The Nevada journal., 1853-02-04
California Lyrics, Again.


guagc have covered pages of foolscap
with learned opinions as to the reasons
why ancient poetry and eloquence are
so superior to modern. They have ex-
hausted the resources of ingenuity and
the depths of learning to show why the
verses of Homer flow so sublimely, why
Virgil in the turn Of a phrase magical y
opens visions Of beauty and grandeur
why the ancient philosophers had such
worshipped presence and pervading in
fuence, and Demosthenes and Tully and
others such forceful, lightning-like elo-
quence. To this they compare the
regular, effeminate and graceful produc-
tionsof the mo !ern muse, and declare the
task achieved by Milton, in reaching SO
high up to the old masters was greater
than the task performed by them
Why! Because in the earlier ages men
lived in the freshest communion with
nature, and the wild scenes with which
they were familiar, and the language
they used, out Of which refinement had
not swept the imagery, attuned their
minds to high conceptions, and gave
power of noble expression. This reason
ing is undoubtedly accurate, and if SO,
California, with her wild life in rugged
mountains must yet rear great poet
for it fosters much of that spirit which
drinks deep in the inspirations of nature.
In obedience to this rule the promptings
OF the eitervcscing imaginations Of cur
mountain poets cover our table. They
meet us at the post Office pp from the
expresses, get pushed under our door,
and sometimes are boldly handed in, with
an air of conscious Importance. Unfor-
tunately the bad taste of our readers
will prefer the current news, politics and
topics of the day, and we are obliged to
slight rising Uomers, budding Byrons,
incipient Moores, and unAcdged poets of
all names, to cater to the other taste
The pastry and ben bons of literature,
we must confess, our readers slight for
the roast beef and pudding of substan-
tial knowledge. We trust this appeal
ing explanation will be satisfactory to
whole class of poetic geniuses and that
they vii. not revenge themselves by
writing at US new edition of British
Bards and Nevada Reviewers" else we
may be compelled to respond with
" Dunciad."
But occasionally gem of purest ray
serene reaches ue which we valiantly
publish in spite of the horrid bad taste
of the public. Consi lerations of justice
cannot always be disregarded Some
poets, as Jane Taylor says will be heard.
Byron was satirized by Jef'ries, and lived
to see Jeffries his worshipper. Without
further preface, here are as the author
mcdestly says, the - first productions of
the poetical talent" of MIR. J. S. Ben.
nett, miner Of Brooklyn" who asks
us to ''incert them in our paper, and
much oblige me by making any COM
ments you please The first is re-
view of the comparative merits of "49
and So" and incidental remarks on va
rious subjects -
Nonsense.
ny J 8. BENNETT.
We are now beginning,
Plainly to see,
That Forty-nine was nothing.
Compared with Fifty-three.
Colds very scarce,
Provisions very high,
1t takes full purse
When we have to buy
Rain in part has caused it,
so high for to be,
Ase assisted
BY monopoly.
1t is men with mean intentions,
That can pungle down the dough,
That. bought up the provisions,
In San Francisco