SJftc Columbia n,
AN. INDEPENDENT JOURNAL,
M I-CDUH1IEU KVllW ATUIIBAY, IK
j' '
IlloomiliurBi Columbia Count), Pa.
TERMS.
Two Dollars n year, In advance. If not paid In
Advance, Two Dollars and I'lfiy Ccnls,
Addrcsi nil letters to
ononau n. Mooitrc,
Kdltor.of llm Cumum-m-,
Itloomnbura, Columbia County, t'n.
r j : .uuviiiuwuiiv, uxxj.1uj.w7xvj.) wuxJii C, jouu. PRICK FIVE CENTS.
A GRAND OLD POEM.
Wllo slmtl Judga n mnn from tnnmii'rit?
Who shall know I1I111 by hlsdrcssT
l'nuiicrs mny be lit for princes, 1 .
l'rlnci'.i fit for something less.
Crumpled shirt find dlrtaWsct
May boclotho the goldlfH.
Of tho deepest thoughts oM'n'CMhgs---
Hntln vest could do no more.
There nro springs of crystnl ncctnr
Ever welling out of stone.
There nro purplo buds rind golden
Hidden, crushed, mid overgrown,
Ood, who counts by sduls, not drosses,
Loves, nud prospers you and me,
Wlillo Ho values tlironcs the highest
llutag pebbles In the sen.
Mnn, uprrtlsod above his fellows,
Oft forgets Ills follows then j
Masters, rulers, lords remember,
That your meanest kind nre men
Men of labor, men by feeling,
Men by thought, nnd men by f.uno,
LlAlmlng equal right to sunshine,
In a man's ennobling name.
Thero nro foam-embroidered oceans,
There nro llltlo well-clad rills,
iibrc nro feeble Inch-high mipllngs,
there nro cedars on the hills;
t)oJ Who connls by nouls, not station,
IiVC.-l tltld prospers you nnd me,
Tor to Hint till vain distinction
Arc as pebbles 111 tho mm.
Tolling hands alone are builders
Of n nation's wealth or mnn;
Titled Inline" Is pensioned,
Fed, and fattened on the Ramnj
Ily tho sweat of others' foreheads,
Living only to rejoice,
Whllo tho poor man's outraged freedom
Vainly lifted up Its voice.
Truth nnd Justice nro eternal,
Born with loveliness ami light,
Hrcrrt wrongs'slinll novcr'prospcr'
While thero Is n sunny right , '
(Jod, whose worlil-lienrd voice Is sluglug
lloundless love to you nnd me,
HInks oppression with Us titles,
As tho pebbles In tho sea.
Tin:
STORY OF A STRANGE JURY.
"When tho criminal, Plerro Granger,
escorted by four gendarmes, was placed
In tho dock of the Court of Assize,
there was n general stir among tho crowd
-vh it'h had assembled from every quar
ter to bo present at his trial.
Pierro Granger was not an ordinary
culprit not one of those poor wretches
whom the court, as a matter of form,
furnishes with, an advocate, judges in
the presence of a heedless auditory, and
sends to oblivion in the convict prisons
of tho State. lie had figured at Augtil
In the columns of tho newspapers : and
while M. Lcperyter had undertaken his
defence, M. Lourauguln, the Attorney-
General, was to conduct tho prosecution
Now, at tho time of which I write, thoso
two men stood at tho head of their pro
fession. Whenever it was known they
were to bo pitted against each other, in
any cause, crowds immediately ilocked
to enjoy their eloquent hentences, sono
rous periods, and phrases as round and
ns polished as so many billiard balls.
It was a perfect riot of tropes and fig
ured, a delicious confusion of periphrases
and metaphors. All the figures of rhet
oric defiled before tho charmed auditory,
nnd sported, jested, and struggled with
each other, like Virgil's playful shep
herds. There was a luxury of epithets,
passing even that of tho Abbe Delille.
Every Individual substantivo was as
regularly followed by its attendant ad
ject! veasthegroat lady of tholasl century
was followed by her train-bearing page.
In this pompous diction a man became
n mortal, a horse 11 courser ; the moon
was styled palo Dian. My father and
my mother were never called so, but in
variably tho "authors of my being j"
n dream was a vision, a glass a crystal
vase, a knife a sword, a car a chariot,
nnd ti breeze became a whirlwind; all
of which, no doubt, tended to produce n
etylcof exceeding sublimity and beauty.
