New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-01

sOnal Joke. should be sorry to be thought cspa-
bic OF saying one word derogstoy to the character
Of Professor Blsckie, who is one OF the best fel-
lows that ever held Profes sorship; hpe scholar
and warm-hearted noble-minded, accomplished
man. by the bye, wonder how he is progressing
with bis translation of Homer? II is long since |
| heard that he had done some books OF the Had.
I know Of no man who is equally well fitted 70
give US q genuine translation Of the great Greek
He would give it US in its simple sublimiiy its
trumpet spirit and ballad obectiyity. Indeed, il
would be just version. By nineteenth. ceDtury
George Chapman. He has long protested Greek;
let him put il into practice in this shape by all
means.
One cannot remain long in Scotland without OBJ
serving some curious peculiarities among the peo-
pie. Various OF these have come under my 0bser-
walton. will trtnscribe one or two. Being in
the High street, Edinburgh, a short time since,
wished to find particular place, and | offered TO
pay poor woman, who kept little store. II she
would let her boy conduct me TO it. Yes, Sir,
says she, he shall go rithOnt payment for the lore Of
sh0ieing you John Knozs house rhiek is near rhers
you going. On another occasion, observing
strengthening fish at fshmongers, | asked the
name of it, and in addition to getting other infor
nation was told that l should learn sll about il
in such aud such novel Of Sir Walters. A fish
moBger illustrating his calling BY reference to the
great novelist
Here is canny mode Of doing things, which
none but Scotchman would have thought OF. A
clergyman sought to make friends with Alexander
Smith, and on one occasion sent him an invitation
to attend his church on the following Sunday,
when he would hear of something to his advantage.
Smith went. No sooner was the poet safely housed
than the good man in his zeal offered up prayer
in behalf Of "the poet now before thee" This
set the eyes Of the whole congregation on Smith,
and all attention being thoroughly fixed, the
clergyman took for his text the following words:
Rejoice, young mar, in thy youth, and let thy
heart cheer thee the DAYS of thy YOUTH and walk in
the ways of thine heart and the sight of thine eyes
but know thou that for all these things God will bring
thee into judgment.
He did not get such an Illustration as the author
of the "Life.Drama every day, and so he made
the most Of his chance. Talking of Smith give
you the following anecdote on the most truthful
authority:
While yet very little boy, working in a factory,
he, being brought up in the straitest sect Of our
religion" was stricken with something he had
learned from tract or sermon, to the effect that
every act feeling valueless, nay sinful, if it
had not for its sole object the glory of God if
il was accompanied by personal satisfaction. The
reserved and morbid child took IFS little soul to
task, and was seized with fear and trembling at its
discoveries Heaven blackened over it, he'll
yawned before it, fends were armed to scOurge
out its audacous and irrepressible impieties.
What" you ask, "had be killed cat or stolen
/" q marble, or pummeled playmate" Not at
all the little penitent bore excellent character
among his elders but he could not discover that he
did all things for the glory of God, and he could
not resist sense Of pleasure in the Performance cfa
bener0lent action. Miserable wretch" moaned
the childish conscience, there is no good in you;
"you can't so much as give penny to beggar
Z. without feeling pleased to see him look happy"
desperate resolution seized him. He would daily
n rnA1fh and frtt no hn1a .1.ah.
and feel no satisfaction in it. Perhaps at last
he might be so blessed to succeed. An expe-
dent occurs to him. Working all day in the factory
at distance from home, he is allowed one penny
per diem with which to purchase a cake at noon.
1t is the only cash that ever reaches him. He will
forego the cake and give the daily penn away ex
clusively for the glory of God. Firm in his re-
solve he issues into the streets fasting and with
his penny in hand. A wounded sailor approaches;
the child feels his heart ready TO dance with an
ticpated pleasure at the coming gift; he strives
by strong effort to feel unhappy, and sturdy
SAYS over and over to himself 1.-The glory of God,
the glory of God" The sailor is here; the child
thrusts the penny into his hand, but in the excite
ment looks up, sees the beggar's look Of thanks,
feels his little bosom overflow with irresistible
JOY aud runs back sobbing with humiliation and
misery. Has he not lost both his penny and his
virtue Shall he not starve to-day for nothing
nay for worse than nothing Day by day week
after week, the same struggle continued with va
rying success, till happily his pale face and ema
cated look led to stringent inquiries as TO the na-
ture and amount of his food and the sacrifice was
stayed, though the cause of it was never discoy-
cred.
/ believe Smith is just ready with his new poems.
The subject is mostly photographic, and ilustra
tive Of city life and its surroundings. 1t will be
an advance upon the /" Life Drama in many ways,
although it is scarcely likely to be so popular
With a certain class of critics he would have to
Guido all the extraysgancies of his first poem to
win their suffrages But that he has tried not
to do.
sydney Dobel. author of the Roman " and
Bladder, is at present a resident of Edinburgh Tie
has spent the last two years in Scotland, wander
ing and living amid its lOvelest scenes His cir
cumstances are pleasant for writing poetry in
lust what those OF poet ought to be; but alas
for the seldOmness His father is large wine
importer at Cheltenham, and our poet takes the
Parnassian Mountain Dew department. He s a
sleeping partner at the rate of some $500 year
believe Balder, Second Part, is in statu quo at
present, DObell is writing series OF lyrics to
be called the SORROWS of the War cad and
fertile subject as you will find. l wish be would
always write lyrics and give US no more Bladder:
but he won't; he goes the wrong way upon prln
ciple.
These lyrics are chiefly written in the Scottish
dialect, over which DObel manifests an ast0nish-
ing mastery. | think the book will be triumph
Birds of feather &c, holds good in case OF
our young songBirds: for, in addition to Smith
and Dobell, Gerald Massey also is in Edinburgh.
He was for sometime editor of paper here but
did not get on very well with the proprietor For
one thing he was too warlike; for another, the
paper was not in the most hourishing condition;
and having brought down on the paper threat