The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-08-31
"GRAvIrIES AND GAIETIES."

"GRAVIrIES AND GAIETIES."
This is the tit Of a small duodecimo, the pro-
duction Of one of our young townsmen, which
we have read with some curiosity and much plea
sure-curiosity to see the graduation that energetic
ambition marks in her onward course, though the
oil infancy and the unasslsted state Of orphanage,
and pleasure to see how much that thirst for re-
putation will do when her voary is untiring. The
old adage that he who aims at the Bishops mtre
engraven upon the memory Of every literary aspi
rant; as it is not only true aplorism, hut calcu.
lated from its certainty to give motive 10 the care
less 10 begin their abors, and to the laborer con-
hdence Of success. A word Of encouragement to
those in the early career Of life who have thrown
their talents like bread upon the waters in the be-
lief that after many days they will return, gives
the same strength to the ditiidcnt neophyte in lite
nature that the divine sautation does to the Chris
tian; it builds up new hope that perseverance
will urn 10 reality In ancient days the traveller
in the path Of study was encouraged upon his
road by the older literati in various WAYS. Some
times presents would be bestowed, and sometimes
ambition encouraged by praises, which would
sometimes the forms Of allegory and eEtaphs
were used to induce the seatcher for learning to
search farther. The writing upon the stone Of
the well in Salamanca, of here lies the soul OF
the licenate Pedro" gave rise, as the author tells
US, to that beautiful production Gill Bias and
the Hydrologic enigma of the music Of Memnon's
statue at the rising of the sun first made the ere
dulous curious to catch the sound and then turned
their confidence to the good account of industry
which early hours inspired; hence came inquiry
to the negligent and industry to the idle. Inthis
country, however, we use no moral means, so to
speak, of leading the young unaided mind up that
steep ascent which SO many fear to climb. True
it is we often prai>e-aye, fulsomely praise: but
this is the very error Of the times; for indiscrimi-
nate approval makes all alike, and the great NO
greater than the small So TOO do our regular cri-
tics vindicively deal out their wrath at every new
conner who happens TO put his first falering foot
sup "itiH viz SCchouiO VI Sltdt iOuhCHOlN
Of literature, without once remembering the adj
monition of Plato in his saying that a blow witt
word strikes deeper than blow with sword'
for it is only the great and the rich quibus poten
tia sceleris impuniiatem fecit.
We are led to these remarks because when tn,
author Of this little work first commenced his ca
reer in modest way before the public, thos
who, in the indiscriminae indulgence Of chea
charity chose to throw away paragraphs, spok
Of his juvenile elaboration in such fuIsome strain
as made its character doubtful, while others, S
penlant, pftulanti splene cachinno, that the
cannot speak butihey must bile, despatched it a
sort of criminal in literature, to the waters q
Erebus.
We have ourselves viewed both these classes
Of umpires as wrong; and though we cannot exto
the first productions of the writer as good, W,
cannon say they are bad: and regards the las
effort of the aspirant in his g Gaties and Crawl
ties" we have found 50 many marks OF improve
ment as TO justify us in the prediction that the au
thor, Mr.. SAMUEL F GLENN, is destined BY grea
industry To became one Of the most interesting
writer's Of this middle latitude.