The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-04
pefiSsiisaf Literature

MESSRS- EDITORS: / Will not be
prosy, if I can help it, but when did
woman give the history of IN hour
without many little episodes hinder
ing its conclusion? A friend has sent
me the July number of Harper. Tt
is the first time have openelit since
the war. did so with some interest.
An article from the pen OF Virgi-
MAN, describing his personal recol-
lections Of the war" fixed my atten-
ton, for it is well written OF course
1 would look at events from his stand
point of national exultation, aud had
no disposition to criticise They are
not, however, :, magnanimous people
i'll character, as you will say when J
quote his reflections "a frantic war
of barbaric pride, ignorance and
passion, against the empire of art,
industry and civilization. Having
read the article, was thinking Of its
injustice, when my companion cut
the pages of Scots .Monthty and read
aloud several articles. One was the
essay on ''the career of Legarc /
closed my eyes thinking, with just
pride, of ''that bright galaxy of
names which cncircles, like n lumi-
nous halo, the name OF the Southern
Reuie~." One loses all bitterness of
feeling at the reproach of Southern
ignorance, barbaric pride, &C., when
such names rs Harper, McDuffie,
Legare, Elliott, Hayne aud Calhoun,
make for South Carolina so bright II
page in the past, and we have but
just enjoyed the fame and influence
of Thornwcll-ourt tears are not vet
dry nor is his place filed. Here, too,
the loving, devoted, self-denying
Barnwell belonged, as much q victim
as any of that crowd of gentle,
manly heroes, who We're opposed to
''barbaIic" hosts Of foreigners in our
late contest
Yes, we have been out numbered
and beaten by the powerful en-
pire, and we intend to be as good
subjects rs they are. In dream-la land,
for about five minutes, my thoughts
were busy with ''names and their
uses'-Bill Arp, Legare and his con-
temporaries passing and repassing.
A satisfied feeling grew upon NE
possibly WAS comparing the spirit Of
Southern productions with those
freshly imported Northcrn-when l
was aroused by hearing my compa-
Mon eXclaim, land he should be IL
judge, II am sure there are as good
and better articles in Hills and Scott's
magazines, and in the So,1heyn Pres
byteritm Recier. than in any pages
prepared at the North" If you will
agree to this observation, you will
oblige me by asking of our Southern
friends, if they do not also? Ask
them why Harper is to he seen every
where? They have thousands of
subscribers Southern. we suppose. J
since January
Let us do without pictures; We are
not children; and, if fun is wanted,
just send to our homes for it. There
are rich scenes and ample scope in
refugee life alone to furnish maga-
zines their stock of caricatures. Sher-
man has made us inventive. He de-
stroyed our homes, our furniture and
books, and the substitutes we have
are new-certainly original not
costly, and the reading we get is
mostly the experience of poor be-
reaved friends, scattered up and down
the State, or the good strong thought
and individuality of Southern writer's,
or good novel from abroad. Such
are orr times. We enjoy what we
have, and hope to acquire what we
miss.