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


their habits, manners, dispositions in
society, as contrastcd with those dis
played in their writings, great deal
that is inter esting might be said. A
nan Of letters is often man with two
natures, ,--one book nature, the other
Il 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 usury. Stcrne was a very selfish
man; ye. writer uncxccl!cd orrathos
and charity Sir Richard Steele wrote
excelcnlly well on temperance, when
he was sober DR.. Johnson's essays
on pu!itcncss were admirable; yet, his
You lie, sir!!' and You don't under
stand the question, sir!' were too com
mon characteristics of his collouuies. =
lie and DR.. Shelbcarc were both pen.
stoned at tl.c same time. The report
Immediately flew, that the king had pen
stoned two bears, a lc.bcar and she
bear. Young, whose gloomy fancy
cast such sombrc tingcs on life, was in
society brisk, lively man, continually
pcltinS his hearers with pucrilc puns.
Mrs. Carter, fresh from the stern, dark
granducr of the Night Thoughts, cx.
pressed her alnazcmcnt at his tlippancy
Madam said he, 'therc is much dif.
ference between writing and talking
The same poets favorite theme was the
nothinyncss 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 didactic
poems Bacon, the most comprchcn-
sivc ard forwarl-loo(ing Of modern in
tcllccts, and i. feeling one of the most
! benevolent, was mcanly and wickedly
ambitions Of lla2o.~- NhyPle,s Lee.
turrS.
CoSpESsING.--,I... crssse.fsy be many
authors Who understand 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 d
fancy 70 even in the strongest minds;
and it is only by keeping them within
proper bounds, discarding the weak and
supe:iuous. and adopting the true and
beautiful, that we can ever hope to give
anything worthy of the admiration ol
pos:erity. Some can never write a letter
without filling tic whole sheet, and il
the ink holds out they will write across
and across thepapcr again; SO that what
at first was scarcely Ineligible, at las.
dcies not only the skill and ingenuity ol
man to understand, but defeats every
attempt TO read it, while clever mans
letter is ever short, pithy, aud intclli
gent, AMI you feel satisfied Oh arriving
at the end Of his clistlc. Many young
author of real talents, begins his pro
fession by laLouring too much in tho
collecting and joining together Of words
10 collect words will ever be a common
t-an.' ~Hasv hbany .t"yor;...inatr and con
dense IDEAS rare aud difficult one
The very best author is but an arti!icer
Of higher grade. and he assured that
by learning to coidcnsc YOU will great
ly Increase the number Of Your readers.
AN ANECDoTE WELL ToLD.-Du-
ring the recent Railroad Convention
at this lace, towards the closing scene
Il resolution was introduced by one Of
our Anderson friends. proposing that
the Company proceed to purchase land
and erect work shops at Anderson viii.
age for the entire route. Various
amendments were offered which cut
down and altered the resolution matcri-
ally when Gen. Whtncr arose, and
with much gravity remarked, these
amendments reminded him of an anec-
dotc related by Dir. Franlin of ccr-
tain John Brown a halter by trade,
who desiring to advertise drew up an
advertisements as follows, "JoAu Bromn
mak,s and sells hats, .tor ready cash.
but before publishing it, he concluded
to consult his friends. Showing it to
one he advised him to strike out ''for
ready cash, ior' said lie, "your patrons
will soon learn your terms" Brown
thought this we'll enough, and meeting
another, his counsel was to ''leavc ont
'makcs,' for it is no matter who makes
them" and this was stricken out, and
the advertisement then read s!John
Brown sells hats" Presenting it to
third in this form for his views, he rcpli-
cd, "who i'll the name of Heaven would
suppose that you gave hats away, l
would leave out sells hats ALSO which
was done, and the advertisement then
read simply, John Brown"
This anccdote was told in an admira.
L.. y