Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-01-05
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD.

I'LL: Vernon festaooVStuTang in gift books"
and annuats- Compensation for omission Of |
Southern PoetscW. G.. Simms in the last Of
.famous Poets-Sueeesyut interUearing Of Art |
and Poet'y--Permanent ralue Of Literary
Gems-4Hrs. Palmer's addition to Shakespearian |
Literature-7he children not forgotten in Christ |
mas Preparations
New York, Dec "a, 1858.
Christmas eve in Gotham is an interesting season. |
The descendants of the Stuyvesants Schuyers, Won
Tossols and other old Knickerbockers, keep up the
customs OF their ancestors to great extent. St.
Nicholas continues to be honored. He is worship
Cd, just now at least more than any other saint in
the calendar. Visiting and feating, besides some
drinking of wine and cider, are the tributes mostly
laid before his altar. The Germans however, don't
give up their lager bier, nor are their pipes laid
aside by any means The claim the privilege of
enjoying themselves according to their own notions
leaving others to exercise the same; for here in
New York. it seems to be settled that not only NAV
men do as they please but that one man, or set of
men, is just as good as another, and great deal
BETTER especially if the former be well versed in
scientific pugism
The enjoyments of the season commenced some
days ago, especially in the way of public amuse-
ments. The Theatres and Concert Halls have had
out week their programmes for the holidays All
sorts of shows and exhibitions are open to patrons
and extra performances are advertised for the af
ternoons.
Many Of the churches are holding fairs to raise
funds to pay some debt; to pay for REPAIRS or to
| obtain funds for their poor. In most cases these
church fairs are very successful and it is estimated
that not less than 100000 will be realized by all
of them during Christmas week.
The Mount Vernon festival is the principal attrac-
ton of the kind ltwas gotten up at the right time.
Picalomini has gone "down East" and one or two
other cynosures are now absent. This circumstance
left people somewhat free to patronze the popular
and patriotic cause, which has engaged the services
of Everett and a noble band of women, worthy the
name of being daughters of the land of Washington.
The festival is proving eminent success, and will
go very far toward advancing the national interests
of the cause. The proprietor of the Campbell Min
strels IA Broadway has rendered the gross receipts
for Monday night, the 9th inst, of performance,
concert. The ladies net; of Acknowledgement,
have gratefully accepted the offer. Thus we hear of
friends coming up from various sources for the
worthy cause Of buying the home and tomb of our
! nations father.
In no one thing have more extensive preparations
been made for the present of gifts and good
feeling, than in the art and literary line Some
publishers have taxed their skill and TASTE in getting
up costly books for presents, and for center.tabe
display. Many of these arc truly beautiful, while
others are only a hunbug being filled with stale
stories and vapd rhyme, the reading of which would
be an expense of time. In some of the very fine
writers of merit in the Southern States In one,
the name of VIM. Gilmore Simms of South-C Carroll
ma, is quite omitted, but compensation is done him
in another, and far more superb affair, namely the
Gallery of Famous Poets," by E. H. Butler Co.,
of Philadelphia; which is collection of the choicest
gems of such men as Tennyson, Byron, Moore, Ma
cauiey, Burns, southry, Thompson, Goldsmith,
Wordsworth, Scott, Campbell, Mrs. Hemans, Keats,
Montgomery. the late Judge Conrad, Longfellow,
Holmes Geo. d. Prentice, Edgar A. Poe, and many
others OF like emlnence and genius. In this large
selection, only few New England poets are given
place; and with the above names of the standard
poets of Great Britain, the poet of the Palmetto
State finds himself duly and deservedly honored.
In an article of two columns upon the gift books of
the season. in Of the daes of this city, this pro-
duction is adudged to be of the most substantial
and splendid in the extensive market. In the book
are portraits of the men whose writings adorn the
pages and here and there rich and original H.
ustrations of the most striking in the various
poems. They were executed upon steel, by designs
after such distinguished, and skfu artists as Dew
ereux, Lawrence, Schm6ltze, Hamilton, Vassari,
Fletcher Leslie, Scharf and Others the whole en-
bracing than one hundred brilliant illustrations
and unexcelled by any similar ISSUE As these en-
cravings are in several instances upon the page
with lettepress it may be regarded as the first sue
cessfIll attempt to interweave art and poetry in
America for it will be borne in mind that steel en-
cravings have heretofore occupied a separate page
from the etterpress To this achievement the critics
have unhesitatingy given their praise and the print
ers well the artists have received warm encomi-
ums 1t is not often that connoiseurs in literature
and art find high udicous and tasteful attractions
in the same volume; and very often, have noticed
at this season of the year, when so many persons
investing money in books for presents, that of.
ten the eye is filled with the blue and gold binding
the Turkey morocco and glittering exterior, when,
if they were only to examine the inside, they would
find insipid trash enough to scken any refined and
intellectual person. Against being deceived by the
outside appearance of these sourener too much eau
ton cannot be exercised. If one has no taste nor
brains of his own, let him ask some person of intel
lectual cutivation-one whose heart as we'll as eve
appreciates the beautiful and the useful in the orna-
mental, and not suffer deception in the bronze and
golden "Annuals" that are sometimes palmed off,
In selecting work, which contains the writings and
the records of iustrious genius like the collection
Of famous poets under consideration, we have no
need to apply the doctrine of careat amptor, for
we have nothing to fear and we will have little oc-
casion for any emotion but that of qualification af
forwards. Such gathering of gems do not lose
value, but will retain their original beauty and bril-
liancy so long as the productions of world-noted
minds continue to be admired. Although this gal
lery in which specimens OF selections of these emi-
nent bards are embalmed, is adorned elegantly and
expensivey Gt sells for $l2) yet it will not be diff.
cult to perceive that we place highest estimate
upon its poetic and interior excellence, as being of
more permanent attraction and enduring worth
One other work is claiming great attention in
New York and elsewhere, for its solid and artistic
attractions. 1t is Mrs. Henrietta Lee Palmer's
"Statford Gallery" issued by the Appletons. This
gorgeous volume is the work of no ordinary female
mind and will doubtless give the accomplished au-
thoress an envable reputation 1t is choice gath
ering of Shakspeares heroines, portrayed and de-
scribed in graphic and attractive style Of thought
and language according to her own original ideas
and views Of them The portraits are ali IDEAL and
number forty representing charming and i'm
mortal sisterhood. 1t is galaxy of beauty upon
which much time, talent and expense have been be.
slowed, and CT course it will find its place among
other splendid displays of Shaksperian literature
Nor have the little folks been forgotten The
stores contain for them thousand little articles of