New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-23
AUSTRALASIA AND THE PACIFIC
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


KNIcK,KNACKs FROM AN EDITORS TABLE. BY
1. GAYLORD CLARK. limo. PIP. sS5. d. Appleton 4
Tie universally popular author of these
Knick- Knacks," the editor of the Kncker-
booker Magazine, has coRtrved to make his
Editors Table" one Of the regular " insti-
tutiOns" of American literature Few of the
productions Of the monthly press are SO widely
read. None are more generally attractive.
This feature of His Magazine possesses a
unique character. 1t is not merely collection
of Puns, bon-mots, and laughable anecdotes.
Rich as it is in this kind, iJ owes not little of
the favor with which it is received, to its genial
vein of humanity, its picturesque glimpses of
nature, and the frequent touches Of pathos
that alternate with passages of side-splitting
humor. Mr.. CLARK has done well in collect
ing in volume some of the choicest bits of
his monthly Gossip, which " it is great pity"
as WAsHIyGros IRvISG observes in letter to
the author, should be comparatively lost
among the multitudnous leaves of Maya
zne." We have no doubt it will prove not
only one of the most attractive works for the
holidays, but one which will often be chosen as
the companion for journey, and honored with
a place among the prime Gvortes on the book
shelf The following is specimen of the
reflective style which is often found in the
volume.
SCENE AT SING SING PRISON
We passed an hour IN the Sing Sing state Prison the
other day: aud while regarding with irresistible SYM.
patty tie wretched inmates we could not help thinking
how little after all OF the actual suffering Of mp<son.
uent apparent TO the visitor The ceaseless toll the
cOarse fare, the solemn silence the lverted look the
Yellow paor OF the convict; his CELL with
lie sctniy furniture, his hard couch the-e indeed are
'vaibe 10 the naked eye Yet DO but think OF the de-
mon THoUGIr that must eat up his heart during the
long aud nconceiyaby dismal hours which he passes
there IN darkDes in silence and alone! Think of the
tortures he must endure from the ravage of that pleas
ontest friend but terrible enemy Imagnaton Oh
the height the depth the length and breadth Of sensi
i've captyes sorowl AZ we away from the
gloomy soene passed hill within the domain OF
tie guard, the Prison Potters-Feld where lie unds.
tinguished by hesdstone any ether mark the bone.
OF hoe who had lrte else to lay there when their
life OF suffering was ended There sleeps Monroe IA.
wards whose downward fate had marked in sucessye
years.
We first saw him when on his trial handsome well.
dressed black skered, serzRg selpo sessed person.
with the thin yarnlsh Of gentleman and an efrontery
that nothing could dsunt. Again we saw him while
holding court with couresans the door OF his cell az
The TCnbs, the day before he lett for SngSing; clad
III Lis morning gown, with luxurious wiskers AMI the
manners OF p-eudopnco receiving the honors of sham
FutJects The nexf time we saw him he was clad in
coarsest ieonstipe his head seared 10 the sku:
iis whr kers were no more; dark lrown on his
brow; his cheeks were pale and bis Inns were com.
pressed With an expressionof remOrse rage and despair
Never shal We forget that look He he'd little while
before been endeayorng escape, and had been pun
Ehed ~ lily ieshes with acrtoae tails four hundred
and fifty stripes Oh the naked back
Once again we sew him, after tho lapse Of many
months Time and suffering had done their work upon
him. His once erect frame bowed his head
quite bald the top and lis scsnty bordering hair had
become gray. And thus he gradually declined to his
melancholy west OF life, Until he reached mis- last hour
dying in agony Of terror gnawing his en,aciated
Deers 10 convince himself that he sfi living that
the appalling change from life TO death had not yct a.
tuoy teksn peeei And now he sleeps in aclons grave