanism iu all .the industrial arts. A
debt of honor is due to the founders and executors
of this international exhibition and to those who
have frowned upon it, whether 'from narrow miud
eduess or more sordid motives, the public owes a
meed of indignation, which 1 hope will be unspar
ingly bestowed upon them !
Let me turn, for a few moments, to my book
table, and see what there is to challenge notice iu
this letter. A: brace of volumes from the press of
Putnam fc Co., record the observations and expe
riences of the elder Sillimas the distinguished
physicist and- accomplished scholar during a
twelve months' recent tour in Europe. They are
full of varied interest notwithstanding the fa;t
that "every body knows .all about Europe now-a-davs."
These volumes are the appropriate com
plement of Mr. Ly ell's travels in the United Stales
with the advantage to the former that they pos
sess more geniality of spirit than was characteristic
of the observations of the English geologist. Prof.
Siiiiman was in Europe forty eight years ago, and
his book . might be called, not inappropriately,
44 Europe uow and. then" for he delights t.o give
us the contrasts which he cannot, help seeing at
every step of his progress. He has expended- so
much care upon his book both topographically and
intellectually, that it will certainly become one of
the few classics of European travel by Americans.
The Harpers have just published, among other
excellent books, a volume of the 44 Correspon
dence of Dr. Chalmers".1 edited by his son-in-law,
Dr. llanna. Nothing that came from the pen
of that great man will be without permanent value,
and his correspondence is particularly full of the
riches with which his mind aud heart were stored.
Let me here make my best bow to your readers
before by my continued gossip, I render my intima-i
tion of brevity, in the beginning "of this letter not
only pointless but ridiculous which would be un
becoming in one so grave as yours ever
COSMOS.
COMMUNICATIONS.
f WRITTEN FOR THE SOUTHERN WEEKLV POST.
SPEECH OF HON. A. W. YEN ABLE,
Before the two Societies' of Wake Forest College,
delivered Wednesday, Jum 8th, 1853. Ra
leigh: A. M. Gorman, Printer. Spirit of the
Age Office.
We are not much accustomed to read Anniver
sary Addresses, and still less to eulogize them, for
they have become almost as jejune and hackneyed
a fourth of July orations. Their authors, in place
of taking a useful and practical subject, and en
forcing it with all that benignity, earnestness, and.
generous self-forgetfulness which should. character
ize the monitions of the matured to the unmatur
ed mind, too frequently yield to the temptation of
dealing in glittering common places, titillating the
popular ear, and reaping a harvest of praise on these
interesting occasions, from a pleased, and therefore,
genVrous auditory. If this be not so, why is it that
so many of them are condemned for pointless, ob
scure and general declamation ? We have read
many that were both subjectless and objectless, or
if any were discoverable, the one was self, and the
other its glorification. Such authors are very far
from doing what Archbishop Whately, with admi
rable propriety , and condensation of expression,
terras "taking the restricted view of a subject"
As Commencement Addresses form a large part of
our literature, and one of the distinctive features of
our nationality, (for they are almost unknown in
Europe, on account of their fewness and the con
stitution of their Universities and Colleges.) they
acquire an import which makes it desirable that
they be excellent in matter and style.
The address whose title stands, at the head of
this, critical notice, though not perhaps, coming up
to this high' standard in all respects, Is so replete
with the garnered wisdom of experience and learn
ing, so embellished with the beauties of expression
and diversified with appropriate and beautiful fig
ures, that it is worthy of recommendation and gen
eral circulation. We know no way in which so
much pleasure and profit could be imparted to
American Students, at the same expense, as w uld
be"incurred by presenting each of them with a copy
of this excellent address.
Elaborate criticism does not fall within the juris
diction of a more critical notice, but we cannot
forego the opportunity to commend .the following
parallel, which the able author draws between the
genial feeling and generosity of the man of genius,
and the selfishness and petty tyranny of the medi
ocre. He has made of it a mirror, in which these
two characters may read their distinctive features.
We. know that it appears almost ungrateful to
find faults in so generous an ottering on the shrine
of letters, but as the "critic's eye" may be denied
us, if we 44 pass all imperfections by," we inform our
young readers that we think we see iu some parts
the want of strict logical connexion and that rhet
orical smoothness and barmany, without which an
uubroktn continuity of thought is impossible.
C.
Wake Forest College.