Pierro Granger was a clumsily-built
fellow, five feet ten in height, thirty
eight years old, with foxy hair, a high
color, and small, cunning gray eyes. IIo
was accused of having strangled his
wife, cut up tho body into pieces, and
then, in order to conceal his crime, set
fire to the house, wherein his three chil
dren perished. Such an accumulation
of horrors had shed quite a romantic
halo round their perpetrator. Ladles
of rank and fashion ilocked to the Jail to
look at liim ;.nml his autograph was.in
wonderfiil request as soon as it became
known that Madame Ccsarino Langelot,
tho lioness of tho district, possessed sonio
words of ids writing in her album,
placed between a ballad by a professor
of rhetoric and a problem by tho cngl-Jieer-ln-chiofofthe
department -neither
gentleman, to say tho truth, being much
llattered by such clo.-o Juxtaposition
with tho interesting pet prisoner. When
Pierro Granger, with Ids lowering brow
and air of stolid cunning, was placed in
tho dock, the names of tho twelve Jurors
were drawn by lot, and tho president
demanded of tho council on either sido
whether they wished to cxerclso their
right of challenge. Hoth declined offer
ing any objection to twelve such houor
nblo names; but tho Attorney-General
added that ho would requiro tho adding
of a supplementary Juror. It was dono.
nnd on the paper appeared tho namo of
JMaJor Vernon. At tho bound a Might
murmur was hoard among tho specta
tors, whllo MM. Lotiraugain and Lepcr
vler exchanged a rapid glanco which
seemed to say: " Will not 011 challenge
him?" Hut neither of them did so ; an
officer conducted Major Vernon Into his
appointed place, and amid profound si
leuco tho Indictment was read. Major
Vernon had lived in tho town during
tho last two years. Every 0110 gavo him
tho military title, yet none could tell
when, or where, or whom ho had serv
ed, no seemed to have neither family
nor friends; and when any of his ac
quaintances ventured to sound him on
tho bubject, ho always answered In a
f . fe df ittttittftt in.
Vol i.-xo. r lir A nMamrnn siAfrnnnAV m-xrw o ion.
manner by no means calculated to en
courage curiosity. "Do t trouble in
head about. vow affairs'.'" hn would S!-
" Your shabby old town stilts me well
enough asti residence, but if you don't
think I have a right to live in It. T sbnll
be most happy to convince you of tho
fact at daybreak to-morrow, with mm.
sword, or pistol." Major Vernon was
precisely the man to keep his word : th
few persons who had entered his lodg
lugs reported that his bedroom resem
bled an armory, so fully was it furnish
ed with all sorts of murderous weapons,
Notwithstanding this ho seemed a verv
respectable sort of man, regular in his
habits, punctual In his payments, nnd
fond of smoking oxcellcnt cigars, sent
mm, he used to say, by a friend in Ha
vanna. Ho was tall, very thin, bald
ami always dressed in black ; his mous
todies curled to a point, nnd ho invnriu
lay wore his hat cocked over his rlgl
ear. In the evenings he used to frequent
tho public reading-rooms of the town
but lie never played at any game, or
conversed witli the company, remaining
absorbed in his newspaper until tho
clock struck ten, when he lit his dear,
twisted his moustache, and with a stiff,
silent Dow, took Ids departure. It some
times happened that oneof the comnan
bolder than the others, said: "Good
night, Major I" Then tho Major would
stop, fix ids gray eyo on tho speaker.
and reply: "Good-night, monsieur !'
but in so rudo nnd angry a tone that tho
words sounded more like a malediction
thanapolitesalutation. Itwasremnrkcd
that whoever thus ventured to address
theMajor was, during tho remainder of
tho evening, the victim of some strange
ill-luck. He regularly lost at plav, was
sure to knock his elbow through a hand
some lamp or vase, or in some way to
get entangled in a misadventure. So
firmly were thegood townsfolk persund
ed that the Major possessed an evil eye
that their common expression, when
any one met with a misfortune, was
" He must have said 'good-night' to the
Major."
This mysterious character dined every
day at tho ordinary of tho Crown Hotel
and although habitually silent, seemed
usually content with tho fare. Onedav
however, after having eaten some bread
soup, ho cast ills eye along the table.
frowned, and willing tho host, said
" How comes it that tho dinner to-dav
is entirely meagre ?"
" Monsieur no doubt forgets that this
Is Good Friday."
"Send me up two mutton ebons."
"Impossible, Major; there is not an
ounce of meat to be had at any butcher's
in the town."
" Let me have some fowl."
" That Is not to be had either."
" What a set of fools !" exclaimed the
Major, striking his clenched hand on the
fable witli such force that the bottles
reeled and rocked just as if ail the wine
in their bodies had got into their heads
Then he called the waiter, and said,
" Haptisto, go to my lodging, and bring
me the Inlaid carbine which hangs over
my pillow."
