The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-31

Kind ever started this side Of the Atlantic,
vet people do not seem to take much notice
Of It. Indeed, my friends tell me that the
public are not fully aware of its existence.
Pray let me be indebted to you for a notice.
| wish to get fairly afoat. You see have
been too dlflident about il. We modest fel.
'ows allow our interiors to pass us o(ien.-
! will leave this number with you. Pray,
pray givesit good notice.
lie placed in my hands the eleventh num-
ber Of the North American Thespian Mag
azine, devoted to the drama, and also
to literature, science, history, and the arts
On reading over the prospectus, | found il
vastly comprehensive, embracing nearly
every subject in the world. If so extern
slye plan were decenl!y filed up in the
details, the North American Thespian
Magazine was certainly worth the annual
subscription money, which was only one
dollar. said SO under my 'liierary notice
in the next impression Of my journal; and,
although had not actually read the work,
yet it sparkled SO with asterisks, dashes,
and notes OF admiration, that it looked in :.
teresting. ladded in my crtique, that il was
elegantly got up, that its Typographical ex-
ecu1ion reflected credit on the publisher,
that its failure would be grievous reproach
to the city, that its editor was scholar, a
writer, and gentleman, aud was favorably
known to the literary circles by the eio.
quence, wit. and feeling of his former pro
duclions. VIVA, those productions were |
should have been puzzled to say, never hav
ing read, or even heard ofthem. This how
ever was the cant criticism Of the day, which
IS so exorbitant and unmeanlng, and go un
versa!ly cast in one mould, that | was in
some lribnlation, on reading over the arti-
Gle in print, To find that had omitted the
words, 'natiye genius which possesses .
kind Of commonlaw place in Rll articles on
American literary productions. Forth,
however, it went to the world, and expert.
enced philan,hropic emotion in fancying
how pleased the little, hard-faced old gentle
man would be with the flattering encoml-
ums on his .Thespian Magazine
The very day my paper was out, as !
was setting full fathom five deep IN IN ar
ticle on 'the Advantages Of Virtue tan in
teresting theme, upon my views of which /
rather tlattered my self) was startled By
three knocks at the door and my Come ia
exhibited to view tile broad brimed hat OF
the hard faced gentleman, with his breech
es, buckles, gold headed cane and nil. lie
laid aside his hat mud cane with the air of
man who has walked great way and
means to res, himselfa while. Twas very
busy II was ono of my inspired moments
Half brilliant idea was already committed
TO paper. There it lay--a ffagment--a
flower cut oil in the bud--n mere outline
an embryo; and my Imagination cooling
like a piece Of red hot iron in the open air
raised my eyes 10 the old gentleman, With
look Of solemn silence, retaining my pen
ready for action. with my little finger eX-
tended. md limiting, in every way, that J
was no, i the vein, kept my lips closed,
dipped the pen in the ink.stand several
times, and held il lowering over the sheet.
Il would not do. The old gentleman was
not to be driven of'his ground by shakes of
Tho pen, ink drops, OF little fingers. lie
fumbled about his pockets, and drew forth
the red covered North American Thesplan
Maeazine,' devoted to the drama SC, num-
her twelve. lie wanted "a good notce.'--
The last was rather general. ! had not
specified its peculiar claims upon the public
| had copied no,blug. That sort Of criiique
did no good. He begged mo to read this
carcfuliy---to anaiyse ito give it a can
did examination. | was borne down by
his emphatic manner; and being natur-
ally OF civil department, as well as at
that particular moment, in an impatient,
fayorish hurry 10 pet on with my treatise
ON the Advantages of Virtue which ieit
now oozing out of my subsiding brain with
an alarming rapidity, promised to read,
notice, investigate, unalyze, to the utmost
extent Of his wishes, or at least OF my abil-
ity.
| could scarcely keep myself scrcwd
down to common courtesy TIL the moment
Of his departure; a proceeding which ne nc,
compIshed with a most commendable self
possession and deliberate pol,eucss. When
he was fairly gone, | poked my head out,
and called my boy.
Peter
Sir
Did you see tha, Ii,,lo old gentleman,
Peter?'
Yes, SIR
Should YOU know him again, Pe,er'
sYes. sir
well, irhe ever comes here again, Peter,
tell him am not in
yes, SIR
entered my little study, and closed
the door after me with slam, which could
only have been perceptblc to those who
knew my ordinary still and mild manner
There might have been also slight accent
in my wav Of turning the key, and (candor
is mcri,) | could not repress brief eX,
cama,ion of displeasurc at the little o'd
gentleman with his magazine, who had
broken in so provokingly upon my ESSAY
on virtue.' Virtue or no yirtue,' thought
|, i wished him to the d.
Ny room is on the ground-iloor ana
window adjoining the street lets IN upon
me the light and air through heavy cr'm-
son curtain, near which sit and scrbble.
| was just charging upon the necessity OF
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