The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-10-16
DIR. GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS RE-
CENT ADDRESS UN PATRIOTISM.

oofne tdTte Or i0ur years since MIR. George
William Curtis amused the readers oi light Iit-
erature with some clever sketches Of New Yorh
society, IN the manner Of fhackeray, first pub
lIshed IN Putnam's Monthly, and lhrn collected
INTO little book underthe title of the - sPoti0Aul
PaPer8." Mr.. Curtis had previously to THIS
apFtared before the public with ms ''HoWadjl
az SWaa," dreamy book of travel, not alto
gether without mein OF certain klbd, though
wanting substance, and, like tue sound OF bells,
wearylng the ear W!th Its monotonuuS music
Subsequently, 10 this he printed MS LoIos Eat
fng," a "Sammer B0of;' why SO called we
could never guess, unless It's merlis Is au Upate
were regarded as peculiarly in keeping v TN lae
sisePiness OF the dog-days We always regard
ed the dollar We pad Tor Il as 50 mucu lost cap
ia, and all our Leighbors who bought It siept
over It's pages and Sorrowed l0r their cash lust
as ~e dId. The latest OF Mr. Curtis's literary
efforts d little book OF Shetchrs entitled Prue
and H. Which are very good in their way, ana
much better III every respect than anything the
sunni er Book contained. iuis, ,ye couirss,
Is rather small praise.
iYIth all their faults, however, these early ef-
forts OF Mr.. Curtis gave generous promise u an
! honorable career III the world OF letters Their
faults OF imitation were faults common to Young
authors, and likely 70 be outgrOwn and len be
hind IN tie course Of years. IheIr ilzils lay
/ iu d scholarly choice oi words, in a certain mu-
Sic2i adaptation VI the sound IL the sense, and
/ Charming continuation oil the music when the
sense fell short; with, here and there, a passage
OF clear, manly, vigorous writing on winch our
hopes Of AIR. 1. 5 Iututr Chie.!y hung. But 1t
was the SAD misfortune Of this Young man 10 be-
/ come CONNECTED with Putua ANS Monthly
certain ittIe company Of Yankee scholars
poets, and college professors conceived The Itira
Ot ruIlng America through Tie columns ui lnat
magazine. They ascenued 10 50 large a con-
cePtiOn OF their own power, aud oi tie plastic
soltnrss OF the American puOljc, thai they lauci-
rd that theories OF society, elaborated III college
/ closets, and smelling all overot the lamp could
| be made to suPplant the organized Wisdom Of
/ the Sagrs who framed our constitution. Instead
OF conhning themselves TO province which, by
virtue. OF Their scholarly strength, they might
| have swayed as lords, tney crelt INTO neIds Of
/ discussion, where Their poverty oi pracIcal
+! wisdom made them rank oeggaFS.
at tie M s, sFaEazas' " yneh M ~ It Vas boldly ayowed
! n4erican power Of thought aud speech, became
/ the organ OF mere political clique, OF clique
small in numbers, small III influence, wanting
l..,n..r2 . ,h,. ,Srrlc1eJ rssays which these ar
- f,ir, b,,,,,n,.r..d oui on,b ar1 month";
~, baye ,,nt ,5rrol,rn their ppant attack up
on .Gjar Man F5esiqcnf. ; when bir Pierce came
i'.,., NEWER. N which ,b,.y rravrlv rrpfo.ehed
n,,,, ~ ,,,a.,nr his iore,r6 appol6tlnei.ts with
's,o ,,,ss'.d Over .yo,I.., ,rn ot Lae old ia
,,.Ii.I2,-a cbar,,. IN !, country t,cognislr., no
n5,li f,,n,Iy afrog,,.,t and super
c',,nn. h..2and tolerance.
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