Tho poor host trembled, and grow
very pale when Haptisto returned with
a double-barrelled gun, beautifully in
laid with silver. The Major coolly ox-
iniined the locks, put on f.-csh caps,
cocked both barrels, and walked out,
followed at a respectable distance by
tho guests and inmates of tho hotel. Not
far oir stood an old Ivy-mantled church,
whoso angular projections were haunted
by many ravens. Two large ones flew
out of the turret just as tho Major came
up and took aim for a double shot.
Down tumbled both the unclean birds
at his feet.
" Sucre Men ."' said he, picking them
up. " I am regularly soldthey're quite
lean." .
He returned to the hotel, nnd accord
ing to his express orders, one moiety of
of his ill-omened booty was dressed in
a savory stew, and tho other simply
roasted. Of both dishes he partook so
heartily that not a vestige of either re
mained, and ho declared that ho had
never oaten moro relishing food. From
that day tho Major became an object of
uneasiness to some, of terror to others,
of curiosity to nil. Whenever ho ap
peared on tho public promenade every
one avoided him ; at tho theatre his box
was generally occupied by himself alone,
and each old woman that met him in
thostrcet invariably stopped to cross her
self. Major Vernon was never known
to enter a church or accept an invita
tion ; at first ho used to receive a good
many of these, and the perfumed billets
served him to light his cigars.
Such, then, was tho thirteenth Juror
drawn In tho cause of Pierro Granger,
and it may easily bo understood why
tho audience were moved at hearing the
namo of Major Vernon. Tho paper of
accusation, notwithstanding drawn up
by tho Attorney-General with a force
and particularity of description which
horrified tho ladies present, was read
amid profound silence, broken only by
tho snoring of thoprisoner, who had cool
ly settled himself to sleep. Tho gen
dai inert tried to rone him front liisshini
ber.lmt they merely succeeded in making
him now nnd then half open his dull,
brutish eyes. When tho clerk had ceased
to read Pierro Granger was with dlifi
riilty thoroughly awakened, and tho
president proceeded to question him.
Tho interrogatory fully revealed, In all
its horror, tho thoroughly stupid fiend
Ishnoss of the wretch. Jlo had killed
his wife, ho said, becauso they couldn't
agree; ho had set his house on flro be
causo it was a cold night, and lie wanted
to makon good hlozo to warm himself;
ns to his children, they wero dirty,
squalling little tilings no loss tohltn or
fo any one else. Jt would be tedious
to pursue all fho details of this disgust
ing trial. M. Louraugalnand M. Leper-
vier both mndo morvelcously eloquent
speeches, but tho latter deserved ueetl
llnr credit, having so very bad a cause
to sustain. Although he well know his
client was as thorough a scoundrel ns
ever breathed, and that his condemna-
nun would he a blessing 10 society, yc
lie pleaded his cause with all n lawyer'i
conscientiousness. When ho got to th
peroration lie managed to squeezofrom
his eyes a few ritro tears, tho last am
most precious, I imagine, which ho care
fully reserved for an especially solemn
occasion just ns some families preserv
n few bottles or fine old wine, to bo
drunk nt tho marriage of n daughter or
tho coming of ago of a son. At lengtl:
the easo closed, and tho president was
going to sum up ; hut as tho heat In tho
court was excessive, and everyone pres.
ent stood In need of refreshments, leav
was given for the Jury to retire for half
an hour, nnd tho hall was cleared for
the same space of time, in order that it
might undergo a thorough ventilation
During tliis interval, while twelve jurors
were cooling themselves with ices and
sherbet, tho thirteenth ligiited n cigar,
and reclining in an arm-chair, smoked
away with the gravity of a Turk.
"What a capital cigar 1" sighed one
of tho jurors, as lie watched with on en
vious eye the odoriferous little clouds
escaping from tho smoker's Hps.
" Would you like to try one?" asked
tho Major, politely offering his cigar
case.
" If it would not trespass too much on
your kindness."
" Dy no means. You are hcartil v wel
come." Tho Juror took a cigar and light
ed it at that of his obliging neighbor,
" Well, how do you like it?" asked the
Major.
"Delicious! It lias an uncommonly
pleasant aroma. From whence aro you
supplied?"
"From the Ilavanna." Several jur
ors now approached, casting longing
glances at Major Vernon's cignr-case.
"Gentlemen," said ho, "lam renllv
grieved that I have not a single cigar
left to offer you, having just given the
last to our worthy friend. To-morrow
however, I hope to have a fresh 'supply
and shall then ask you to do me the
honor of accepting some."
tVt that moment an official came in to
announce that tho court had resumed
its sitting; flio Jury Iwicwictl to their
ox, and the president began his charge
Scarcely had lie commenced, however,
when the juror who had smoked the
cigar rose, and in a trembling voice beg.
god permission to retire, as lie felt verv
ill. Indeed, while in the act of speak
ing he fell backward, and lay scn-.ele.-s
on the floor. The proMdont, of course.
