Ponola [sic] weekly register. (Ponola [sic], Miss.) 1843-1843, 1843-04-05
PROSPECTUS
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TNHlS is a monthly Magazine, devoted chic
fly TO Literature, but occasionally finding
room also for articles that fall within the scope
of Science; and protesting no, disdain for taste
full selections, though its matter has been as it will
continue to be, in the main original.
Party Politics and controversial
Theology as far as possiblefare Jealous
ly excluded. They are sometimes so
blended with discussions in literature
or in moral science, otherwise unob-
iectionable, as 10 gain Abundance for
the sake Of the more valuable matter
to which they adhere: but whenever
that happens, they arc INCIDENTAL only !:
not PRIMARY. They arc dross, tolerated
only because it cannot well be severed
from the sterling ore wherewith it is
Incorporated
Reviews and critical Notices occupy
their due space in the work: and it is
the Editors aim that they should have
a threcfoId tendency-to convey, i'll a
condensed form, such valuable truths
or interesting incidents as are embodied
i'm the works reviewed.-to direct the
readers attention to books that deserve
to be read,-and TO warn him against
wasting time and money upon that
large number, which merit only to be
burned In this age of publications,
that by their variety and multitude dis
tract and overwhelm every undiscrimi-
mating student, IMPARTIAL. CRITICISM.
governed by the views just mentioned,
is one of the most inestimable and in
dispensable of auxiIiaries, 10 him who
does with to dl scriminate.
Essays and Tales, having ia view
utility or amusement, or both-fiistori-
cal Sketches-and "reminiscences of
We It's too minute for History, yet cluci-
dating it, and heightening its Interest,"
may be regarded as forming the staple
of the work. And of indigenous POE
TRY, enough is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
of no mean strain-to manifest and cul-
tivate the growing poeticai taste and tall
ents of our country.
The times appear, for several rea-
sons, to demand such work-not -one
alone, but many. The public mind is
feverished and irritatcd still, from re-
cent political strifes. The soft, assua-
sive influence Of Literature is needed,
to allay that fever, and soothe that irri-
tation. Vice and folly are rioting abroad
they should be driven by indignant re-
buke, or dashed by ridiculc, into their
fitting haunts Ignorance lords it over
an immense proportion of our people.
Every spring should be set in motion,
to arouse the enlightened, and to in
crease their number; so that the great
enemy of popular government may no
longer brood, like a pertentous cloud,
over the deslinies Of our country. And
to accomplish all these ends, what
more powerful can be employed, than q
periodical, on the plan of the Messen-
ger; if that plan be carried out in prac-
| tice?
The South peculiarly requires such
an agent. In all the Union, south OF
Washington, there are but two Litera-
ry periodicals.! Northward of that
city, there are at least twenty. 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 may justly claim at leas,
an equality with our brethren; and a
domestic institution exclusively our
own, beyond all doubt affords US, if we
choose, twice the leisure for reading
and writing, which they enjoy.