EXTRACT FROM .MR. VENABLeVJSA?8 &
" Of all the calamities which befall an age, the
reign of mediocrity is the most deplorable. When
mere dullness is in the ascendancy there is hope of
improvement. . The dim eye may be reached -and
excited by the light, and enquiry may be,awakened
without the disturbing influence of suspicion.
Dullness makes but few pretensions, and is satisfied
with power. But mediocrity in attainments and
intellectual gifts, having acquired power and influ
ence, instinctively dreads comparison with superi
ors, takes counsel of jealousy and i insensible to
generous emotions. Under such control, orators
g ve place to demagogues and ranters ; and states
men ar substituted by crafty intriguers. This is
the necessary result of the reign of mediocrity in
literature, science, art and statesmanship. Never
ijing high, of course it fixes its standard low. -Conscious
of the want of intellectual acumen, it is
suspicious of those who are supposed to possess it.
Limited in mental resources, it is niggardly in the
C'lthmiiniuation of -.thoughts. Deficient in wisdom,
r substitutes in its place the counterfeit currency.
Afraid of fratik and candid counsel, it seeks for
to Is instead of advisers. - Feeling incapacity to
control individual talent and attainments, reliance
is placed upon party organization to resist the pow
er of superior genius. lender this gloomy reign,
mind slumbers, merit pines, and should talent
make a successful assault upon the drowsy In st, a
victory over prejudice or a. castigation of folly
teaches no permanent lesson. ' bmall advautagi-.
allure, and small points in policy absorb, and rules I ' fH of. beauty,and of lender and even sacred as
adopted wit IkhiI comprehending the philosophy ! S'-ciationv The songs of the vintagers frequently,
which suggested them, are looked to to exorcise j chorussed from one part of the field to the other,
the spirit of disorder. Boldness of thought and j rin,r u!ithe!v into the bright summer air, pealino-
independence ot action are proscribed ana clenounc- !
-d, and the tyranny of little men sustained for a
season. Mediocrity and ignorance having obtain
ed .power, a war upon all that is elevated and li
beral, is waged to the knife. Nor does science, art,
taste or literature fare any better under this autho
rity. Ignorance regards learning as a -.species of
necromancy , or at best a-useless accomplishment,
and considers the elegancies of cultivated taste too
expensive a recreation. The wisdom of the past
and the experience of the present are regarded only
as rubbish, except so far as it subserves the organ
ization of party, or answers the ends of som poli
tical pedlar. What does medi' crity care for the
beauties of style or the sweet harmony of poetry ?
Of w hat use td it is the accumulated wisdom of
ages ? Fearing nothing so much as superiority,
trembling at rivalry, and moved by the instinct of
self-preservation, it hastens to inspire dread by
smothering and destroying all that indicates the
existence ot the one or the other. -Nece8e est
multus timeat quern mvlti timent.'''' With the
instinct of the Tyrant it seeks safety in proscrip
tion, and security in the destruction of those whom
jealousy distrusts or envy hates.
Mediocrity in authority rarely reasons, because
incapable of high mental effort ;" hence, it substi
tutes apothegms and sayings, for reasons and prin
ciples, uses the names of virtues for the reality,
and cabalistic terms for the wisdom of statesman
ship perceives greater evil, in the disregard of
party tactics than in the commission of actual
wrong. For this reason it is eminently proscrip
tive, and unless some strong rebellion exposes its
weakness and subverts its authority, the weight of
its leaden sceptre wculd increase until the triumph
of stupidity, more fatal than the incursion of bar
barians, would overwhelm and overturn all that
wisdom had discovered or experience fixed. A dark
age would supervene, and the spirits of men de
pressed by the tyranny ot interior minds, would
take refuge under any strong arm which promised
deliverance from such ignoble rule. But another
and a more beneficent infiuence succeeds a bright
er reign where power legitimately belongs, and
where success and distinction are secured and be
towed the reign of genius, which is always gener
ous. Talent developes, and mind expands under
its dominion, and the competition which it produ
ces, only illustrates by brilliant achievement, the
high position which intellect may attain. Like
the f pring bursting from the mountain side, it has
no distrust of the richness of the source, and leaps
i l shining cascade, or flows in transparent beautv
beside a Kindred stream ; receives into its bosom
the rills which swell its volume, and pursues its
course refreshing and enriching with unstinted pro
fusion. Genius collects jewels only to refresh the
eyes of all by their light accumulates treasures
only to supply the wants of mindgathers flowers
to embellish by their beauty, and delight by their
fragrance smiles with pleasure upon every open
ing bud, expanding it by culture, and cherishing it
by attention. Jealousy expires in' the salubrious at
mosphere which surrounds it, and envy perishes
for want of food. The scarcely fledged -win? is
sustained by iu hand and taught to soar, and the
timid, but gifted, stimulated to high adventure.
