Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-01
Prentice,s Lecture.


Mr. EDIToR:-Having just listened to the address
Of Geo. D. Prentice on " American Craftsmanship
we set down to give you opinion as to the man
ner which he has justified the exrsVsgant eulogies
of his admirers in this field he has lattery
sayed. We believe We echo the almost universal
/ opinion Of his audience, when we say his lecture
most grisvously falsi6es these high encOmiums.
Judged by that standard which must be the meas
ure of such ability his paueg7rsIs claim for him,
he fell far short of its high requirements. 1t was
simply an array of common place and obvious facts
clothed in feieitous phraseology In the first place
is it not reflection upon that versatility to which
he so much aspires that he should have chosen a
theme so intimately connected with his editorial Ia
eubrstions? Why in this new sort Of intellectual
banquet to which he invites US does he rot bring the
"gOden fruit aud mantling nectar from the gardens
of poetry" Imagination and philosophy, in which
it is said, he is frequent excursOnis, rather than
the stale fare which has nourished his political life
Or, if he chose to give dish Of such daily IA
miliarity why not spice it with the high condiments
which so famous a caterer should season with We
would have no complaint to make against his
theme, however, if he had presented US instead Of
obvious surface facts those deep, underlying truths
which are the only worthy search Of profound and
original thought. Mr.. Prentlce's essay on American
Craftsmanship was confined exclusively TO its cOrrup
ton. If his object purely patriotic in echOing
this world-oId cry of political corruption, we can
applaud his motives but, certainly, cannot deem
so haokneyed mode Of treatment worthy of his bril-
liant reputation. Unfortunately, however, for his
motives if such they we're, we fear his tOcsin Of
alarm will be about as much regarded the cry Of
'swolf" from the mendaciOus young shepherd
Aesopian Antiquity and from similar cause The
lecture struck us as the remains of former repast
entitled {" the aspects and tendencies Of American
politics muoh the worse for the re-Wsrming. As if
sensible himself of the stsleness of the collation. he
apoogized by pleading indisposiiOn at the time of
its con ,oction In listening to Mr.. Prentice, one
cannot help admiring the skill with which cultured
taste and unexeepionable diction DISCUSSES paucity
of matter andabsenee of genius and original thought
style of great punity, fine scholarship, elaborate
imagery and artisical arrangement conceal the thin
mechanical vein in which he is working. We defy
any one who has taken his brilliant verbiage for
philosophy to remember any thing new, he has
said, or anything old, to which he has given new
and striking utterance. It cannot be, as some of
his apoIoests urge, that his poor delivery alone,
induces such of attention. for there
thing in striking truths that ever enehans us in spite
of their feeble enunciation. We do not propose to
take issue with Mr.. Prentice upon that universal /
corruption Of our statesmen, which he 50 positively
asserts for as old topers are best discoursers
Of intemperauee, so, perhaps, veteran wire worker
is best qualified to speak of political corruption.
But we are 10th to believe this corruption ia
grant and wide spread, as he would have us believe
and are disposed to think there is much cant in the
charge. We spoke while since of Mr.
Prsntioes artistical arrangement of his theme but
il is only such inferior art shows directly the
whole track We are to traverse with him, and We
look disheartened upon the weary stretch of road
before us, unenlivened by diversity of scenery.
Terribly tired are we of the proxty with which
guide dwells upon the uninteresting features Of the
and we experience most delightful
sense ofrelef in reaching journeys end. 1t is by
no means that high art which meanders the path
10 which we are invited as to surprise at every turn
With unexpected Beauties and glimpses of far
stretching vistss of thought; now winding through
he serene wales of meditation; anon scaling the
uqged sleeps of lofty speculation and leaving US at
IS terminus, with wislful retrospect at those
genes Of intellectual beauty, and teemiug sugges-
iveness which we have so lately traversed. Our
ong conviction of the shallOWness of Mr.. Prem =
ices preteDsions has been amply justified by his
allure in this essay, and all the more ambitious de-
,srtments of composition he has attempted. But
ew writer's of our knowledge fall farther short of
he true definition of Genius, Poet and man
f wit which titles his admirers give him. When !
nd where has he shSWR the qualities Of either!