Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-11-05
RUSSELL, FOR NOVEMBER.

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RUSSELL, FOR NOVEMBER.
"RussELL" is fast taking hold on the confidence,
and above all, on the affections of its readers. 1t
is always expected promptly at the first Of each
month, and it has not yet failed to meet this e1-
pectation. This promptitude contributes much
towards making it an agreeable visitant, for just
in proportion to the value We attach to per,oacai
do we visit upon it maledictions for its delay An
able and punctual serial creates periodical ap-
petite for its monthly banquet. Unless Magazine
can do this, its popularity will prove ephemeral
and its existence transitory. After calm view
of nil the causes which detract from the success
| of magazine, which depends upon its merits and
ability for support none appear 80. pervading and
general as the want of reading public. This
assertion will appear inconsiderste, but it is nev-
ertheless true. In our own State, how many are
there who take Russell, who will not even read the
ablest articles in it? Will one half of them read
the article on Civilization, or the review Of the
work of WIN. GILMORE SIMMs and the life of Ed
GAR ALLAN Poe: The fact cannot be disguised
that all works of taste are signally ignored. Out
of The literary coteries of Charleston and Column
bia, we are not hazarding too much when we say
that each district in the State could afford about
three or four appreciative readers Of the above
named articles. And "to give the devil his due
those would probably be distributed in the follow
ing proportion One Divine, one Editor, one
Teacher, and occasionally, young lawyer with
out clients who prefers reading to drinking and
smoking, and has cultivated unconsciously an aes
thetic taste We are aware that plain speaking
seldom commands premium. 1T is much easier
to fatter up people with belief OF progress, than
to satisfy them that they have defects--radical
defects. The Southern people ore not reading
people. They buy books but they do not read
! them. In most every house you will find copy
of SHAKESPEARE, BYRON and MILTON, yet how few
will you find who have read, or can read apprecia-
lively these established classics? How then can
they be expected to relish such an article as the
sketch of EDGAR Poe, when they have never seen
his craven" "Annabel Lee" or his prose tales?
But to glance at the contents of Russell for No.
vember, we begin with the leader, "characteris.
tics of Civilization" The leading idea is that
.'true progress in Civilization is the general
diffusion of happiness" The elevating and hu-
manizing influence of Christianity is duly acknowl-
edged. "a marriage Of Persuasion" is brief
story, with good moral, but it is the same old
story, marriage without love and misery without
end. The "Trip to Cuba" is what its name pur-
ports-a sketch of various scenes in that fertile
isle. When it becomes Southern State ~ such
an article will prove more interesting.
We pass by several articles, prose and poetry,
"Voices from the Forest" "The Messenger Rose"
european Correspondence " Herndon, " "The
Household Skeleton; ~ "Romance and Early His
tory of the American Isthmus;" " The Voice,
the Hand, and the Silhouette" to glance ut the
review of SIMMs' poetry. The characteristics Of
these, according to the writer "are, richness aud
force of thought, afluence of expression, YER
satile range and breadth of sympathy, o compre-
hensye imagination, at times delicately suggestive,
subtly metaphysical, and again, bold, rugged and
original" His defects or blemishes are set down
as occasional great diffuseness," verbal manner
sms " and san invincbe repuguance to the dis
tasteful duty of correction-the labor lime." Mr..
s1mMs has ever been truly Southern in all his ef-
forts, literary or political sHis song has ever
been of the South-of the splendor of her sunsets
"rolling down like a chorus;" of the fragrant
luxuriance of her woodlands in spring-of the
grandeur of her mountain solitudes, of the self
devotion of her heroes and statesmen, and the
tenderness and beauty Of her women" We owe
to Mr. sIMMs debt of gratitude. In boy-hood,
when the truant fancy first sought the dalliance
of young romance" it was the pen Of SIMMs
that supplied the aliment and "lapped rhe glad
senses in their sweetest trance" We will never
forget the reading of Mellichampe-our first
novel. Whata bright world dawns upon the soul
when the golden gates of fairy-land first open to
the view! And shall we not love the magician
who unlocks this world Of bliss? We speak with
fervor of o First Love-" but it is only when that
romance, that the affections know no change or
shadow of turning. New hopes may come, q
broader ambition may compass the soul, the selfish
ness of manhood may supplant the disinterested
ness of youth, the eye may grow keener in detect
ing the frailties of our fellow men, this world
may yield US portion of its horrors and disap-
pontments, but in every vicissitude, we will look
back and regret that mental dawn, made radiant
with the hues of poetry and the splendid dreams
of youth, when the heart knew no ambition, and
the world could afford no pleasure, more alluring
than the pages Of legendary lore.
EDGAR A. Poe, the poet and the critic is we'll
portrayed, and his profound insight and analytic
power ably vindicated. Like BYRON, there is
thrown around his life an interest which melan-
choly and sorrow, when linked with greatness, ev-
er inspires. But he possessed all the essential
characteristics of genius. His poems, tales, and
criticisms, give evidence of what he might have
achieved under happier auspices. Seldom, per-
haps never before, have poet and critic been so
admirably blended in one man. 1t becomes o
matter of interest to know what one who has writ.
ten the most perfect of poems, thinks of the po-
cts mission. In the following extract he conden-
ses his views Of poetry: ..~ .-... ..-
"We shall reach, however, more Immediately .
distinct conception Of what true Poetry is, by