Hreeted that ho should beearcfullv con
veyed to his home, and desired Major
Vernon to lake his place. Six strokes
ounded from the old clock of the town
mil as the jury retired to deliberate on
their verdict in the case of Pierre Gran
ger. Woven gentlemen exclaimed with
one voice that the wretched assassin's
guilt was perfectly clear, and that thev
ould not hesitate for a moment as to
their decision. Major Vernon, however,
tood up, placed his back against the
door, and regarding Ids colleagues with
peculiarly sinister expression, said
slowly :
"I shall acquit Pierro Granger, and
011 shall all do tho same!"
"Sir," replied tho foreman, in a se
ere tone, " you aro answerable to your
conscience for your own actions, but I
do not sec what right you have to offer
us a gratuitous inult."
m 1 then so unfortunate as to of
fend you?" asked tho Major meeklv
"(ertainly, in supposing us capable
)f breaking the solemn oath which we
utve taken, to do impartial justice. I
am a man of honor "
"Hah!" interrupted theMajor, "are
011 quite sure of that?"
A general murmur of indignation
aro-o.
" Do you know, sir, that such a ques
tion is a fresh insult?"
" You are qultemUtaken," said Major
Vernon. " What J said was drawn
forth by a feeling of tho solemn respon-
ibility which rests with us. Deforo I
.111 resolve fo make a dead body of a
living, moving being, I must feel satis-
od that both you and I aro less guilty
than Pierre Granger, which, after nil, is
not so certain."
An ominous slienco ensued; tho Ma-
or's words seemed to striko homo to
every breast, and at length 0110 of tho
urorssnid: "ou seem, sir, to regard
tho question from a philosophic point of
lew."
" Just so, Monsieur Cernau."
" You know me, then ?" said tho Juror
n a trembling voice.
" Not very intimately, my dear sir,
but just sufficiently to appreciate your
fondness for discounting bills at what
our enemies might call usurious Inter
est. I think it was about four years ago
that an honest poor man, the father of
largo family, blow out his brains, in
despair, at being refused by you a short
renewal, which he laid implored 011 his
nees."
Without replying M. Cernau retired
to tho farthest corner of tho room, and
ipod 011 tno largo drops of sweat which
tarted from his brow.
"What does this mean?" Inquired
another Juror Impatiently. "Ilavowo
oino hero to act scenes from tho 'Me-
nolrsof the Devil?"'
"I don't know that work," replied
tho Major; "but I advise you, Mon-
sleur do 1 turbine, to calm your nerves I"
"Sir, you are impertinent, and I shall
certainly do myself tho pleasure to chas
tise you." '
"As how?"
" With my sword. I shall do you tho
lienor to meet you to-morrow."
"An honor which, being 11 man of
sense, I must beg to decline. You don't
kill your odversnrjes, Monsieur do llar
dlne, you murder them. Have you for
gotten your duel with Monsieur de Lit
lar, which took place, 1 am told, wltl
out witnesses. While ho was off his
guard you treacherously struck hlni
through the heart. The prospect of
simitar cniasiropno is certainly by no
means enticing."
Witli an instinctive movement M. do
Dardino's neighbors drew off.
" I admire such llrtuous Indignation,
sneered tho Major. "It especially be
comes ,101, Monsieur Daricn "
" hat Infaniyaire you going to cast
in ;y teeth?" exclaimed the gentleman
addressed
" Oh, very little n mere trifle slm
ply, that while Monsieur do Uardlno
kills his friends, you only dishonor
yowa. Monsieur billion, wnoso house.
table, and purso aro yours, has n pretty
wife"
Jiajor," cneu mo otner juror, ''you
area villain I" .
" Pardon me, my dear Monsieur
Oil fat, let us call tilings by their prope
names. The only villain among us,
believe, is the man who himself set fire
to his liou-ioslx mouths after having in
stired it at treble its value in four offices
whose directors were foolish enough to
pay the money without making siifil
dent Inquiry."
A stifled groan escaped from M. Cal
fat's lips as ho covered his face with hi
hands.
" Who are you that you thus dare to
constitute yourself our Judge?" asked
another, looking fiercely at Vernon
" Who am I, Monsieur Peron ? Sim
piy 0110 who can appreciate your very
rare dexterity in holding court cards in
your hand, and making tho dice turn up
as you please."
