Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-05-26

of locomotives.
d followed my guide 10 a train of car
A iettered ''Ayernus ct Sedes Literatorum
4 which were already filled with gaunt an
: hungry-looking shades, with wrinkle,
I brows and inky fingerS-the majority o
them being intellectual looking femal
ghosts, whose stockings attracted my mod
est gaze by their intensity of blue.
We were scarcely seated. when III,
bell rang and the whistle pealed.
| "Ail on board 7" shouted the conductor
and away we went at a speed unknown t,
mortal engineers, down an inclined plane
IN this internal railway, As we did so.
!, applied to my ghostly friend Smith for 8
, title information III advance, respecting
the Sedes Literatorum which seemed Il
be our destination.
1t lies midway between Tartarus and
Elys!um," said Smith, land Is the abode
of the disembodied literati. You must
know tha, the ghosts of the literati, al
though they formerly inhabited the Elys-
ian Fields, with all other weil-deserving
shades, yet, few years since, on account
OF sundry grievances and indigniries to
which they were subjected there, emigra-
ted thence 10 their present place of resi-
dence, and declared their Independence
of Plato's rule. They fortified their po-
StIon with an immense number of folio
volumes, and their successful defence,
when attacked, illustrated the truth of the
old adage, 'lhe pen is mightier than the
sword They then established their pres
ct republican form of government"
That, then," quoth |, "must be the
Republic of Letters"
The same" said Smith.
| On emerging from the car, was near
ly deafened by the ciamor of vast crowd
of news-toys, who flied and surrounded
the depot, crying papers and periodicals
IN every ancient and no Iern language.
with a righteousness compared with
which that of the jul emile venders of the
New York 4" Her i'd -Tribune-au- Times"
is quietnsss.
| Observing a refreshmc nj saloon near the
depot, 1t occurred to me 10 invite my guar
dian angel TO step In and take something.
lie complied very willingly, remarklng
that he felt hungry.
On entering the saloon, idstend of dis
pay O. meats, game, pastry, an confec-
tlonaries, | saw no hirg more eatabl- than
| cSNA" Va iIC"cl pcs, ~ tAoh bIAC Cotob-
lIshment resembi, d i library or reading
| room.
The following is sample of the bill of
fare:
Logic, plain, As do. chopped. As
Romance la mode, As do, hot spiced
As; do. with Mormon sauce. S. do. DO
Religious do, 6s."
Smith ordered Lamb, and the " ESSAYS
of Ella" were brought him on waiter,
by the ghost of a librarian, and devoured
by him with great relish.
| was very thirsty, and ordered a bottle
of wine, which was brought me but alas,
my potary anticipations were doomed 10
disappointment. The wine proved to he
only the ghost of the beverage known to
mortals by that name.
Smith, however, emptied the botlle,
and evidently felt better alter the opera
ton.
Turning to me with benignant counlen-
ance, he inquired in what manner l would
prefer to employ the time of my visit, ad-
ding that il would give him great pleasure
TO introduce me to any of the celebrri s
of the place.
| was instantly seized with a d, sire to
| Won tIit SiiOSl vi AciidhS pChIC, NAiIGIl uc-
sire Smith assured me might be gratified
by repairing to the Shakespeare Theater
OF which establishment the shade o. the
great dramatist was proprietor and mana
ger.
As, on our way thither, we passed thro
the main thoroughfare of the town, OBJ
F served that every building was occup. &c
by literary merchandise.
At one moment, | had imagined my
self among the newspaper, printing anc
stationery concerns Of Nassau street; and
anon, woul loom up ghostly imitation o.
the Appleton building, OF the leVlathan o
Franklin Square.
Bazaars were filled with books; a" fash
ionable emporiums' were stocked witt
BOOKS, and shop windows made endles
display of books. There We're books sci
ling off at cost and books at auction.
Here was the cheapest assortment 0
books, and there the latest and most fash
ionable styles of books; and knots 0
; shrewd spectators on the corners wer
!. discussing the rise and fall of Iiterar,
: stocks | counted placards Of al least
hundred different best magazines, anC
cheapest family newspapers were still
more numerous.
We found the Shakespeare Theater
, roomv structure, but by no means as ele
, gantly finished, brilliantly lighted, ant
. artistically colored, as our modern Nec
Y York boudoir theaters. The play hat
, just concluded.
The ghostly crowd were pouring ou:
and " literary hacks were IN waiting a
the door, to convey them home.
The shade whom we sought had no
yet left his box, and thither we made ou
j way.
GOOD evening, Shakespeare, saiC
Smith. This is my friend Podhammer
= from New York"
\ = At hearing the name, New York, Shak
speare, whe bore striking un!ikeness 4
his busts which had seen IN theaters ant
! Libraries, involuntarily started back from
: me as though | had been an assassin.
, Pardon me, Mr.. Podhammer, san
he g. if I have nm instructive dread O