The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-06-29

porary the Georgia Home Gazette:
When we consider the useful and pleasing
moral influence Of literature upon society,"
rhe incessant toll which the scholar and writer
undcrgoes in the construction Of his mental
mechanism for the amusement and instruction
of others-we scarcely know how TO account
for the exceeding e0nSiaerateResS Of most pco.
pie, IN opening their hearts or purses TO foster
native talent. effort and enterprise. The re-
mark applies tn all classes Of people, from
governors down 10 those who make their
marks in the presence Of Witnesses 1t il
true. there arc some works full of pueriliiies
and falsehoods. which float triumphantly upon
the stream Of thoughtless popular favor-it is
true, there arc some journals and magazines
Of doubtful morality, aud still more doubtful
merits. which soon boast their ten, twenty,
and even one hundred thousand subscribers /;
but, alas how is il with hundreds Of others.
Of superior claims, particularly, if Published
at our own doors, and for the benefit Of our
own homes? A magazine Of the highest merit
made up from the casket Of a hundred
geniuses-is looked at with an eve Of the
coolest and most calculating indifference
either because distance does not lend enchant-
ment to the view, or the claims Of literature
are overlooked in the game Of lucre, or the
mind is unwilling to enjoy its benefits without
contributing to It's rewards. There ought to
be direct sympathy between intellect and hu-
manity; that is between intellectual effort
aud those Of our race, who witness and enjoy
/ it. But is this the case ! A writer may ex-
ert himself to the utmost to use, with mas
terly power, the rich mater as Of language
and sentiment, and thar, too. for the lOftiest
social interests aud moral aims. and vet the
public spirit and admiration Of those who sur
round him, will often leave him t. be chained
and fettered by a network Of difficulties.
superinduced by his mistaken confidence on
the one hand. and their selfish or thoughtIess
neglect upon the other. Even those who owe
him for his book. his paper. or his magazine,
will leave him to the mercies Of an Atlantean
load of debt, by Withholding their individual
pittances of few dollars. The course pur-
sued BY some men can only be accounted for
upon the supposition that in their estimation,
writer's aud publishers are actual sorcerers,
whose wants are supplied by magical enchant-
ments We should like to see them writing
for a short time in the cycle Of these super
natural Vaccinations IL would take pow
erful spirit of conjuration to give them quiet
aud contentment, where one halt, or one third.
Of what was necessary to the prosecution Of
their business had been withheld from them.
A liberal and reflecting mind will see. at
once, that debility will follow such regimen,
aud dissolution also, if continued too long.
This will apply to intellectual labor Of any
kind, but 10 none. so specially, as that in the
departments Of literature. If not under the
ban Of public prejudice. literature i viewed BY
many a. an uues>ential c0ncomitant of hum IN
society and progress. Itneeds, therefore. the
fostering patronage Of, we would not say the
classical and the learned. but Of an The liberal
minded portion of the intelligent public.
The literary world, or rather the republic
Of letters, is nade up Of freemen. generally
poorer in purse than in mind This should
be remembered. The goose quill, or the
steel. Or gold pen, in this extended republic,
is seldom found to be an Alldlin's lamp Or
Fortunatus' purse. 1t is beset with prejudice
and surrounded with perplexity The obyi-
GUS duty. then, Of the devotees Of literature.
and the liberal minded iutelligencies Of the
country. is to sustain literary labor with salu-
tary assistance. The spirit Of the adyenturcr
should ne cheered by the arder and muuif-
cence Of friends. Disheartening neglect, the
utter absence OF remunerative encouragement.
should not be permitted to cloud and fever his
brow. Then he would have fair chance III
the world Of thought-the radiant kingdom Of
mind to add Whatever Of inspiration he might |
have, to swell the triumphant sails Of the I
richly freighted vessel Of intellectual glory. /
Il is by such means that the genius Of a land
Is made to shed its lustre, aud bestow upon it
distinctive character and enduring fame. 1
What does it speak for people, when they
load the pnious upon which intellect would /
soar to the empyrean, with the destroying
weight Of their neglect, il not their positive I
approbation-when they receive it, offerings
as a needless. perhaps despicable, meuta al
chemy, and bring it down, like a wounded
eagle. huttering to the dust How much
worse it i, when they thus clog the energies,
and blast the efforts of their own writers, to
cherish the miserable coxcombry, or even the
pralseworthy productions Of distant and foreign
minds. Examine. for moment, the intellect
aal play-bils that cover the parlor tables Of the
South Where arc Southern productions,
home papers and magazines What a cata.
logue could be exhibited Of publications that
draw from our pockets that which never re-
turns to US. while home productions, here and
there are found, as 50 many Struggling and
struggling innoyaiors upon their ogn SOIL and
nto the circles Of their own people How
and tempting IS this TO native ial.
mt, even though strong aud proud in its con.
ciOus power. How alIuring 10 native talent
S the fact, that home work may Be endured, i
While distant one is embracea and cherished
~ our own people. and borne upon their smiles
nd patronage to triumphant success and vide
pread popularity The monuments Of intel.
ectual fame which such course as this will
ear in our midst will be, compared to those /
broad, as mole-hills to mountains, or insipni6- /
ant structures to imposing pyramids The
Orms and lineaments of human passions. and !
Elections. and faculties. are thus dwiDdled into :
eeble images of preternatural dmiDutiycness :
nd inactivity.