The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-03-23
Excellent Advice.

Watch and fortify yourselves against
the temptation Of sending any poetry
to the Editor.-Erchdnge.
Yes, watch and pray fervcntly that
you may not fall into that grievous sin.
You, young lady just out Of boarding
school where they very improperly en-
courage such things, do you suppose
you can write poetry? You put down
few soft, sentimental lines that rhyme,
and are full of gentle complainings,
ana mean nothing whatsoever, and
you call that poetryl Why it is as
much like poetry as molasses and
water is like champagne. And you,
young man, WHO ought to be using
your hands to some useful purpose,
spend hours in inditing the vapidest Of
all lines, lame, and senseless, and ex-
pcct the editor to fill up his columns
with such stupid stuff. Do you sup
pose he wants your help to edit his
paper IF he is fit for his position,
by no means. If he is not, such help
as you give him will not tend to keep
his paper in existence long. 1t is fear
ful to think what an amount of sin in
the form of these "idle words" you
will have to answer for. If you must
be writing, try first whether you can
write decent prose, and don't attempt
poetry with the idea that it is any
more evidence of genius or talents than
to express the same ideas in prose.
Metre and metaphor are the mere ex
ternal ornaments of language and no
thing worth of themselves-uttcrly
valueless if they prove not purple and
fine linen, gold and gems, but tinse
and paste instead. A strong carnes
thought is infinitely more respectable
and infinitely more capable of doing
its work in the world, in the gooC
homcspun of prose than the foppery o
poetry.
Don't try to write either unless yo,
are very certain you have somethin!
to say that has not been said thou
, sand times before, or unless you cal
say it much better than it has bcel
said before. You are anxious to Sc
yourself in print why, We cannot cor
ceive but be very sure that you wi
| not make ridiculous appearance whe
YOU get there. Remember it is not
= few charitable friends who read you
articles, but a host of hard-hearte
r critics, ever on the lookout for som
C young author to try their literary sea
n pels on, and who are not at all partic,
II lar to wait till their victims are dca
It before they commence their work {
}, dissection. And remember, too, tn;
= not you alone have to bear the blam
= of your thoughtlcssness. The Edito
1t who, yielding to your importunitit
It from a desire not to hurt your feeling
d or actuated by similar motives to thos
r of the unjust judge in the parable, hi
Il consented to insert your effusion,
p set down for a dolt who is incompeter
e for his business. and by your folly yc
n injure him in reputation, and pock,
d too, not unfrequently.
G All YOU unAedged scribblcrs, thcl
who are inhamed with desire for WI
6 ting, shave your heads, take cooliu
|, drinks, and form a total abstinence S
'e ciety pledged to abstain from the u:
/; of pen, ink and paper, now and fore
If er, if you would save yourselves fro
= an ignominious end.
C Now we don't mean anything pc
C sonal in the foregoing remarks, an
y more than our clergymen do on SUI
'e days when they rebuke sin, and "
y suppose every one will apply the Sc
mon to his neighbor rather than hin
Al self, according to the good old rule
&c universally prevalent.-Elizabeth
is Post.