The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-02

Manv months since we took pleasure in noticing
the fatlering efforts of plastic genius exhibited by
young native of Norfolk, NE son Oh me excellent
burst into rich and blooming. flower of triumph
ant genius, if we are TO judge from the following
deeply interesting letter, published in the Norfolk
Argus, from citizen OF Norfolk, now solourning
in Europe: - A
&C. reverence art, wherever found, as the longing
after better principle; but above all do look
with pride upon any of its triumphs which belong to
America. After lingering in anazement over the
glorious achievements of a Raphael or an Angelo,
a Canova or Thorwadsen, 1t was indeed gratfi-
cation TO find the genius of our own land SO zeal
ously striving to follow in the way thus marshalled.
| 1t was, therefore, with peculiar pleasure that !
| wandered through the studio of Hiram Powers and
gazed upon those marbles, alive as it were, from
his magic chisel. But it is not Of him would here
speak-to swell his fame (of whom the great Thor
waldsen declared, in his establishment, that in his
forte of busts there were none superior to him, an
Gent or moden) would be TO paint the lily per-
| tune the rose. There are younger men, with
promise even as great, but who bide the turn of
Fortunes Wheel Many such crossed my path,
whom would love to mention, and, if it might be,
bring thrill of Joy TO their lone hearts; but occa-
sion and power both would fail me.
g must, however, record the name Of one of Vr-
gna's most talented children, who, in a future not
far distant, will link it TO glorious fame Need
] recall to you young Alexander Gait, the son of
| Mr. Gait, our worthy postmaster! He has been al
Florence for the past two years. ardently pursuing
his noble art. 1t was my pleasure to make his ac-
quaintance, and could not but admire, from the
very first the manly modesy which pervaded his
| whole manner. Upon an invitation to visit him,
repaired TO his studio in Via Babuino, and passed
a delightful hour with the artist and his work. He
has boldly entered that great course which
Powers has SO triumphanty run, and, if may
judge from the specimens shown, he is destined to
| rank even beside that famed master. ! may be
permitted, however, before noticing particularly
his moroccan, to premise that no part Of the human
figure is more difficult of conception and execution
than the one in question. The human counte.
nance, with all its infinite fexblty OF feature and
| ever varying shade of expression, presents an
obstacle apparently insurmountable. Add 10 TINS
the vision he must form in his mind of the Ideal
so trying a test of his of the beauties, with
| out which all art is dead and nanimate-and you
have some faint notion of the extent Of his task In
this it was that Powers contended so successfully
| with the Italian school, Their leading thought was
developed in the general outlines, while those deli
cate traces of the mind or soul, which more often
Turk in the smallest line or curve Of the face, were
left untouched committed to chance. The effect,
need not tell you, was fiat and insipid. But when
| a young American presented himself in The gale
ries of Florence, and showed them hea' so SUI
| perby finished that vitality itself seemed to glow
in its features the palm at once yielded to the
stranger.
TRADE BYTRANsFER.-Thefea feather o. the ostrich
is more valuable at ST. Petersburg Quebec than
az OF N1OZdulUiQuc. l. Hc iuTo u SiocTid
are sought with avidity in China, and all the
regions of the temperate zone the spices and teas
of the East find purchasers and consumers in all
lands while silk, and cotton, and wool and iron,
either wrought unwrought, have become essen
| tlal to, and desired by every human being.
The ice which binds in chains the upper temperate
and frigid zones, when transported to the tropics
becomes luxury, in which only the opulent can
indulge.
The annals Of our race are not authenticated SO
t,rA hail a. L
| caravans between the cities of the Mediterranean
and the territories and countries of Central Africa,
| India and China. Nor has the time arrived for
the abolition of that trade. 1t still exists. Two
caravans arrive at Alexandra annually from Dar-
four, composed of from four to five thousand
| camels, and from two to three hundred men. They
bring down elephants teeth, rhinoceros' horns,
ostrich feathers gum arabic tamarinds, and usually
several thousand female slaves. Hunts Mer-
| chants Magazine.