The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-04-20
Bayard Taylor in the New York Mercury.

butuiu .iUi Ill tHU NUN lulh MCEUulls
Tue exclusive engagement, by the pro-
pietors of The Nttc York Mercury, of the tai
enled American tourist and author, Bayard
Taylor, Esq, is among the most brilliant OF
the many journalistic enterprises of this
journalistic age. The announcement of
this arrangement, has been greeted
with furo,e of mingled surprise and admira-
ton, on the part o the public, and not only
has the literary world been aroused 10 a
decided pitch of excitement, but all other
circles have likewise been brought to the
qui uivc of expectation and interest.
The variety and pquancy of Mr.. Taylor's
adventures-lhe romantic and interesting
scenes-the thrilling Incidents among
which his path has lain, and the fresh,
sprightly, strictly conscientious style of his
writings, will render them peculiarly appro-
pirate 10 the columns OF a paper that aims
TO be and is, at once brilliant and chaste in
tone The general tile, chosen for these
contributions, is ''STRAY CHAPTERS OF LIFE
AND TRAvEL''-a simple but expessi7e head,
under which, not only the characters and
customs of other lands will be portrayed
but the voyager's own personal adventures,
vicissitudes and fortunes, sad and merry,
tragic and comic, also.
The frs; of these {" Chapters" which has
just appeared in the Nereu,y for April 30th,
is entitled "THE FIRST JoURNEy | Ever
MADE" and is all that could possibly be de-
sired, for fascinating interest, instruction,
and amuseme1I,. The author considers this
first journey 10 have been, perhaps, the
mcst interesting OF any, and he has certain>
ly made glorious hit in describing it,
The recent enga cement of our great A.
merlcan artist, Felix 0. C. barley, was a
masler-stroke of enterprise on the part of
the MERcURY, and indicated what their Sec
ond coup. d'etat corroborates--that the Pro-
prietors intend 10 employ the very best tai
ent in order 10 make the very best paper.
Darley is universally acknowledged to be
the most talented artist now living, whose
works are engraved upon wood. England
has her Gilbert and Leech France has her
Gavarni and Cham, but our own Dariey
combines the best qualities of all-the pic
turesque appreciation Of Gilbert--Ihe hu.
NOR of Leech-the mastery effects and
rendition of character that signalize Cav
arni-the love of Gun and satire that have
made the Paris ChariUari what it is-al are
under the control o! barley: and when two
such instruments as his pencil and Bayard
Taylor's pen are brought together, TO enrich
the columns of a family paper, we may in.
deed wonder at the progress of weekly lit.
eraiure, and the enterprise of publishers.
The Proprietors Of the Mercury deserve
great credit for having made this acquisi
ton 10 their already brilliant corps OF con-
trlbutors, and although the expense has un-
questionally been enormous, there Is not
particle of doubt that the reading public will
most gladly second their efforts TO give adj
ditional lusture and solidty 10 home read
ing.
AS might naturally be expected, the de-
mand, for the Mercmy Of April Soih, con.
tanning the first OF Bayard Tay lor's journeys,
is entirely unparalleled iu newspaper his.
tory, and the rush for it, at all the boo!.
stores and news depots throughout the
country, plainly attests the immense Popu-
larity OF the talented traveller. a further
proof in the same dire ction, if further proof
were desired, may be found in the fact, that
the subscriptions received by Messrs. .Cauld-
well, Southworth and Whitney, the propyie-
tors of the MERCURY, since the announce
ment of Bayard TayIor's engagement,
amount,as we are credibly informed, 10 over
Fire Hundred DoLloarS Dayin addition 10 the
enormous sales of booksellers aud news
agents
But this, perhaps, is hardly 10 be wond-
cred at either, when we consider that the
New York MERcURY is acknowledged 10 be
the largest, cheapest, and best literary jour.
nal in America, being large qGarlo sheet,
filed with purely original matter from first
10 last, for which only two dollars per anaual
is charged, with as literal reduction to
clubs as made by olher papers Of half its
size and less than hall its merit