Genius takes no pleasure in grovel lino- intrigues,
has no sympathy with selfish enterprises is not
interested in the conflicts of little men, and has no
toleration for the ascendancy of trickery over merit
vreinus loieraiea ireeuoui oi enquiry, and rejoices in
independence of thought conscious of creative pow
er, it delights in the high creations of others posses
sing a common interest in the treasures of knowledge,
it glories in every accumulation, without paus
ing to think who brought it to thecoraruou store
regarding the whole world of science, knowledge,
eloquence, poetry and art, as one great field for
kindred minds to enter and possess. It owns no
right in any to appropriate, but to enjoy not to
exclude those who would ente-, but to invite all to
come. As the sparkling gem or the lovely flower
can as easily delight a thousand eyes as one bv its
light or its beauty, so the creations of genitis'and
of taste dispense their refreshing influence to the
generations of mankind. The volumes of Jearning
which have been given to the world, the history,
poetry, and elegant literature, the temples, statues,
and the canvass glowing with mimic life, are all
the trophies of generous, prolific genius, which
seeks for fair renown by doing justice to those who
have gone before, and begins the pursuit by pro-
He must fear many whom eo many fear.
claiming their praises. It catches the dying ca
dence of the song where it paused, only to recreate
and swell its melody, and vary and prolong its
notes. With a kiud and truthful ban 1 ;it records
the glories of its predecessors, or the marble which
covers the dust it holds communion-with the
great departed in the works which they have left
as a legaey to the world, and bring bright minds
of ages past into the family circle. These are the
offices, the powers, the associations, and the tri
umphs of genius. It is here that you may come
that you may be wiser, brighter and better. Here
anthems of praise can employ every voice, and still
retain the harmony. In this concentration of light,
the roads to success and distinction are so clearly
indicated that none can mistake theua."
WRITTEN FOR THE SOUTHERN WEEKLY TOST. I
Messrs. Editors: I request that the interest
which I take I in your excellent and useful paper
may exempt me from the imputation of officious
ness, when I suggest to you the giving of addition-,
al interest, beauty and usefulness to it, by occasion
ally giving short articles on Architecture, with ac
companying illustrations from ''Downing's Cottage
Architecture," and similar works. There are peri
ods in the history of every. State, when the people
seeth to have a' contagious spirit of building.
Soraethins: of this? kind I think is now discernible
in North Carolina! It is admitted that there are
few things in which we are more deficient than in
Architecture. ' The State is covered with huge
squares andi parallelograms of , painted ! weather
boards, whicl might have been built up into sightly
and comfortable dwellings for one half of what they
originally cosfe It is needless to speak of the su
perior preasuresof traveling in a State covered with
neat buildings, since comfort, health and even mor
ality are so much promoted by them. Verb. Sat.
Very respectfully,
-. ' , WM. II. OWEN.
V THE VINTAGE.
There have long existed pleasing, and in some
sort poetical,. associations connected with the t:isk
of securing for. human' use the fruits of the earth ;
and to no species of cr p do these picturesque as
sociations apply with greater force than to the in
gathering of the ancient harvest of the vine. From
time immemorial, the season has typified epochs of
plenty and mirthful-heartedness of good fare and
of good will. Tlu ancient types and figures de
scriptive of the iiitage are stiil literally true. The
march of agricultural improvement seems never to
have set foot amid the viues. As it was with the
patriarchs in tje E.ist, so it is with the modern
children of men. The goaded ox still bears home
the high-pivsse 1 grape-tub, and the feet of the
trader are'still red in the purple juice. The scene
. , aI , . , , , - ,
laughter shouted hither and thither. All the green
jungle is alive with- the moving figures of men and
women, stooping among the vines or bearing pails
and ba-iketfuls of grapes out to the gras-growu
cross-roads, along which the labmna: oxen drathe
rough vintage c irts, groaning and creaking as they
stagger along beneath their weight of purple tubs
heaped high with the tumbling masses of luscious
fiuit. The congregation of every age And bom
sexes, and the careless variety of costume, add ad
ditional features of picturesqueness to the scene.
