The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-08-24
Orr POETRY Contributors.


It is one Of the weaknesses OF human nature, that
every body wants to be famous" Men Ike to be
talked about, and gopcd At, and noted above the
vulgar herd Tor some uncommon qualification or u
cheycmenr, though the distinction it conters is OF
an equ.yota or even positively dsleputabc charac-
ter. Suoacr IL" damned TO everlasting fame than
dieunkuuwn, seems Ia be a common aspiration. We
receive neahy every week something n the shape OF
portical cuntnuUuoniro some aspraut to undyIng
fame, and occasionally We punl one butin the mass
ofcaSes obliged to reject such ayors as posi-
lively beneath criticism, although We know iu. well
that they are regarded A. most surprising and utterly
unparalleled literary achievements, by their au-
thors Aud the knLeSt act We could do them in
most instances, would be TO throw their productions
under the table al once, and never say word about
them But such kindness woulIneverbe appJecia-
ted, as it would neither confer notorIety nor what
is quite as much regarded, would ii enable the world
or the author to see ia print what has cost suchnel
ectuai tdroes. SO We have determined TO compro-
mise The matter, hy noticing each piece in It's Turn
as received and giving extracts by way Of showing
its merits, without overlooking our columns with too
much OF the same sort, a! a time, And it some Of
our friends should take u.ubrsge at what we may
say about then productions, we beg them to rcmem-
Der that while We only give our !ulgmentin the pre-
misses, We give them al, the advantage Of publicity;
besides, they should also ever bear m mind this sad
truth, uttered 10y great poet two thousand years
ago. that
"Fuilmany wight hath suffered for a song,
And cursed his yJulIl'y ct tongue
We begin with Contribution received several
months ago, by way OF di,posiug of the bundle be-
tore US somewhat IN the order Of time IN which it
accumulated.
dayton Precinct" f,vors US with a hall sheet OF
"Lines, or az You Please, to the Redman.' The
subject Is certainly suggestive Of poeiic ideas, but
the case before us demonstrates that good SUBJECT
does not always insure good poetry. Our Trend is
modest enough in reference TO his production TO en-
terrain no expectation Of reoping honor-, aureis
any such thing from its publication. We are glad
OF this, because he 5 not likely 10 be disappointed
With all Difference, however, We must differ with
him. when he gives it as the reason why he cannot
entertain any such expectation, that che has not
weath--hoarded wealth, nor the aid OF that mighty
engine, the press" Although we have heard it
asserted never having had an opportunity OF testing
At ourselves that the former viii sometimes make
pockets, purses, and the like, Jingle beautifully, We
doubt much whether all the wealth of the Indies
could make he following lines jingle. Our poe,
"opens" thus:
Here in the west where bcaptcous prairies are,
And waters flow maestlcy
Through woodland, del and meadows fir
onward to the sea-
Here, to, are cliffs and noble hills
With cnyerns al the base
Here mounds erected high III air,
Proclaim fallen race"
After this sublime exordium, the poem flows on
"mnjes,cly,7 and describes the supposed iecilous
state OF the "redman,' until the ruthless Saxon"
"Staked from the east on to the west,
And to the rcdnian he'd
lis misery thenceforth is depicted-especally doth
the poet burn with indignation as he decrlbes the
peridy of the saxons,in bciraying the redInen, by
whom they had been