The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1829-01-05
THE VER2GsNyAN.
LYNCIBURa. JAW. ). 1929.
!" Wy NATIVE LAND "

hanpuen oi1nrv tohege. II WAS ftcdeu on
Commencement Day OF 1927. {. has been recruit
ly printed, in compliance With the request Of the
members. The sn,hor (Nr, Frederick Specie,
Of this vicinity was formerlv student of the
venerable and useful seminary of learning which
we have Just mentioned. & is one of the very few
whose genius has not been miued 10 hnguish
sphere of action which the close of scholastic
career prcsupposes, and by the multiplied duties
which devolve on those members of society
who, IT may he, are completes 10 make mere lit
erary pursuits subordinate TO more active and
more pressing agoca,ions. THIS. Mr.. Spec &c
has shown, nos only by the production which is
the Immediate subject Of remark, bnt by many
other contributors. which have pr ,ceedod from
his pen, more epheneral IN their character and
thef slors possibly noi SO finished IA style, as
thatrected within the walls Of ais Pima Meter.
When such publications make their appearance
the public has right to ASH a more sxtensi We
acquaintance with their merits and their authors
than they can possibly attain by their having
been read 10 small audoriss, and from the We
~ limited n"lnher OF copies published. 10 nc
compsh this object, ns far as our means enable
rs, We shall make occasional extracts from the
EN-, Notwithstanding the close connection
which peryades the whole Of il. aud the absence
Of episodes (beiug eotisely descriptive of natural
scenery, and its influence on tina n,nd) WILL we
fear, render It's Beauties less apparent THAI If il
were read consecuiiyeiy.
lrnay NOT be ont OF place, IN an article Of this
eharacter, to alude to the lamentable not less
than srage deficiency in Virginia, OF writers in
all those lighter depart nen,s OF literature which
grace the periodicals bol h of Europe and OF ina.
ny parts Of the United States. Is the Old Do
ninionp modern Beotia, +" where Genius sick
ems and where Fancy dies y Depending al
most exclusively on exoiics OF this class, we GER
tainly afford the rest of the world just reason 20
suppose either that our mental soil is too sterile
TO produce native fruits, or thnt our love OF
ease shrinls from the performances of go burden
some task, or thai we prefer the rude encoun.
tiers OF the harsher aud more abstruse sciences
to the peaceful walks Of poetry and romance
Our own impression is that the latter is tho true
reason why Virginia has added SO few ranes
to the list Of poets, novelists, dramatis,s aud es-
sayisis. who already. even 10 Gus own country
form such bright constellation of genius. For,
when political fever begins to rage who are
more ready to take up the pen than VisginIans
Nor do they wield IL with feeble hsad Many
OF them, very many, are unsurpassed by the
writer's of any age or country, for Gogency Of
reasoning, keenn sss OF satire, sprighiiness Of
vii, broadness af humor, splendor OF diclion,
orbrillisney and ferVOr Oh irnaeinhion--wiel-
ding each or all ofihese weapons. as the oc.
cas- on may require. Is il TO be presumed
that writer's who thus unite iha Gordian knot
Of State policy in all its subtle qualifications,
would tail 10 win honor for themselves and
their country, il they would desert for q
while, the iron ,mnge 10 which political eladi
slors pay their dew ,lons, and worship NJ
the Muses. shrine The only moral essnyisl
oil celebrity OF whom Virginia boasts, did NOT
desert the study aud practice of the law when
ne pourlrnyed men and manners, and impaFt
ed instruction in those eScellcn, Numbers
witch he prnred for the Enquirer, and which
tial form On Tie contrary, he IS stiii more
extensively celebrated, and more Justly so,
perhaps, as profound aud eloquent iurist
than AS the author Of the Old Bachelor and
The British Spy" lie only did that which
many Others conld do equally as well--he di.
versifed his studies from gay to grave. from
the other--and we doubt no.. he IS indebted for
much OF his fame, both as man Of profound Ie-
gal requirements aud OF elegant literary ac-
complishments, to the mutual aid and support
which each portion OF his studies gave to the u
Tiers. We hope il may not be long before ma
nv of his low.cizens will " do likewise, and
wipe of the reproach OF Incidence and want Of
talent which now rests upon the character Of
Virginia.
But we have depressed TOO long fro the Pc
EN- Of Mr.. Specie There is nothing IN it to a
rouse the sterner passions-no dazzling images
Of hgh-wrougbt ambition-no loathiul picture
Of moody neutrality-suspicious. and their kind.
red brood, are overIooked-Mr s. attempts to
"Wakn tho soul by tender strokes ofari,
- To mend the manners aud improve the hoart.'
Recurring to the scenes, the joys, the anticipn-
lions and the co,ppapions Of his youth, he iel lis
the tale which every mans experience has
long since taught him, now time has faded
and bliehted them"-how disappointment add
death have done their Offices. This picture
OF life, however, ia not ielnested bya pencil
duped in gloom, those who read the poem,
will recognize in il only feelings with which
the most cheerful aud giddy individual would
be impressed on rcvisi'ing, aftera protracted
absence Of years. the scenes OF his school-boy
sp,,rts and st,u1ies and find the mansion in