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228 THE COURANT A SOUTHERN LITERARY JOURNAL.

[COLUMN 1]
The Courant.

COLUMBIA, S. C., THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 1859.

THE COURANT.

Subscriptions for the Courant will be received at the Bookstore
store of Mr. P. B. GLASS, in this City, where single copies can
be obtained every week.

The office of the Courant has been removed to No. 144 Richardson
Street, over Flanigan's Shoe-Store.

WM. W. WALKER, Jr., & Co.

Sad Accident.

On Saturday afternoon last, our Associate, Mr. W. W.
Walker, Jr., accompanied by a young lady, was riding near
the Cemetery grounds in a buggy, when the horse took a sudden
start, pulling Mr. W. out over the front wheel, and dragging
him some distance. He was severely, though not dangerously
bruised and hurt, but no bones were broken. The young
lady's injuries were more serious; her limb being fractured
near the ankle.

"Sentimental Writing."

We have the pleasure of laying before our readers this week
another essay from the graceful and vigorous pen of the writer
who showed up the humbuggery of the "Autocrat of the
Breakfast Table." Since that time, we have published a very
noticeable article from the same writer, on "Natual and Moral
Law." This production we were pleased to hear praised the
other day by one of the best judges of such things about Columbia.
Our distinguished friend pronounced the essay alluded to,
as an extraordinary piece of writing, and expressed extreme
gratification with all of our contributor's articles. We call attention
to these points, because anonymous articles, unless
spoken of by the editor, are only too apt to be passed by, for
some inferior production which bears its author's name. The
essay in this issue is an admirable thing, and as such we recommend
our readers to give it their attention.

The Fair---Can a Literary Department be Added?

One of the most distinguished of our literary ladies suggested
to us, the other day, that we should throw out the hint
to the Direction of the Agricultural Society, that a place in
the annual Fair be assigned to literary labours. All sorts and
conditions of men and women find some prize, within, at least,
imagination's grasp; except only the literary folks. The farmer,
the planter, the merchant, the artist, the artizan, the mechanic,
the industrious house-wife, the ingenious maker of
those Penelope-thread-works, all have a place; but the poet, the
historian, the essayist, the novelist (now as important as any),
have no chance at the Fair, where all work, save written brain-work,
finds a possibility for a prize.

Suppose they offer some such list of prizes as the following:

1. For the best poem on a national subject, a handsomely
bound copy of Bancroft's History.

2. For the second best poem on a national subject, a copy of
Prescott's works.

3. For the best Novel illustrating Southern life and history,
one copy of Cooper's Novels.

4. For the best prose essay on the duties of Southern authors,
a copy of Calhoun's works.

5. For the best essay on some national historical subject, a
copy of Webster's works.

6. For the best essay for common schools, a copy of Sir William
Hamilton's essays.

In order that the duties of the Committee might not be too
onerous, let the first three be judged by one Committee, and the
last three by another.

All this, of course, is merely suggestion, made with the hope
that some one who can digest a plan for the Direction of the
Fair, will do so; and we shall have not only the splendid architectural,
sculptural and pictorial triumphs, not only the horse
and chariot-races of the Olympic, Isthmean and Nemean games,
but prizes for the rising Pindars, and the rhapsodists, for every
Carolina Herodotus who shall awaken the soul of a listening
Thuciclydes!

Extraordinary Poetry.

Our neighbour of the Edgefield Advertiser is singularly favoured
in the way of poetry. He has not only published some of the
sweetest verses that we ever saw in a newspaper—the compositions,
we believe, of Edgefield ladies—but he has a correspondent
who gets on the other extreme, and indulges in a very amazing
bathos. Hear our contemporary:

"THE GREAT CRUSADE.—A correspondent, 'B.' sends an effusion
on Temperance under the foregoing caption. Two or
three of his stanzas are bearable, while the rest are altogether
abominable, both in language and construction. As a specimen
of his artistic skill in playing upon a name, we transcribe the
concluding half of his last verse. Read and admire:

"Join, then, in our great crusade—
Belt on the bright and lambent blade.—
Oh! kneel and pledge eternal aid
To the Great Cause."

The Knickerbocker for November contains a most pathetically
beautiful poem by the great TENNYSON, called the "Grandmother's
Apology." We shall reproduce it for our readers ere long.

[COLUMN 2]

The Atlantic Monthly.

Our Veteran Bard.

By some mischance we omitted to say that the Atlantic had
changed hands. After the death of Mr. PHILLIPS, it was sold
to the well-know publishers, TICKNOR & FIELDS, of Boston.
The November number comes to us freighted as usual with all
the varieties of good thing. The new proprietors, in assuming
the controul of the "Atlantic Monthly." state that "the
Magazine will be conducted upon the same general plan as
heretofore. It will be their aim that, under its new management,
the Magazine shall not fall short of it present high
standard of excellence; and they would bespeak a continuance
of the liberal patronage which has hitherto been accorded
to it, all which is the best proof of the public appreciation of
its merits."