M. Peron gave an involuntary start
and thenceforth held his peace. Tho
scene, aided by the darkne.-s of approach
Ing night, hod now assumed a terrlfi
aspect. Tho voice of the Major rung in
the cars of eleven pale, trembling men
with a cold, metallic distinctness, as if
each word Inflicted a blow
At length Yornon burst into a strange
slinrp, Iilsslng Itingli. " Well, my lion
orablo colleagues," ho exclaimed, " does
tins poor Pierro Granger still appear to
you to be unworthy of the slightest
pity? I grant you, ho has committed
a fault, and n fault which you would
not have committed 111 his place. He
has not your cleverness in masking his
turpitude with a show of virtue that
was ids real crime. Now, if after having
Killed his wife, he had paid handsomely
for masses to bo said to her purpose if
ho had purchased a burial ground, and
caused to bo raised to her memory 1
beautiful square white marble niouu
nient, with a flowery epitaph on it in
gold letter.-. why, then wo should all
have shed tears of sympathy, and eulo
gized Pierre Granger as tho model of a
tender husband. Don't you agree with
me, Monsieur rorbee'."
M. Norbce started as if lie had receiv
ed an electric shock. "It is false!" he
murmured. "1 did not poison Kliza;
ho died of a pulmonary consumption
"True," said tho Major; you remind
me of 11 circumstance which I had near
ly forgotten. Madam Norbce, who pos
sessed a largo fortune In her own right,
died without issue five months after she
had made you her sole legatee."
Then the Major was silent. They were
now in total darkness. Suddenly camo
tho sharp click of a pistol, nnd tho ob
scurity was for a moment brightened by
a Hash, but tiiero was no report tho
weapon' had missed fire. Tho Major
mrst 111(0 a long and loud fit of laugh
er. "Chfirming! delightful! All, my
lear sir," lie exclaimed, addressing the
foreman, "you were the only honest
man in tho party; and seo how, to
oblige mi', you have mndo tin attempt
on my person which places you on an
lonorablo level with Pierro Granger!"
lien, having rung tho bell, ho called
for candles, and when they were brought
n, ho said: "Come, gentlemen, I sup
pose you don't want to sleep hero; let
i make liasto and finish our business."
Ten minutes afterwards tho foreman
auded In the issiio paper a verdict of
not guilty and Pierro Granger was dis
charged amid tho hisses and execrations
of tho crowd, who, indeed, were only
prevented by a strong military force
rom assaulting both Judge nud Jury.
Major Vernon coolly walked up to tho
dock, nnd passing his arm under that of
ierro Granger, went out with him
through n sido door.
From that tinio neither tho 0110 nor
tho other was ever seen uimln In tho
nuntry. That night thero was a ter-
Iflo thunder-storm: tho rino harvest
as beaten down by hailstones us iartro
as pigeon V eggs, and a flash of lightning
striking tho steeiilooftho old ivv-eover-
d church, tore down Its gilded cross.
Tliis strange story wns rohited to 1110
0110 day last year by a convict in tho In-
urinary of the prNon at Toulon. I have
given It verbatim from his Hps; nud us
l was leaving tho build 111? the sorL'cant
,-ho accompanied 1110 said: "So, sir,
ou have been listening to tho wonder
ful rodomoiitates of Number l!,7bS?"
What uo you mean? This history "
"Is false, from beginning to end.
Number 1,76S is an atrocious crimi
nal, who was sent totliegalleys for life,
and who during tho last few mouths lias
given evident proofs of mental aberra
tion. His monomania consists chiefly
in telling stories to prove that all Judge's
and Jurors aro rogues and villains. He
was himself found guilty, by a most re
spectable and upright Jury, of having
tried to rob and murder Major Vernon.
Ho Is now about to be placed In n luna
tic asylum, so that you will probably be
the last visitor who will hear ids curi
ous Inventions."
" And who is Major Vernon ?"
"A bravo old half-pay officer, who
has lived at Toulon, beloved and respect
ed, during tlie last twelve years. You
will probably seo him to-day, smoking
ills Ilavanna cigar, after the table-d'hote
dinner of the Crown Hotel."
VERSE-MAKING.
It wns once tho custom in mnny re
views, calling themselves Christian nnd
civilized, nnd so regarded each by its
private sect or following, to immolate
at least one young poet quarterly at tho
slirino of stony-faced and rocky-bosomed
criticism. It was esteemed a charm
ing diversion, if not an net of religion, in
the days of Mr. Gilford or of Mr. Wil
son Croker, to make some timid and
feeble rhymer ridiculous, to put him out
of countenance by merciless sneering,
and to demonstrate his foibles and fail
ures for the amusement of a giggling
public. Pope set tho fashion of denounc
ing dunces, and all the writers who had
bad hearts, and could string together
ten-syllabled couplets, thought it manly
and vigorous to follow his somewhat
peevish example. Criticism, however
purposeless and virulent, is apt to as
sume the airs of an ofiended nnd impa
tient morality, nnd to take credit to
Itself for smiting remorselessly and con
cientiously. Uut imbecility, at least
when It is inoffensive, should be privi
Ieged, and professional fiow-plekiiig.ex
ercised shcerly for the purpose of giving
pain, is no more respectable than the pro.
