Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-08-20


GREENE HILL.
January %, 1899. %
Prosp. ct1ts Of the
Southern Literary Messenger
T. W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
ESHIS is monthly Magazine, devoted
Il chiefyto literature, but occasional "
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope OF Science and no protesting an
en.Ie sda.n of tas ELL selections, though It's
mater IA oeea as i wiIi continue to be, II
ne nan original.
Party loiIacs ard controversial Theology
as Tar as possible, are jealoasly excluded
fney are sometimes SO blended with discus
S ons mhtera5ure or ID moral science, oiher-
Wse unobjectionable, as to gain admit ance
for he Sake of the more valuable matter to
winch hey adhere: but whenever that hap
pens, they are incidental ONLY; no. primary.
they are dross tolerai ed only because it can
OF well be severed from the sterling ore where
with II is incorporated.
Review and Critical Notices occupy Their
due space in The work and IT is the editor :
ann that they should have threeiold tenden-
cy-to convey IN a condensed form, such valu-
able tru lis or in eresting incidents as are en-
bodied IN the works reyIewed,-to direct the
readers attention to books that deserve to be
'ead,-add to warn him against wasting time
md money upon that large number, which
merit only 10 be burned. In this age, Of publ
:ations that by Their varie'y and multitude dis
ract and overwhelm every und.sermnating
student, impartial criticism governed by the
views j0stmentioned, is one of the most inesti-
nabIe and indispensable of auxiLaries, TO him
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having in view utility OF
amusement, or both-Historicel Sketches
and "reminiscences of too minute for His ory,
yet calculating it and heightening It's inter-
est,-may be regarded as forming the STAPLE
of the work. And of Indigenous Poetry.
enough is published-sometimes Of no mean
strain-to manifest and to cultivate the crow
ing poetry taste and talents of our coun-
try.
The time appears, for several reasons, to
demand such a work: and not one alone, but
many. The public mind is feverish and irrita
ted stu, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasive influence of lite ature is needed.
to allay that fever and smoothe that irritation.
Vice and folly are rioting abroad they should
be driven by indignant rebulze, or dashed by
ridlcule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
II NCl Gil u OuI pNO-
pie. Every spring should be set In motion, to
arouse the enlightened, and to increase their
number: so that the great enemy of popular
government may no longer brood, like a por-
tentous cloud over the destines of our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed than aperi-
odical, on the plan of the Messenger; If that
plan be but carried out in practice!
VHha South ~.,oI ~,
In all he Union, south of Washington. there
are but two literary periodicals! Northward
of that city, there probably are at least twen-
ty-five or thirty! Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent, or the
actual literary taste, of the Southern people,
compared with those of the Northern! No;
for in wealth, talents and taste, we NAV Justly
claim at least an equality with our brethren !;
and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt, affords US, if we choose, twice
the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy.
1t was from deep sense OF this local want
that the word Southern was engraftcd on this
periodical; and not with any design to nour-
lsh local preludlces; orto advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought, it
is the editors fervent wish to see the North
and South bound endearingly together forever,
10 the silken bands of mutual kindness and af-
lection. Far from meditating hostility to the
North, he has already drawn, and he hopes
therefore to draw much of his choicest matter
thence: and happr indeed viii he deem him
sell, should hrs pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute IN any es-
sental degree to d,spel the lowering clouds
that now threaten the neaee of both, and to
brighten and strenethe he sacred ties of fra
ferHai love
Inc saslt1ern lt+sga7g Messenger has now
1cachea fhe It's 10 Of the BIRD volume.
How far3s hos asted o1t the ideas here uttered,
is Got for the ed0os 70 sy He believes, how
eveg, sat falls not further short Of them, than
human weakness usually makes Practice fall
shortof Theory.
CONDITIONS.
|. The Southern Literary Messenger is
puhlishedin monthly numbers, of 4large su-
perroyal octave pages each. on the best of pa
per, and neatly covered, at IS a year, PAYABLE
in advance.
2. Or five new subscribers by sending their
names and twenty dollars at one time 10 the
EDITOR, viii receive their copies for one year
for that sum,or at A dollars for each.
3. The risk nfloss of payments for subscrip.
tons, which have been properly committed te
the mail; or the hands Of postmaster. is as.
suned BY the edit r..
4. Fl Subscription IS not directed TO be dis.
continued before the first number of the nexi
volume has been published. il viii be taken al
a continuance for another wear. Subscription.
must commence with the beginning Of the
volume, and will not be taken for less than q
years publication.
5 The mutual obligations Of the publishes
and subscriber, for the year. are fully incurred
as soon as the first number Of the volume i
issued and after that time. no discontinuance
Of subscription VIII be permitted. Nor vii
subscription be discontinued for any earliei
notice. while any thing thereon remains due
unless At the option Of the editor.