Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-11-29


quite learnedly written article, taken from tho
National Magazine, on Symmetrical and un-
symmetrical genius. We say learned-but we
use the word somewhat in the sense that the
poor Vicar of w akefield did when that fellow in
prison said so many things to him he couldn't
UNDERSTANDABLE which he therefore concluded
was something very learned. However, there
are some things in the article which we can
understand, and this passage about Dickens is
one of them:
The truth is that Mr.. Dickens wholly wants
the two elements which we have spoken of as
one or other requisite for symmetrical genius.
He is utterly deficient in the faculty of reason
ing "Mamma, what shall ! think about" said
the small girl. my dear, don't think" was
the old-fashioned reply. We,do not allege that
in the strict theory of education this was cor
rect reply; modern writer's think otherwise; but
we wish some one would say it to Mr.. Dickens.
Heis often troubled with the idea that he must
reflect and his reflections arc perhaps the worst
reading in the world. There is a sentimental
confusion about them; we never find the consec-
utive precision Of mature theory, or the cold dis
tinctness of clear thought. Vivid facts stand
out in his Imagination; and fresh illustrative
style brings them. home to the Imagination of
his readers; but his continuous philosophy
utterly fails in the attempt to harmonic them,
to reduce theory or elaborate a preceptfrom
them. Ofhs social thinking we shall have
a few words to say in detail; his didactic humor
is very unfortunate no writer is less fitted for
an excursion to the imperative mood. Att pre-
sent, we only say what is so obvious as scarce
ly to need saying, thathis abstract understand
ing is so far inferior to his picturesque imagina-
ton rs to give even to his best works the sense
ofjar and incompeteness, and to deprive them
altogether of the crystalline finish which is char
nnfkI, \
ing.
Now to put this all in plain English, we sup
pose it means that Mr.. Charles Dickens is dc
fcient in the places where attempts to step aside
from his general narrative and moralize or phi
Josephine little. If,this is the meaning of the
author, we respectfully take the liberty of set
ting up our opinion against his, and of asking
him what he thinks of Charles Dickens in Cop
perield, where after the death of Dora, he has
gone off on to the continent, and there, after
recovering the tone Of his sorrow subdued mind,
he commences bit of philosophy over what
his life might have been had Dora lived. We
have not the book before us, but our, recollec-
ton of its impression upon US us symmetrical
picture is vivid. Charles Dickens works, eth
cr per my or per TOUT as the lawyers say,
will stand the fire of all candid criticism, in our
humble Judgment.
From Messrs. Dick & Fitzgerald, publishers,
New York, we have book called the ''sociable"
full of games for evening parties-not chill
drcn's games, but for young ladies and gents,
such as private theatricals, charades, tableaux,
proverbs, forfeits, &c. The stock contained in
this book is very large, and one "well up in
all the parts" of each play would, in these win
ter nights, bea valuable addition to society, and
in great demand.
TnE question of the Bible in the Common
School is looming up in the discussions of the
N. Y. daily Journals into an absorbing promi-
nence. The N. Y. Times, and other journals,
mt inclir,n5l tIle,r.,
ject heretofore, are coming out strong against
the efforts being made to Danish it from daily
reading in the ward schools. The N. Y. Com
nuereia1, another journal of the same kind takes
up the question on the strength ofthe following
remark from the Freeman's Journal, the leading
Catholic paper:
The Bible in these schools, or the Bible out of
these schools, amounts to the same thing, so far
as concerns the position of the Catholic hier-
archy. Their position is that Catholic children
should be sent only to schools pervaded by the
spirit and the influence of the Catholic religion.
Upon this the sober Commercial remarks as
follows:
In other words, the Romaaists' opposition is,
as has been frequently charged, against the
common schools an toto, and the papal CHER
archy" will not be content unless the States be-
come the foster-mother Of Romanism, and pro-
vides papal schools-schools pervaded by the
spirit and the influence of the Romish religion.
Heaven grant that day may never come. And
it never will come. But if that is the issue
which the papal "hierarchy" desire to raise, we
acceptit Now, then, shall the State provide
only secular education for Protestants, aud both
secular and religious education for Ronanists?
That is the question
IN different parts of Kentucky, state of
things little better than anarchy prevails We
have already announced the hanging, by law
less mob, at Campbellsville, of three prisoners
confined in Jail there, and it is now stated that
an independent court is organized there for the
trial of accused persons, and that the mob only
await the sentence Of this court to inflict such
penalty as it may prescribe upon any victim it
may arraign. at Springfield, KY, mob also
has assumed jurisdiction. A few days since, a
oCoO;tto1 ,C5o,,-,,1