The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-12-11


out person for the purpose Of procuring and
reporting intelligence.
The latest dodge in the way of newspaper
intelligence is that of an association of per-
sons in New York calling themselves the
"Circle Of Correspondence" who make it
regular business to write correspondence for
country papers of course anonymously-fu
nishing some general items of news, but so
interspersing their communications with per-
sonal matters as to make them, in fact little
else than regular business puffs. These letters
being received in different parts of the country
are published by some papers as "New York
Correspondence" to thegreat glorifcnton Of the
publishers of such papers in being thought able
to furnish their patrons such matter, while the
writers of these letters are no doubt felicitatng
themselves OH their success in putting their
"wares" over the country free of expense
As specimen of this kind of correspondence,
we give the following. 1t is from the .Nerport
Mercury, which gives it merely for the purpose
of showing up the humbug of the thing. 1t is
certainly very rich. ...
GA hotel as large as both the Irving and the
Astor House united, has just been completed ON
NiblO's lot, and in front OF his Theater. 1t is
TO be called the Metropolitan and who do
you think has taken an interest in it Why,
Barnum! Barnum the lucky! Barnum the
indetatigable! Barnum, for whom everything
he touches, be it valuable or be it worthless,
turns to veritable gold The Messrs Leland,
now of the Clinton here, are the lessees, but
Barnum stands behind them as the financial
pillar, and has already put down $4,000 to-
wards the furniture, and designs to put down
considerably more. Most wonderful man is that
Barnum aforesaid. Twelve years ago he was
wandering in the fields and sleeping under hay
stacks for the want of the c rculating Medi.
UNI with which to pay for a bed. The Tom
Thumb speculation netted him $500, ,0GO. Jenny
Lind made him half million more Now he
has Museum here that netts a profit OF $780,
600 per annum. He has the Chinese Family,
now travelling in Europe. lie has u vast Mena-
gerie of Lions, Tigers and Elephants that he
sent ships to the East Indies to catch, and has
two more ships from Ceylon, bound homeward,
laden with many additional live curiositics
He is president of one bank and controls two
others. lie is chief owner of popular Insur-
ance Company. He is the active head and
manager Of the Annihilator Company, He isa
Temperance lecturer, a Rechabite, n member Of
the Temple of the Sons of Temperance an Odd
Fellow, and Heaven only knows what else
W IiI uc uOeS not KNOW, is not worth knowing,
and what he can't do, can't be done, remember
that
In France every writer for the public press
is required by law to sign his real name to.
whatever articles he may publish. This may
be carrying the thing too far We would not
be understood as wishing for such law in this
country; but were such custom enforced by
L
press of this country would attain q dignity far
above that which it now sustains. However
great the influence which the press may exert
now, we doubt not that it would be increased,
ten-fold by such an arrangement. No person
would then send n communication to public
journal of which he was ashamed. Every idea
and every sentiment would be duly weighed
and trimmed; for the writer would feel that
his reputation was at stake Many editors in.
this country, make it rule not to publish.
communications unless they have the real name
OF the author. This rule, in its practical one.
rations, has something like a similar effect to
the French law, only, instead of the writer of
an article placing his reputation Mt the mercy
Of the public, the character of the editor is
made responsible for whatever blunders there
may be in such communications-(and they are
not few)-with the understanding however,
that should their be anything creditable in such
articles he will come in for very small share
'f that. So that in reality the only beneficial
effect of this arrangement is the satisfaction of
The editor and his protection from the law of
bel
We think, therefore, if the press of this coun-.
Try would exercise that influence and become
hat great moral engine of usefulness which it
night do, it it high time that it should shake
IF the shackles of parties and cliques, purify
tself of all cant and humbug, and place itself
IN the broad and firm platform of independence
ind truth. Then, and not till then, it will
tand forth as the great enlightener of the age,
more especially in this country where its influ-
nee is so strong with oil its faults.
RTs- A man named SQUIRE Cotton of Crane.