The Saturday Press says: "We are informed that a new
American opera, founded upon Mr. Longfellow's Miles Standish,
will soon be produced in this city. The music is by Mr. Kielblock,
the libretto by Mr. C Congdon, of the Tribune."

What a foundation, to be sure! That wretched milk-and-water
stuff "the foundation" of an opera! Surely the superstructure
will have to be exceeding light and airy, or it must
break down. Quaere, docs WHIPPLE consider "Miles Standish"
a great epic poem, as he did Hiawatha?

"Out of Space and out of Time."

Our friend of the New York Freeman's Journal says:

"LECTURES ON POLITICS.—The celebrated Dr. Lieber is delivering
a course of lectures on 'politics,' at Columbia, South
Carolina. The Courant, published in that place, contains part
of his first lecture in its last number, and promises the remainder.
These lectures cannot fail to be of interest."

Now, my dear sir, that lecture was delivered in New York,
printed there in the Century (which might very well be called
the Eleventh century, if that was the darkest of dark ages), and
copied by us from that journal. It is the first of Dr. LIEBER'S
lectures before the students of Columbian College, in your great
metropolis. We have lost the illustrious Doctor, and New York
has the gain.

"The Diamond Wedding."

What a ridiculous affair the great excitement of the OVIEDO-BARTLETT
marriage has come to be! A Mr. STEDMAN, with
true Yankee, or, what is worse, New York impudence, got off a
poem on the subject, and said many silly things, and a very few
sharp ones. Now, old Mr. BARTLETT waxes furious, and sends
STEDMAN a furious letter, which the latter, in his alarm, regarded
as a challenge; when, lo! in the course of the correspondence
it came out that it was no challenge at all, but simply
intended to inform Mr. STEDMAN that he was going to be
"taken to court" to pay old BARTLETT rare damages.

"But the farce does not end here. Bennett, the immaculate,
the sainted Bennett, comes out in a riduculous article under
the caption of 'Scurrilous Literature in the Metropolis,' recommending
Bartlett to appeal to a Grand Jury, get Stedman
indicted, have him tried at the Sessions, so that he may 'spend
a few months in the penitentiary, employed in some honest labour,
which could not fail to exert the most salutary effect on
his diseased mind, and afford a healthy example to fellows of
the same school, who disgrace our periodical and newspaper
literature.' It takes your veteran offender, who systematically
assists in 'disgracing our periodical and newspaper literature,'
to recommend severe measures with honester men. If Bennett
had been judged by the rule he lays down for the punishment
of Stedman, Sing-Sing would not have yet delivered up the
convict. Talk of 'scurrilous literature.' The files of his paper
reek with scurrility."—N. O. True Delta.

American Women.

Below is an admirable slap at all of our female relations
throughout this lazy South. The Yankee ladies, as a general
rule, do not come under this ban: they buy provisions,—and
drive "sharp bargains" at it, too,—but they do not allow them
to be wasted by bad cooking; they superintend the work themselves.
Our Southern women, it must be confessed, are not
half so tidy and methodical in house-keeping; and, withal,
they read far more, and enjoy life far better, at the North. It
is astonishing how dyspepsia and its kindred ailments disappear
when a woman gets to taking some exercise and some interest
in her household.

The high culture joined with the admirable industry of the
German women, is, however, a standing reproach to all our
complaining, ease-loving women.

MOORE'S Rural New Yorker, commenting on this matter, says:

"In Germany, where, certainly, intellect and literary acquirement's
are preeminent, the ladies, even among the noble,
spend the early part of each day in their kitchens, which are
fitted up with the most scrupulous order and elegance, so that
they can allow a friend to see them so occupied. In France,
every lady understands the mysteries of the cuisine, and with
a small furnace filled with charcoal, a frying-pan and a skillet
will perform miracles of cooking. In England, the servants
are kept for years; a good servant considers her interest identified
with that of the family with whom she resides, and
seldom changes. This promotes an attachment between them
which is frequently preserved for generations, and the families
of the same domestics will, for successive generations, live with
the same families. How is it with the United States? The
young ladies are most generally brought up with no culture.
Their habits are indolent, as regards bodily exertion, and they
think making any exertion degrading. This being the case,
they are thrown completely in the power of a class who are at
once promoted to the office of regulators and arbiters at home."

[COLUMN 3]

Our Veteran Bard.

