The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-08-29

ID
lutuN ui>~"y tors. wur>" than tea hunIocs,
lie n.eNs To 'e''rh they mtnge to ox"'so. = Burns
1t ha, been said, and with how much
truth, let others judge, that we, WHO are
so fortuna e as to iuhablt this terrestrial
sphere, are in perpetual warfare with each
other for the supremacy of power and
worldly honor. Watcher this statement
j. Justly in accordance with truth CT not,
there is ono species of warfare which
wages with powerful might, both among
the intelligent and the iiiitcratc Of the
land, which hurls its vcnonous b igh,
over the field of literature, science and
art and this is criticism. 1t has been
we'll said that every young man at his
first outset in life must learn aud perhaps
TO his sorrow: In the first place he knows
comparatively Ii tie, aud secondly, that
the world cares nothing for him. Here
the qucs ion may be asked: is this mis-
anthropic world Is 4,is short life en-
compasscd wi hin TIE brief space of three
score years and ten, IA period occupied
with noueht but turmoil and strife. with
envy aud hatred Are there not those
who would with joy lend their assis ance
to the young aspirant in climbing the
rugged hight Of eminence and rcnown
1t is sorrowlul to say, few, indeed, can
claim to be true philanthrorists self
interest claims too large IL portion OF
mankind. Uowotlen Go we find recorded
on the pages of history those now reck,
oned among the q" Fathers Of Science y
who in their day were thought to have
been dcmented, aud against the critics
leycled their deadly shafts. Their death
was the dawn of their renown. Is there
not many stirling old author that lies
neglected on uneHplored shelves or to =
tering book-stalis, unknown to, or passed
over ty tie idle and diIigent, the re-
publication of which would be the great
est service that could be performed by
the modern man Of letters, and who
would well perform his task; rescue
from oblivion work prepared, perhaps,
with great mental and physical research
remodel, bcautify and embcli>h an old
time structure but alas that dread oil
what the world would say, the fear that
the comments Of the prcss-one of the
ruling powers of the agc-woud be sar-
cas- ic, or, at lels' unfavorablc ; dan,pc1
his zeal, and he consequence Is, noble
land mark of ancient literature is re-
moved, never to DC replaced. Even
now, is it not true, fanatics take the
lead Are they not looked upon by
The majority Of mankind s.he very per-
sons suited for the times while some
quie', unpretending worker for the good
of humani " unthough of, and all his
teachings held as out of da c Is it &c
be wondered at, then, there are 50 many
halpics, in the form Of critics, ready
with their stencil to pollutc the buddings
Of youthful genius, that the young aspi-
rant shudlers at the idea Of coming out
boldly, to be target for their ipYccIivt
and abuse! Poor Keats fell Il vic i'm
and the Toetica! world lost jewel
This is not the only instance where pure
genins has given away before the storm
of critics. Criticism has its grades
The cloak of friendship may conceal the
arm that gives the blow hatterng
with its serpent tongue, may palliatc the
injury but cowardicc is stamped OH the
heart OF him, who, with sly, studied ar;
without any provocation, directs hi.
shafts of calunny from behind the bush
at his fellow man The press has, un.
fortunately, become the medium throu Oh
which tue fame Of genius is dimncc
and the tin 8 of the illustrlou,
assa,lcd, ever by those who are not capu-
bic Of welding the mighty sword o.
logic and reason but skilled in scratch
ing wi h poisoned pens. What is more
rio ieulous, than to read the petty strifes
between country editors, protesting tc
be critics, and that too, Of a superior
order, happening each other With theil