The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-23


Irving Printed from the original edi-
ton, with a preface and notes. by EVERT
A. DUYCKISCK. New York: q. p. PUT
NAM 6 sos. Evansville: FISH & BAR
TER.
This volume is from the Knicker-
booker edition Of Washington Irving's
complete works. published by Putnam
& Son, of New York. 1t is printed
on the most beautiful, tinted paper.
top edges gilt, and is elegantly bound
In muslin. The illustrations are nu-
merous, and are printed on the finest
steel plates, each engraving a gem in
itself.
1t is said Of Washington Irving
that he is one Of the very few authors
whose writings never had to pass the
ordeal of harsh and adverse criticism.
This fact occasions no surprise to any
one thoroughly familiar with his his
tory and works. Everything about
the man is genial as sunshine. and the
humor which pervades his earlier pa
pers never fails to exercise the spirit
of fault-fnding even of those who are
predisposed to be hypercritical.
Salmagundi" was the title of
humorous and satirical paper, which
Mr.. Irving was accustomed to speak
of as a light, trivial publication, the
sport of his boyhood days. 1t was
printed and circulated in New York,
and was edited by three gentlemen,
whose names we give in the title. In
addition to its own intrinsic merits, it
is entitled to peculiar consideration,
and even more careful reading, be-
cause it is really the literary parent of
the "Sketch Book the Alham-
bra aud other subsequent pIodue-
tions of Washington Irving, which
have made his name so dear to read
ers in both the old and new worlds.
The papers truly portray the whim-
whams of a very whimsical family,
the counterpart of which, no doubt,
could be found in many portions Of
New York at the time they were pub
lished, and whose descendents--in-
heriting all their peculiarities-are to-
day to be found in all parts of the
Great West. The follies which
aroused the Indignation Of Mustapha
Rub-A-Dub Keli Khan, and which
he so graphically portrayed in his let
ters to his friend Assem- Hacchem,
principal slave driver to His High
ness the Bashaw of Tripoli, still hold
up their unblushing heads in the
great metropolis, as well as in the far
West, while the kindly Humorist who
satirized them sleeps beneath the sod.
The same difficulties which pierced the
soul of Mustapha with many sorrows,
in his efforts to get an appropriation
through Congress for pair Of
breeches, are still found TO hamper
tho movements of Government and
add to the national expenses. Prob
ably the reason given by Mustapha
for the delay in the reception Of his
breeches, still influences Congress in
its deliberations. My good Mussul-
man" said Mustapha's attendant,
the Administration have the good
of the people too much at heart to
triae with their pockets; and they
would sooner assemble and talk away
ten thousand dollars, than expend
fifty silently out of the Treasury; such
is the wonderful spirit of economy
that pervades every branch of the
Government"
But" replied Muslapha, " how is
it possible they can spend money in
talking2 Surely words cannot be the
current coin of this country
Truly" replied the attendant, smil-
ing, your question is pertinent
enough, for words, indeed, often sup
ply tho place Of cash among us, and
many an honest debt is paid in prom
ises; but the fact is, the grand bashaw
and the members of Congress, or
grand takers Of the nation, either re-
ceive a yearly salary or arc paid by
tho day" 1t requires. no peculiar
, skill to detect the similarity between
the way in which things were done in
Congress in those days and now. In
deed, we have wonderfully improved
on the old system. We have largely
increased theyearly pay of the Con-
gressmen, andin addition have organ
| lied the most gigantic and expensive
pleasure excursions, in the form Of
travelling committees, who spend the
congressional vacation in visiting, al
the expense of the Government, the
most celebrated places for sight-see-
ing on the continent and the coast
and all in the name of economy.
We are much gratifed at the efforts
being put forth by Messrs. Fish &
Barter to increase the sale Of stand
ard works like those of Washington
Irving, and to learn that their efforts
are proving successful. If the youth
of the city can only be persuaded to
devote their Winter evenings to read
ing "Salmagundi," the sketch
Book" and the Alhambra,' they
will soon acquire distaste for the
trash which is circulated through the
instrumentality of papers like the New
York Weekly aud Ledger Every
parent owes it to his children to place
= in their hands reading matter Of sub
stantial merit, and we are confdenf
y no money could be better spent il
: their behalf than in presenting then