The white-haired old man labors with shaking
hands to fill the basket which his black-eyed imp
of a grandchild carries rejoicingly away. Quaint
broad-brimmed straw and felt hats handkerchiefs
twisted like turbans over stranrsrlinff elf-locks
swarthy skins tanned to ar. olive-brown black
flashing eyes and hands and feet stained in the
abounding juices of the . precious fruit all these
southern peculiarities of 'costume and appearance
supply the vintage with its pleasant characteristics.
Thf clatter of tongues is incessant. A fire 'of jokes
and jeers, of saucy questions, and more saucy re
torts of what, in. fact, in the humble aud un poetic,
but expressive vernacular, is called u chaff" is kept
up with a vigor which seldom flags, except now and
then, when the bijtt-end of a song, or the twanging
close of a chorus' strikes the general fancy, and
procures for the morceau a lusty encore.- Meantime,
the master wine-grower moves observingly from
rank to rank. Xo neglected bu nch of fruit escapes
his watchful eye. No careless vintager shakes the
precious berries rudely upon the soil, but he is
promptly reminded of his slovenly work. Some
times the tubs attract fhe careful superintendent.
Ele turns up the clusters to ascertain, that no leaves
nor useless length of tendril are entombed in the
juicy masses, and anou directs his steps to the pressing-trough,
anxious to find that the lusty treaders
are persevering manfully in their loug-c-Jntiuued
dance. '
The reader will easily conceive that it is on the
smaller properties, where the wine is intended, not
so much for co.mrae.rce as for household use, that
the vintage partakes most of the festival nature.
In the large and first class vineyards the f process
goes on under rigid superintendence, and is, as
much as possible, made a cold matter of business.
He who wishes to see the vintages of books and
poems the laughing, j .kiiig, singing festivals amid
the vines, which we are accustomed to consider the
harvests of the grape must betake him to the
multitudinous patches of peasant property, in which
neighbor helps neighbor to gather in the crop, and
upon which whole families labor merrily together,
as much for the amusement of the thing, and from
good neighborly feeling, as in cousideration of francs
and sous. Here, of course, there is no ti'cht dis-
cipline observed, nor is there any absolute uecessity
for that continuous, close scrutiny into th state of
the grapes all of them, hard or rotten, going slap
dash into the cu vier which, in the case of the more
precious vintages, forms no small cbeck upon the
general state of careless jollity. Every one eats as
much fruit as he pleases, and rests when he is tired
On such occasions it is that you hear to the best
advantage the joyous songs and chorusses of the
vintage many of these last being very pretty bits
of melody, generally sung by the women and girls,
in shrill treble unison, and caught up and continu
ed from one part of the field to another.
Yet, discipline and control it as you will the
vintage will ever be beautiful, picturesque, and full
of assertion. The rude wains, creaking beneath
the reekmg tubs-the patient faces of the yoked
oxen-the half naked, stalwart men, who' toil to
help the cart along the ruts and furrows of the way
-the handWchiel-turbaned women, their gay red-
and-blue dresses peeping from out the greenery of
the leaves the children dashiag about as if the.
whole thing were a frolic, and the gray headed old
men tottering cheerfully a down the lines of vines,
with baskets and pails of gathered grapj-s to fill the
VawnilllT tubs tho ndirdu
j . o ...... '.vv,,vs
venerable, and picturesque, not more by association
than actuality.
THE
jloutjicra ftalttMi) )ost.
EDITED- BY
CALVIN II. WILEY, WILLIAM D. COOKE,
' . LYTTELTON WADDELL, Jr.
RALEIGH, OCTOBER 1, 1853.
Terms TWO DOLLARS FEB AKNTJM, in Advance.
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" Editors of the Southern Weekly Post, Raleigh, N . V." Busi
ness letters, notices, advertisements, remittances, &c, tXtc.
should be addressed to W. D. Cooke. ' -.
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of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
WORK vs. AGITATION.
