Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-02-03

Mr. EDrroR:-May make suggestion 3
Your valuable little paper comes to us in its
weekly visits, and always finds welcome. Its
appearance is respectable, its selections good,
its editorials pquant and racy. Especially do
| admire its high moral tone. Maintain this
standard of pure morality, avoiding, rs you do,
the miseraby low exhibitions Of miscalled wit,
the smutty double entenders and the half con-
cealed thrusts at virtue and religion which
abound in so many Of the newspapers of the
day, its course will be onward and upward your
influence for good will extend and increase, and
your labors will be rewarded, not only by their
pecuniary result, but in the high appreciation of
grateful community. You will call into exer-
else the latent talent Of the young, whose con-
trbutions perceive occasionally grace your col
umns and thus be the means of bringing out
powers that might otherwise have lain dormant
and uncultivated through lfe And may re-
mark in passing that observe in many of these
communications traces of talent which will yet
make its mark upon the world, beyond the cir
Gle of your subscription list. Now although
we see little exuberance of dction in the eff
forts of such, triling forgetfuness of the rules
of rhetoric, or even slip of Grammar in the ar
dor of youthful feeling, this is somewhat to be
expected-and some,ohat TO be amended. A
loose, overlooking, gorgeous style,-what a GER
tain elegant writer calls ga copious verbosity,"
is always easier than terse, rigid brevity. 1t is
easier to multiply sounding words, until the sem
timent is deuged and drowned in cataract of
adjectives, than aboriousy to apply the pruning
knife, and lop off every word and phrase not nee
essary to q clear and accurate expression of the
writer's thoughts. And yet breuity and beauty
are almost Identical, if the sense is only clear
There are some writers, who in this respect are
aI,cayS boyS,-grown up children-though their
heads be like the almond tree in blossom
They express their ideas, and construct senten-
ces, as birds build their nests, without any i'm
provement from year to year,-learning moth
ing by experience. And yet the fault alluded
to is easily cured by close mental application
and care. Practice brings experience and ex-
perience will teach that redundancy of express
sion is fatal to beauty and force Of style.
A vigorous thought of bold thinker is the
sword of Goliah. David said, "there is none
like that" The naked glittering sword is keen
its thrust does execution. But wind its blade
with ribbons, and stud it about with jewels, and
it may dazzle the eye, but its edge is useless
It's fash is the glitter of jewel and not of a
weapon. A period carefully rounded with ex-
pletves, is to n plain, pointed, vigorous express
sion of thought, as a blank cartridge to grape
shot. 1t makes as much noise but does little
execution. 1t may astonish the inexperienced
but it does not hit the target.
But, the suggestion-will you pardon me, if
| intimate that Notwithstanding its present ex-
cellencies, your paper might make decided adj
vance in this respect, by the introduction of a
Youths Department" Your materials for
selection presume are abundant, or might east
ly be made so by an additional exchange or two.
Your own fertile pens editor and publishers,
can draw upon the recollections Of childhood,
and your contributors, doubt not would occa-
sionally come to your aid, and furnish sheaf
from this fruitful field. For one, if my scrib-
bling should be so fortunate as to pass the or
deal, would engage to send you a scrap now
and then, original or selected. A little juvenile
poetry, an occasional anecdote, familiar illus
tration of some scientific subject, puzzle, or a
question in science or morals for solution,
would add variety and interest TO this depart
ment.
Tell us, gentlemen, if you think the sugges-
ton worth notice and action. SEMELE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26th
Mr.. CLAWS health is better, and he now hopes