The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-12-12


INCONSISTENCIES OF GENIUS. .--OfI
the relations ofauthors to social life, of |
their habits, manners, dispositions in
society, as contrasted with those dis
played in their writings, a great deal
that is interesting might be said. A
man Of letters is often man with two
natures,--ole q book nature, tho other
human nature. These two often
clash sadly. Seneca wrote in praise
Of poverty, on a table formed OF solid
gold, with two millions of pounds let
out at usurv. Stcrne was very selfish
man; yeta writer uncxcel.ed for pathos
and charity. Sir Richard Steele wrote
excellently well on temperance, when
he was sober. DR.. Johnson's essays
on pulitcness were admirable; yet. l,is
you lie, sir! and You don't under.
stand the question, sir! were too COM
mon characteristics of his collouuics. -
lIc and DIR. Shelbcarc wcrc both pen.
stoned at the same time. The report
Immediately flew, that the king had pen
stoned two bears, llc.bcar and she
bear. Young, whose gloomy fancy
cast such sombrc tinges on life, was in
society brisk, lively man, continually
pelting his hearers with pucrile puns.
Mrs. Carter. fresh from the stern, dark
granducr Of the Night Thoughts, cx.
pressed her amazement at his hippancy
Madam said he, stherc is much dif:
ference between writing and talking
The same poets favorite theme was the
nothingncss Of worldly things; his ia
vorite pursuits was rank and richcs.-
| Had Mrs. Garter noticed this incongru-
ity, she might have added. Madam,
there is much difference between wri-
ting didactic poems and living didact;c
poems Bacon, the most comprehcn-
sive ard forward,looking of modern in
tclccts, and il, feeling one of the most
benevolent, was lncaniy and wickedly
ambitions Of place. lfhyRte's Lea.
tuycs. i s 81
CoynENslNG.- Il ersss,f 7bc many
authors Who undcrs, aud this art. but
! few who practice it, though it is far
from being the least important that be.
longs to writing. True, the production
Of IDEAS must ever stand first, but to
what undue lengths will the unchecked
fancy 20 even in the strongest minds;
and it is only by keeping them within
proper bounds, discarding the weak and
supeshuous. and adopting the true and
beautiful, that can ever hope to give
anything worthy Of the admiration Of
posserity. Some can never write letter
| without filing the whole sheet, and if
the ink holds out they will write across
and across the paper again; so that what
at first was scarcely Ineligible, at LAST
deGes not only the skill and ingenuity Of
man to understand, but defeats every
attempt to read it, while clever mans
letter is ever short, pithy, aud intelli-
gent, and you feel satisfied on arriving
at the end of his cristlc. Many young
author Of real talents, begins his pro.
! tession BY labouring too much in the
collecting and joining together of words
To collect words will ever be common
t.aa!' ~aa v,abony .t".er!i.:..!patn- and CON
dense IDEAS rare and difficult one
The very bcs! author is but an artificer
Of higher grade. and be assured that
by learning to condcnsc YOU will great.
y increase the number of your readers.
AN ANECDoTE WELL ToLD.-Du-
ring the recent Railroad Convention
at this lace, towards the closing scene
a resolution was introduced by one of
our Anderson friends. proposing :lat
the Company proceed to purchase land
and erect work shops at Anderson will.
age for the cntirc route. Various
amendments were offered which cut
down and altered tho resolution materi.
ally when Gen. Whitncr arose, and
with much gravity remarked, these
amendments reminded him of an anec.
dote related by Dir. Franlin of GER
tain John Brown halter hy trade,
who desiring to advertise drew up On
advertisements follows, "John B1oum
makes and sells hats, for ready cash"
but before publishing it, he concluded
to consult his friends. Showing it to
one he advised him to strike out "lor
ready cash. ior' said he, "your patrons
will soon learn your terms.' Brown
thought this we'll enough, and meeting
another, his counsel was to aleave out
makes for it is no matter who makes
them," and this was stricken out, and
the advertisement then read 'sJohn
Brown sells hats" Presenting it to q
third i'll this form for his views, hc repli-
ed, "who in the name Of Heaven would |
suppose that you gave bats away, III
would leave out sells hats also,' which |