Human Society has been very aptly compared to a
bee-hive. It has its drones, its workers, and its occa
sional swarms. The similitude, however, fails when
we I consider that "swarming" is d ne. among men
generally by a distinct chss, who-e chsen occupa ion
would seem to be to agitate and confound the rest of
mankind. The relative numbers of ihee three class
es of men are different in different places. In some
countries, as Turkey, the drones have a decided pre
ponderance. In others, such as England and Ger
many, we find the workers in the ascendancy hat
is the great majority of the intelligent classes are hear
tily engaged 'in physical or intellectual labor on the
great highway of life, too prudent and pnetii-al for
the pursuit of visionary good, and too energetic and
spirited to indulge in an indolent repose. But tliere
are some parts of the world where a very l;:rge pro
portion of the people seem to entertain an equal aver
sion for profitable toil and the monotony of idleness.
They! live on agitation. They swarm like bees on par
ticular occasions, with an aetivi y altogether dispro
portioned to the results that follow. In certain
sections of the United Slates lhe swarms have
become periodical, and their operations are conducted
with systematic madness. They are growing in im
portance, and must form an interesting and instructive
feature in our future history.
For many years past, our own State has not dis
inguished herself for activity of any kind. We ob
serve; with pleasure, however, th it new life begius to
show; itself among her people, and feel encouraged to
hope that hereafter she will progress in the path of
improvement with a-commendable ze d. We would
therefore humbly warn Our re ders that this progress
must be retarded, rather than advanced, by excessive ag
itation. It is chiefly bv a well directed enera-v in the
use of the ordinary means at our command, that so
ciety. or individuals are apt to succeed in their efforts
to attain prosperity and distineti ui. It is a practical
question of much moment whether the reviving spirit
of enterprise in North Carolina shall expend itself in
wild and theoretical schemes, or pursue the more ordi
nary channels of useful labor and persevering exertion.
Upon our present choice depends much of our future
improvement. Looking to the example of more pros
perous states, our eyes are apt to be arrested by those
remarkable social phenomena which are coniiiiu:illy
recurring there, and to overlook the more recondite
and noiseless operations of the machinery to which
their progress is due; and hence we often attrihue
the wealth and power of those States to circumstances
which have nothing to do with their improvement, but
which actually interfere with it. It is not, to be more
explicit, the agitation on the surface of Mew England
society that constitutes its strength. It is her enlight
enment, her morality, her s ci 1 equality, and the
working habits of her people that have nude her the
wonder and admiration of the world. The fanaticism
displayed vby many of her people, and the f'on'dnes- for
trick and humbug that has been generally ariribued
to them, are tin; effects of 'redundant'' ig-T misapplied,
and by no means the principal elements f her power-
There cannot be too much eneriry and en;e p;ise,
manifested by our ptople, if they would o crtake the
leading States of the Union. JJut it must be energy
of a substantial and steady character it must be. en
terprise directed to those o1 jects which are evenwhere
recognized among the elements of sicial prosperity
Thesq cannot be successfully maintained whhout labor.
If we; are to become a great, populous, and powerful
commonweilth, we will have to work for the distinc
tionto work hard, physically and . intellectually, in
the great laboratory where idl lasting fortunes are
made.; We must neither be drones nor agi ators, if we
wish to contribu e to the public good. , These two
classes are so many burthensome encumbrances sub
idsting upon the undeserved bounty of the communi
ty. Their multiplication in the bosom of society is a
misfortune and a disease, and ought to be repressed
by evpry influence that can counteract it
There are a thousand well known channels in w hich
a patriotic public spirit can easily' flow. Whatever
has a tendency to improve our agriculture, to extend
our commerce, to increase our manufacture!, or to de
velop the mineral wealth that lies so abundantly be
neath! the soil, is worthy of encouragement and culti
vation. The education of lhe people, and ti.eir moraf
improvement, the promotion of literature, science, and
the useful arts in our midst all these are worthy of
an increased interest and of greater perseverance of
effort on the part of our citizens. Let us imitate our
northern friends in the promotion of these and simi
lar objects, and at the sirne time shun the errors they
have tio often committed in tho exuberance of their
visionary zeal. -
In fine, let the number of our ivorlers multiply as
rapidly as possible. They are the true patriots, the
true friends of humanity after il, who apply their
shoulders to the wheel and roll forward the ear of im
provement with a steady progress. The noisy agis
tor can only arouse a temporary excitement, which is
necessarily succeeded by subsequent apathy. When
we teach by example, the iufluence we exert is health
ful and lasting, end therefore infinitely to be preferred.
THE NEW COACH.