We are pleased to see the following high and well-merited
compliment paid to our poet of "Chicora" and the "Hireling
and Slave," in the Edgefield Advertiser's Charleston correspondence.
"CLAUDE" is behaving vastly well:

"Mr. Grayson, after serving his constituency long and faithfully
in Congress, and the government for twelve years as
collector of this port, retired some years ago from public life,
and has since devoted himself earnestly to studies and pursuits
more adapted to his highly cultivated tastes and feelings. His
able and powerful contributions to the 'Southern Quarterly Reiew,'
long ago marked him as one of the most efficient champions
of the South and her institutions ever enlisted in her
defence; and his more recent essays have given him a high
place in the affection and confidence of his fellow-citizens.
Although at an advanced age, his ever-ready pen is still active
in the field of literature, and from the seclusion of his study
are continually coming forth fresh contributions to the literature
of the day, which have added materially in dignifying and
adorning its pages and elevating its standard of taste and purity.
He will probably continue to write while life lasts—a genuine
labour of love—for which the good he will confer upon society
will be his only remuneration. He is still a hard student, and
though not very robust-looking in body, enjoys a good share of
health and spirit."

Eutaw Monument.

There seems to be a very general waking up on the subject
of national monuments. All the glorious battle-fields of our
war of Independence should have, not only a semi-occasional
exercise of target-shooting, for a ''celebration," but ineffaceable
monuments, to commemorate the event to all future times.
Are not the battle-fields where our forefathers bled as holy as
the place where were traced the world-known words

"'Ω' Ȩeiv' άγγeiλov."

We trust that the Eutaw Monument will be built. The
Charleston Courier says:

"EUTAW MONUMENT ASSOCIATION .—General James Jones, of
Columbia (Commissioner of the new State House, and formerly
Adjutant-General), has presented two plans or designs for the
consideration of the Eutaw Monument Association. Both plans
have strong merits in adaptation to the end proposed, and it is
probable that one will be adopted.

"Meanwhile we invite the attention and cooperation of our
exchanges, and of the military, to the objects of this Association.

"lt is desired to ascertain a correct list of all the officers
engaged at Eutaw, for the purpose of recording their names;
and this is no easy matter, from the fact that many officers
who did noble service there were partisans without continental
commission, and consequently without technical rank. The
conflicts and discrepancies of the historical accounts also
increase the difficulty."

Carolina Female Artists.

We extract the following notices from MRS. ELLET'S new book
—" Women Artists in all Ages and Countries." She mentions
here some of the gifted artist-daughters of our State:

"Julia du Pré, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, was
educated at Mrs. Willard's school in Troy, New York. On
leaving the school, she accompanied her mother and sister to
Paris. Mrs. du Pré wished to cultivate to the utmost her
daughter's talents for music and painting, and gave her the advantage
of the best foreign masters. They had been three
years in France when a sudden reverse deprived them of their
ample fortune: yet, with reduced means, they remained a year
longer, that Julia might devote herself to the study of painting
in oil. On their return to Charleston, Mrs. du Pré and her
daughters opened a school for young ladies, which was attended
with success. The continual occupation of teaching, however,
deprived Julia of time and opportunity for the severe
study necessary to perfect herself in the art to which she had
wished to devote her life. Every hour of leisure she could
command was given to portrait painting, and to making copies
of admired works. Many of these were executed with great
skill, and drew praise from Sully and other eminent critics.
One of her best portraits is that of Count Alfred de Vigny,
who had been intimate with her family during their residence
in Paris. Miss du Pré also made a fine copy from Parmegiano,
of a Virgin and Child, and a Dido on the Funeral Pile, from
Giulio Romano. These, and other paintings, gained her considerable
repute as an artist. She married Henry Bonnetheau,
a miniature-painter of acknowledged merit, and continues to
reside in Charleston. She spent the summer of 1859 in Paris,
for the sake of improving herself in pastel-painting, and has
lately finished some exquisite works in that style. "The Love-Letter,"
in the possession of her brother-in-law, Dr. Dickson,
of Philadelphia, 'The Liasons,' and 'L'Espagnole,' have been
highly praised among these. Mrs. Bonnetheau's gifts are
crowned with the loveliest traits of woman's character. She
is esteemed and beloved by a large circle of friends in Charleston,
among whom are some of the best educated men in this
country.

"The Misses Withers, of Charleston, South Carolina, paint
in oil and water colours, and cut cameos with much ability and
skill. They have also modeled groups and figures with success,
and are devoted to these branches of art.

"Mrs. Charlotte Cheves is an amateur artist who might have
gained celebrity had her life been given to the study of painting.
She was Miss M'Cord, and was born in Columbia, South
Carolina. She married Mr. Langdon Cheves, and resides on
his rice plantation nearly opposite Savannah. She paints
miniatures on ivory, some of them excellent likenesses, and
finished with great delicacy. She has also painted pictures in
oil, and excels in pastels and pencil-sketches. She is a musician,
too, and possesses a very fine voice.

"Ellen Cooper, the youngest daughter of the celebrated Dr.
Thomas Cooper, was a native of Columbia, South Carolina.
She had a fine taste and much skill in painting and ornamental
work, and was remarkable for intellectual culture and knowledge
of general literature. She lived some years in Mobile,
with her sister, and there married Mr. James Hanna, who took

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