fessional flogging and pickling wliicl
prevailed not long ago in certain parts of
tho United States. At the same time
while avoiding nil personal application
we may venture to point out a foible
which is a well-marked and notaltogeth
er an encouraging characteristic of our
own day, and to suggest to the innii
nioruble writers of verso that, however
much they may bo permitted tosingfor
their own sake, the world just now ha.
but small need oi their wares. Goethe
once boasted that, in all his lifi.., ho imd
"never thought about thinking," and
we would enter a protest which we aro
sure is honest, nnd which we think is
timely, ngainst tho making of verses for
the sake of verse-making. Metrical in
diligence, both in Kngland and tli
country, has grown into an epidemical
and inveterate habit, not cultivated as
it should be, if at all. In a corner, but
published to all the world, which is con
tinually challenged to admire endless
variations of a few themes long ago
worn threadbare. Facility of execution
at best a natural or acquired knack, is
mistaken for genuine inspiration; nor
docs thero seem to bo any pretence of
considering whether tho world is
need of any addition to itsalrcady large
poetical stock. It is with tho most sin
cere kindness that wo take tho liberty
of pointing out, particularly to the
young, the waste of time, of strength,
and ot mental serenity which this uni
vorsnl strumming involves.
Twenty years ago there was exhibited
in London a machine, not tho human
product of a college, but literally a ma
terial machine, which mode excellent
iitln hexameters. The unfortunate in-
ventor had spent thirteen precious years
of his life in perfecting "tho Kureka,"
as he called it. Without wasting our
time in explaining this curious puzzle,
it is enough to say that It actually
ground out hexameters which wero like
those of Virgil in sonio respects, but
considerably unlike them in others.
It seems to us that it is very much in
tills way that many modern brains pro
duce what its authors call poetry, and
its Judicious critics verse. It is a literal
making. Tho memory is full of phrases,
tho ear of familiar quantities; fashion
or accident supplies the subject, and dai
ly practice renders tho construction easy.
So skilful sometimes is this species of
metrical manufacture, that it is hard to
determlno with accuracy, while we feel
its deficiency, in what that deficiency
onsists. Thero is a modest respecta
bility which deceives the careless reader
who accepts sound for sense, without
any suspicion of tho trick which is play
ed upon his ear. Coleridgeonco wroto'a
few verses of absolute nonsense in tho
manner of Dr. Darwin, which lie read
to a lady, who rewarded hlni by serious-
exclaiming, "Ah, Mr. Coleridge.
now 1 sco that you are a poet." This
we admit to be an extreme Illustration ;
nit moro are thousands of rlivnicrs now-
spinning longs and shorts, sometimes
onloundlng them, whoso work, wo
must say, unfortunately, has Just sense
nough in It to save it from wholesome
and decislvo condemnation. If thev
wero absolute fools they would soon be
aughed Into silence; but ns thelrstan-
;as aro to a certain extent rational, the
good-natured public receives them with
fatal affability, and bus no call to for
give a mediocrity which it is too indolent
or too Indifferent to detect. F.very edi
tor receives bushels of verses which lie
light print, if lio had but room for
them, without any particular discredit
to his taste or Judgment. Their authors
naturally do not understand their rejec
tion. "Is not this," f hey say," asgood
as Tennyson? Is it not, ut least, verv ,
much llkohlm? Does not this remind
you of Mr. Drowning? Might not this
bo mistaken for oneof Mr. Longfellow's
own productions?" Of course there is
bitter disappointment.
Wo readily admit that verse-making
is an elegant accomplishment, an Inno
cent amusement, and a real auxiliary in
the education or tho mind to elevated
habits, and n dally recognition of tho
comely and Ideal In spite of tho perti
nacious intrusion of the inevitable vul
garities of life. It Is, or it can be trained
to be, n protection against those low
aims and selfish purposes into the adop
tion of which we are so easily betrayed.