A splendid new passsenger coach constructed by
Mr. J.IR. Harrison of this city has just been put upon
the track of the Raleigh & Gaston road, and is really
an object of novel interest to our citizens. Mr. Har
rison deseives great credit for the equally elegant and
substantial style in which he has turned out his job,
and the President of the Company also deserves the
thanks of the community for his conbiderate preference
of hoac manufactures.
THE PEACE OF EURDP
The apprehensions of a ue ieral i- I
growing out of the difficulty U-twL j, l'
Turkey appeir to be g.adu.lly su! L sf
public mind on tint continent is returi j "'
nary state or iranquiuiy. Tne iWi
to
'lib
, . lue i luvn m ' vimim- iu mt inreat.
crM;
enforce his claims by the permanent .i.. .Nv i,
Hi
provinces of Moldavia and Wallacl ia Ti 4
! f Vl I V "v CCnil.: '
uipiuumuj vi i ranee, and AiHt t
by a corribmed fleet of the two form !
however succeeded in inducing him tT --M'er"
forces. This movement was not t ffec Jm
had yielded to (he influence of its selfil '.!
io a great extern, conceded lo Ktissid
corumodation she demanded. This i nt
A . A A A. 1 1 t
red to be the result d the whole affair. J, '
lhe final adjustment has n-.t been rt-aced v
course impossible for Turkey to i-ontedalo lti,',
the Colossus of the North. V,fl
The way in which the matter las bn ,n,
quite amusing to the distant ohs-rv,
one of the artifice so frequently employ
in the Iliad. ..f rescuing his heroes wht j, ."
the intervention of a. cloud Tbe diin,,.,,' h
dispatch agents in the- service of tin- in-,,. Ws
i in
'prs conirived to fet un :is err,. of .. i
' po.
dicory reports apissiblo, ...nd thus in(J
fair in a comnlfi'p. furr .'hehtn.-l
''"lira.
"it- if
... r-- - men poor
Turkey was compelled to back out ft-, v
..'.' .tMt o- : - ... .. . U W1
rou-J,,. .
iion-7-wniisi ivuhsia apparently r
r op
evacuating me provinces, it has U-en ilit:u., 7".
not erftditablv man mad.' if
The hopes; the fears, the expectation f,i -.
linim lt.,cs KoAti fliD.tnnnin-fir? I . u . .
Mi
ii , tiiui? uccii uiiji'i'L'wiM'i u iur i iin-ua a .1
uie ...
aIiT nmtrnL-iiiir imfrl .-tin! v Kinrvlc J..i.i
iions of the old world.
IIugiry and lt;,n,..
' the ,
a ill lo ger before the day. of iheir delivi-r;t. ,r'
Russia must, bide her time, and embrace. ' futur "
opportunity to make herself mis ress of ta,Ni ;
pie. Louis .Napoleon must pos pmie hU ,,,
the Rhine, and content himself with ncHrs '
his b'ook of fetes.
But the day of doubt will-not be Ioml'. im
sible that so many elements 0f disco itcntluin'
on from year to year w ithout explosion, yr.i nv
that now crushes Europe to the e, r h f i wi ijn
itself the seeds of it- ow n dissolu io '. In inn-)
goading of thetchain will finally nerve tl .rt Vij
the people will certainly ti e like .m awalj ntl)
drive their oppressors lro;n thel n l hevi
cursed with their pn sem e.
RAILWAYS IN P2.AKC1
A recent correspondent of he New Yoil
'"''it.
writing from France, makes th.- rein r ;l
has occurred in France bv r.iil-ro d' .-avid
years past. Tliis remarkaMe tac. i . c.':U-ul i
ine peopie oi me l m eci ia es i y i s inoi
trast'with our own almost daily record of
ines. it is Hi so iiisiruciive, ocean -c it s :1.
