The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-12-22
Living Writers OF the South.


There is probably not man in the
Southern States better qualified for
presenting to the reading public what
tho South has to show ia letters, than
Professor james Wood Davidson, of
South Carolina, whose careful and we'll
considered work on living Southern
writer's has just appeared from the
press of Carleton. Himself the mas.
ter Of Il puro style, with a severe
taste, cultivated by liberal study,
and a Judgment free from prejudice,
he was admirably qualified for the
task he assumed, aud has discharged
it we'll. While by the very nature
Of the case ne was tempted to magni-
fy his subject, he has been betraye
by no fulsomc praises, aud much Of
his criticism is remarkable for its nice
discrimination. As an example of
the fairnc which marks his volume,
we may cite his treatment of the
much-vexed question Of the author
ship of the war lyric Of "All Quiet
along the Potomac tonight" which
no ono now can pretend to believe was
written BY the Southern soldier who
claimed it as his original production.
Mr.. Davidson has made out long
list of Southern writers-the numUo Or
extends to two hundred and furty-one
some of whom are hardly entitled
to literary consideration at all, but it
cannot be denied that he has done a
real service to the country by his
pains-taking examination Of the whole
field. Many readers in the North
will be surprised to know how large a
part Of the current literature of the
day is the work of Southern men aud
women. Perhaps no three writer's Of
fiction in the United States have so
many readers and admirers 1--WE say
this as fact, and apart altop ether from
thoir literary meri's) az Mrs. Town
send (Marion Harland), Mrs. e. d. Il.
n. Sonthworth, and Mrs. Augusta j.
Wilson, nee Evans, yet it is not gtue-
rally known that all three are South
ern by birth. We note some trivial
errors in proper names, as of Miss
Crane NOW Mrs. Seemuller), author
of emily Chester," improperly given
as Grain; andwe mark some omissions
as that Of Professor Schele DeVere, Of
the University Of Virginia, prolific
writer aud translator, and that of
John 9. MoCabc, now clergyman in
Delaware, und there, may be oshers.-
But these erruM and omissa may be
cnrrcc cd and supplied in second
edition, for which we cannot doubt
there will be demand.--N. Y. Eren-
ing Post.
On one occasion, when D>rael was
Chancellor OF the Exvhsq;vr, his wife
accompanied him to The parliament
House. 1t was "BudgeL' nigl,,-the
most momcn'ous Of all sessions to ii O.
Chanc. llor Of the Exchequer for he had
TO unfold his financial plans for the en-
SUNG year to critical and not too
easily satisfied House Disraeli, ns lie
took his place in the carriage, was wholly
wran. up in his subject and figures i,
was crisis in his career: ifhe failed
this night, he nigh, well take VOLS VS.
advice to Cromwell. /: Filing away am.
oiLion !" Ills wife entered the carriage
al,o. softly, so as not to disturb the
thinker In getting in, however her
finger was canghL by the door, which
shutting upon it, jjnmmed it terribly, and
held it so fast that she could not with
draw it. She u..rrel no cry, made no
movement; her pain and agony must
have been intense. There was the
finger crushed between the panels to
speak or to cndeavor to withdraw IL
would disturb her lord-would drive the
figures and arguments from hs head.
So there stayed the finger, every mo.
mont more painful uutil they reached
the house nor did Disraeii hear word
of 1t till long after the famous debate
of that night had become history. All
that evening the faithful wife sat in tho
gallery, that her husbands qnickglan.
eng eye might nol, miss her from IT.;
| she bore The pau like, a MARTYR, and Ike
| women who loves No wonder that
Ivy her husbands net she has become
Visconntess BcaconsR-ld s,ill less
wonder that, IA Lady BenconsfelI, she
is honored in Eng'nnd's proudest, and
has taken her place in hereditary society
as naturally and easily as if she too had
been ito The manner born"
PASTE THAT WILL KEEP YEAR.-
Dissolve q teaspoonfull of alum in
quart of warm water. When cold, stir
in flour to give it the consistency Of
thick cream, being particular to beat up
n In NJ n, Of, 4