As the record of our best experiences
and healthiest discipline, ns a memo
randum of our slncercst resolutions and
most earnest regrets, as a relief to tho
sorrow which otherwise might too bit
terly prey upon the mind, ns a grateful
trbutc to love or affection, as the natu
ral expression of a certain doss of noble
and lovely thoughts, verso may bo the
readiest and most appropriate form of
recording so much of our llfens we wish
especially to remember. It may train
the hand as 11 fine landscape trains tho
eye, and make tho best words and phra
ses habitual in our conversation. Hut
the chief eliarni not less than the chief
utility of tliis private verse-making is
in its indomitable privacy, and in tho
indignation nnd just self-estimate with
which it shrinks from publication. "I
have painted many bad pictures," said
a gentleman in our hearing, " lint I have
never exhibited them;" and there was
wisdom in the painting no less than in
tho privacy. It was well to paint it
was well also to conceal; It is well to
write verse it may bo excellent to keep
it in one's portfolio, to bo resolute
against sending it to tho newspapers, to
be chary of reading it to tho best be
loved and most patient of friends. It is
certainly no argument against the va
lidity of any composition that it em
bodies thoughts and feeling which,
though novel to tho individual, nrc yet
common to the race; but this consid
eration diminishes the necessity and
propriety of formal publication, and
should warn us against the sheer vanity
of parading truisms which, however
fine and familiar, are truisms still. It
is the secret of poetical vitality that it
expresses whatthe majority of men have
felt, and after one happy spirit has found
lit words and music, for the general
thought, a mockery of the original song
becomes easy to hundreds who sing
from n recollection of what has pleased
them, and ape the minstrel airs of tho
Uyron of yesterday or of tho Tennyson
of to-day.
It is wonderful how much clever
journey-work of tliis kind is performed
and from one point of view it is encour
aging, for the prevalence of this accom
plishment does indicate, we aro free to
admit, a degree of popular refinement,
and even a good bit of appreciative
taste. Hut there is nothing new in it.
e suppose that there was a mob of
gentlemen in Home who wrote easily,
is we know that there was 111 England
in the days of Dryden. Hut school
magazines, newspapers have made this
poetical imitation cheap and common,
while the passion for printing lias kept
pace with the multiplied mechanical
facilities of printing the power-press
being responsible for thousands of vol
umes which nothing can save from ob
livion, and which represent more heart'
burning, more disappointment, and
11101 0 ludicrous self-complacency than
we care to compute. Poetry has grown
to be like photography. Wo have all
one's friends and acquaintances In our
albums in their holiday raiment, and
witli a perpetual putting on of their
best looks; and altogether they tire not
worth so much to us as some old portrait
of some unknown man or woman long
ago dead, the painter of which knew tho
secret of avoiding that air of conscious
propriety which no sitter before the ca
mera can put off. Thero is no fault to
be found with the photograph except
the paradoxical one that It is so extreme-
y iiko that it is not like at all. It is
equally hard to say, sometimes, why or
11 what poetical disciples are not tho
equals of their masters ; hut the myste
rious vico of Imitation makes us indif
ferent to their best stanzas, and deprives
their finest tunes of the charm of sin
cerity. Hyron said of Mr. Sotheby that
ho hod imitated nil tho pools of his time,
and had occasionally beaten all Ids mo
dels; yet a verse-maker more entirely
forgotten than Mr. Southeby we cannot
nt this moment remember.
Wo protest, in conclusion, that we
have 110 quarrel with Wwvuvovtltt'fxerW-
entity which wo believe may often lie
turned to good account. It Is from fho
folly of printing, or attempting to print,
that we would good-naturedly dissuade
hundreds of estimable persons. The
young gentleman who can niako a clev
er sketch does not send It to tho Artists'
Exhibition, Tlie young lady who can
lay tolerably well a concerto of Hee-
thoven does not advertise a concert at
the Academy. The best declalnier of
the " private theatricals" does not apply
to Mr. Wal lack for an engagement, if
we liavo amateur fiddlers and painters
and pianists content with strictly do
mestic glory, why may wo not havo
amateur versifiers building the loftv
rhyme without tho least ambition, and
tending their sonnets to the seclusion of
their desks, or to tho albums of their
gentle If not Judicious friends? It may
bo pleasant to print, but It is also pleas
ant to burn ; nnd to,tho.-o who havo nev
er experienced tho latter gratification wo
cordially commend the c.vpoiJmout,
- Veie Jo- Yi i-m.
STcnnr. of gt(lror1i.iin0.-
OneSV'unrr.onoor three! insertions tl M
liirh Miheinint Inspltlmi lcs (hall thirteen, W
One Square one innhtll'mti .,,,1,.., 2 )
Two " " , a to
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Tour " " (1 M
Half column " 10 00
One col mini " IS Ml
'xcrulnr's and Ailtnlnlsfi'rtWr's Notices.,,.,..,, ,1 in
Auditor's Notices 2 M
IMIIorlal Notices twenty rents mt line.
Oilier ndrrtltoincnls Inserted according tof-pc
clal contract.
