The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-03-14

:, RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
Original PROSE AND POETRY: Embracing 2 Va
rietv of Novel. Moral and Political Subjects. Bv
n Bovnton, Derby, VT: Published by \. Boyn.
ton, 1857.
The records of aspiring genius are neither
few nor uninstructive The names of men
most eminent as scholars, or as efficient
workers, who have attained high distinction
from obscure beginnings, are familiar to ev-
cry school-boy. In fact, nearly all our great
men are such. 1t therefore gives US unal-
Logged pleasure when We see an ambitious
young man making well directed efforts to
achieve an honorable position. Especially,
IT he have solid attainments whereupon to
build, and enters into no fool-hardv underta-
king for which he has neither the intellectu-
al strength nor the requisite culture, do we
admire his holiness and predict successful
result. We reese. that stubborn facts often
reveal = rashness that no counsel can check,
and conce't that no rebufis have power to
mitigate. For instance. the book whose title
stands at the head of this article, (Which we
have not the heart to critici.e severely IS
the production of man who, withou, mental
culture. without knowledge even of English
grammar or the spelling book. vet attempts
to write, and does actually print. = small
volume of "ori ginal prose and poetry" A.
reason for their appearance in their pres
ent form, the writer saws with an injured
tone, but without much regard to cramma.i-
cal construction, "cOuld receive no encour-
asement from the press in the publication of
his poems. in which he has constantly endeav-
ored for nearly four years" He speaks of
this want of appreciation on the part of news
paper editors as a rather " di.rouraginc cir
cumstance ~ We should think so. surely ::
and should imac CINE that even Mr.. Bovnton
might have taken the hint that hi. lurubra-
tions were "stale and Improbable" lie is.
nevertheless, still hopeful. and as he express
es it in the preface, " complementary believes
his efforts will not prove altogether unavail-
ing
! Some Of the minor poems in this volume.
however in 'pite Of the missr-lled words in
which they abound, and their inexcusable
! hl"nanrs Of ,.ors--..".;~-. L~.-n ~. -;-. ,s,l,
true metal. Mr.. Boynton has feeling and
fancy. We should say, but no knowledge how
to use such gifts. If no will abandon poetry
a while. and cultivate an intimacy with Eng
lish Grammar, Rhetoric and the Dictionary,
we venture to say that his muse will profit
largely bv the operation. and the public be
none the losers. Even as they are, some Of
these poems are quite good Those entitled
Winter" The Face that wears Smile"
Nothing is LOST" The Poor and the Rich"
and one or two others, show love Ct nature.
warm heart, and considerable powers of
versifcalion. But they are horribly man
g!ed by the printer, and We hope Mr.. Boyn-
ton will commit any future publications he
may undertake to other hands; for to have
muscles rendered "mu.sels" causes those
lIsatures in our right arm involuntarilv TO
make sudden stroke as if upon the skull of
the typesticker who knew no better than
to spell them so.
lHE ORIENT; an Original Monthly Magazine.
Charleston, VT: J. 2. Wheeler & Co.
Perhaps the best description that can be
given of this magazine is, that it is the old
North C.ion stitched between covers. 1t is
printed at the same office, has the same edi
tor. and much the same typographical ap-
Pearance. Its contents are also equally mer-
itoricus. First, comes sensation story by
the editor, F. Childe Harold, (alia. F. |
Childe Burlington, in which Old Fosbrick"
and his daughter, and "the handsome Colo
mel Leslie" figure in the opening chapters
The second prose article is also from the
same pen. 1t is one of the sentimental-ter-
rifle sort, about g bright-eyed Maiden" and
"a vlllainous appearing Indian" In the
course of the scrimmase the author gives the
" Insine particular fits" "catchins him
by the hair" drawing him TO the fire. and
to fry him! The redskin. how
ever, in the graphic language of the nara
tor. escaped after being "schorched consid.
erably."
Next comes poem, entitled The Dead"
from the pen of the same versatile author.
which, whatever its other merits.was written
without much regard to the venerable shade
of Lindley Murray.
But we cannot waste room to particular
lze. 1t is enough to say that the magazine"
IS better than comic almanac, and produces
, similar effect As such we can consistent.
y recommend it.
In regard to its originality We are led to
reflect, from some past transactions with the I
EDITOR, that his perceptions Of meum and teum
ire not very acute. Ifhe lives by borrowing
IDEAS, as be DOES by borrowing the paper on
which to print them. and never repayins. the
is nothing to speak of. When
dr. Harrington pays US for the reams of pa-
'er he borrowed last Summer we will give