- that
U
of
ra-ks -no
i
'.i-l
.!.
uie rauroau system can oe managen wi
sacrifice of human life. We suppose tbi
.i.i i ;j 1 ' i .... .. i. i
travel in France is less th in with nsN-anJ
are said to be considerably wider. Tlu-v !i
doubt a much larger number- ol
agents always in .atteudan e npon 'he grea
then the de-po:ic character of tl.ie govt-rnnii
it to evercise a far more vi.-ilant and ene plinnl
man is possiuie in ims CMimrV'. j i irr.iijf
why tae several companies m v n ' do ihl irliii.
gence and increase the .numb r T h -ir :fs nd
sentinel-, so as to accomplish to a Lrreit ot t f
same result. . No expense ought o be. - pare effort
left untried to dimmish the awful ainoutihunpn
slaughter which our railways :;re cns':Hro hie
ing. The lives of our citizens the ch r iir.
country, and a; fir-sighted economy, all v.A mi
early and effectual ref rm. -
THE DEAF & DUMB AND TEE ND-
We would again call the aitfeniiun Of otui-at
a dis'an-e to these two classes, for who-efr the
State has made so liberal a provision. It is tf;in:.
but triMe, that there are many people in l-om
who are still ignorant of tha" fact, and iliimic io
be so, unless the more enlightened citizeno ie4!e
near them take sufficient interest in the .;; t in
form them of it. Our country popn'ati neiiiaik
ble for want of curiosity. They even con Kai itrh
and return hoin6 wiihout ever heariup ac S te
Institution. Noyv it is a truly humamj clu iii n
work to look up the-e unfortun.de d
lin f t-e
initio i e
iu mon-y
b vm-e-ct.
to J'-
State and let them know that such an
ists. into which they can be admitted
and without pru'e. All they have to fl
VVill not s-nv of the g-ntlemea wh
end the great State Fair on t e ISt i
mon
exeri tnemselves to discover and br-ifc ! ng f 1
them some of these iiten-s ing objects of-kn i
cence of the Common weal. "h3 W'e sjait
that they will, and that the preseut respec al iir
of pupils will be thereby considerably enlan
FLUCTUATIONS OF FAME. !'
The rapid iy wi.h which literury ie;ai n :
won and lost at the present day is truly aswug. I
Within the last lew years 1 irge number 'of noairf
have risen suddenly i do noiiee, ha e b'-e i thOj !
of the most extravagant praise, undalmo t a-iUt
ly disappeared to make way for inore at rac w f
cities. Some wiil doubtlest reppe roi tiir.z '
to bhiue witii steadier light, and p-.-ihaps bec rid f
in permanent or I lis, whilst m.ny .-re proli("
from view never to re urn. We bar J ly lie r th' -'
now of Tennyson,' Tupper. DvQuincey, Mel-'
lis, und a number 'of -i.uiiar aspir. nts for m 'T
plause and immorta'i y. Anotiier and a v ri'
ent galaxy of modern g niu es ha-i t ken h p11
and Jane Eyreand Alexander Smith, on o e siof b(
Atl n:ic, with Mi chell, Mrs. S ow, Iban,
Read and the dke o.i tht-r, h-.ve wi bin th
yer been enjoyi g in the a-eaida-ii tiuir
se ison of suci-ess. Mrs., St owe h just g"t '
cndrely out, ; nd .po- r Alexander Smith i-'i";'- "1
Of hi 4 rays bv 'he mercilesss'ie .rs of ihi-iri
for fame ! How timer aiu t;re iis ;riun. h-1 0
capricious its decisions ! ''
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE:IUTlC
ASYLUM I .
We learn from the Vindicator ofStflpn'on
Dr. E. C. Fisher, formerly of tha' ple, and n
Richmond, has been appoin:ed Superkenden '
North Caroli ,a Luuadc Asylum. D'eJ
this ci'y a few days ago, and we learnt be slDie
confident ially frtm himself, bu! th- afiiounce-"
the Vindicator enables us to
refer .o il w it'. fP
We do not know hat Dr. F. lias detai ely ','ePif
this temporary appointment, but sincere y hi '
do so. We have known hi.u for ni nj yers, D
cheerful testimony to his wor h. Hejisan eJilrt
Iy amiable and i-onrtniu fmiiJfmtu.bf fi ie a
and much experience in regard o iheireatuie
insane obtained from actml re-ideuct'-'r1.6 1
ti
J
nf tmn it.. iir-..i . i .. vlrtTima
v. iiu; in tut f esieru .isyiuni "i l b . t
U ; . - . i . iK AsVl"1"
i-uo provision requiring resiuencc at. i- -we
believe, been repealed. !
f , tn I f
W The communication of Prof. 0'en 0 "Oct t
happilythough briefly, pointed out. As tbe . X
of tho Pnt iu nhcant wo nan KaV n()thino . W:
. . " j . . i,t(- "
.... MveVu:
practicability of adopting his suggestion
quobtion of iu utility. .
!
e
i