Tor Iho Colnmblnn,
LORENZO DOW,
Tiusrcinarknlileand eccentric firracli'
er was born in Coventry, T6l!and Coun
ty, Connecticut, October 1(5, 1777, nnd
died In Georgetown, District of Colum
bia, February 2, 1831. IIo visited North--em
Pennsylvania shortly before his
death, and will no doubt be remembered
by many persons who read the present
notice. His age; his venerable beard;
his lluency; his remarkable memory,
natural shrewdness, nnd independence;
of character, created 'curiosity and re
spect, and Improptu audiences could bo
assembled anywhere in the country to
see hlni nnd hear him discourse upon
tho religious, moral, historical, nnd bio
graphical topics of which lie was a mas
ter. His eccentricity, oddity, nnd inde
pendence; his unusual way of life; nnd
ills wide and prolonged experience of
men and human affairs, both in America
and Europe, gave him n hold upon popu
lar audiences beyond that duo to natural
ability and the matter of his discourses.
Hut ns wns natural enough, ho was some
times regarded as insane, nnd called
" Crazy Dow," and sometimes by iglio-f
rant people ho was reputed to possess
supernatural powers, ns is shown by tho
story which we shall quote at the con
clusion of this article.
Dow was undoubtedly a philanthro
pist, and during Ids prolonged life went
through 11 prodigious amount of labor
for the spiritual welfare of mankind.
He was disinterested, zealous, and labo
rious in his work; travelled Immenso
distances in performing his self-appointed
mission to his fellow-creatures; nnd
tlie nnrrative of his life, ns prepared by
himself, ranks among the most curious
and remarkable records ih our language.
It is true, Dow did not possess a power
ful intellect, and was upon many sub
jects superficial In his learning nnd big
oted in his opinions. IIo believed in
visions, dreams, nnd prognostications.
1 Io wrote a great deal of trash when en
gaged in controversy or in expounding
theological dogmas. He had deep-rooted
prejudices, which often exhibited
themselves almost ludicrously in tho
midst of pious appeals or sober narra
tive, lie hod special antipathies against
Jesuits and Calvinists, and constantly
denounced them, and with considerable
rhetorical power, in his sermons and
writings. His sharp, smart, or shrewd
sayings in Ids personal association with
others were Innumerable, and arc even
yet, after tho lapse of more than a quar
ter, of a century, repented by tlioso who
heard them. Hut in ids case even re
marks which wero unimportant wero
treasured up and remembered. We aro
told that when in this section ho was
driven to an appointment a considerable
distance by a countryman who had been
despatched for tho purpose. Tho driver
was naturally desirous of getting as
much conversation as possible from Ids
companion, and among other things
naked whether n particular but some
what extravagant story told about him
was true. Old Dow paused n moment.
and fixing his eyes upon tlie Nob, ex
claimed: " Why, what n noble mountain that
is !" Tlie driver subsided.
Hut we proceed to the story:
a Tiin:r ui:TKrn:i).
One night after Mr. Dow hud retired
to bed, after a hard day's travel in tho
western part of Virginia, a number of
persons collected in tlie bar-room to en
joy their usual revelries, as was tlie cus
tom in that part ot tho country. At 11
late hour in tlie night tho alarm was
given that onu of tlie company had lost
111s pocket-book, and a search was pro
posed. Whereupon the landlnrd re
marked that Lorenzo Dow was in tho
house, and that if the money wero thero
ho knew that Lorenzo could find it.
The suggestion was instantly received
with approbation, and accordingly Mr.
J'ow was aroused from his slumbers.
and brought fortli to find tho money.
,s no entered the room his eyes ran
through the company with searching
inquiry; but nothing appeared that
could fix guilt upon any one. Tho lo.-er
appeared with a countenance expressive
01 great concern, and besouirht Mr.
Dow, for Heaven's sake, to find him his
money.
"Have any left tho company slnco
you lost your money?" said Mr. Dow.
"None," said the loser, "none!"
"Then," said Lorenzo, turning to tho
landlady, "go and bring 1110 your largo
dinner-pot."
Tills created no little surprise; but ns
supernatural powers were universally
conceded liliu, his directions wero un
hesitatingly obeyed. Accordingly tho
pot was brought forward, and set in tho
middle of tho room.
"Now," said Lorenzo, "go nnd bring
the old chicken-cock from tho roost."
This was iil.-odone, nnd nt Lorenzo's
directions the cock placed In tho pot and
covered over with a board or lid.
" Let the doors now bo fastened and
tho lights extinguished," said Mr. Dow.
Which was also done.
"Now," said he, "every person in tho
room must rubs his hands hard against
tho pot, and when tho guilty hand
touches it the cock will crow."
Vccordingly all ennio forward, and
rubbed, or pretended to rub, against the
pot. Hut no cock crew.
"Let tho caudles now bo lighted."
said Lorenzo; "thero is no guilty per
son here. If the man ever hud any mo
ney he must have lost it some nloeoolso
Hut stop," Niid Lorenzo, when all thin-
wero prepared; "let us now exam!
tho hands."
Tliis was the Important part of hi
rangeiiient ; for ou examination it