New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-23
Peetesses Of New Orleans.

We copy the following from the Houston
Times of the twelfth instant, written by its
special correspondent at the New Orleans
office of that Journal: .'
Twas absent-minded, and the consequence
will be that l will have to rely upon mem.
Org. When left my home in the Fourth
District this morning, l intended to take
along some pOetical writings upon which
wished to comment, but ON my reaching INV
office made the unpleasant discovery that
had forgotten to carry my intention into
effect. No matter. (Which I.wish to re.
mark" can be done just as well without
books and newspaper waits REMEMBERING
my desk:
have peculiar weakness for admiring what
elsewhere could not pass for more than
mediocrity. We are wont to bestOw our
praise in the superlative. In our apprecia-
ton we are lavish, and still it so frequently
occurs that what is really meritorious fails
to be appreciated. We know .Our faults.
but spurn the idea of having them made
known. Still, we are, in the main, a candid
people, though occasionally averse to hear
ing the truth. This aversiOn-and right
here | am almost tempted to speak in the
superlative myself-is a leading tyait in the
character of certain class Of our people,
Ispeak of those sickly sentimental females
who, owing to the peculiar weakness alluded
to, take particular pride in considering
themselves writers Of distinction, poets Of
the purest water. >. =
In. reality, their station is, and IN most
cases will remain, obscurity. But the
Egyptian darkness which surrounds them
in their struggle for an unattainable fame
is made endurable to them. They appear
to be cOntented with their lot, for are thew
not distinguished authors who exercise 20
great an influence by their illusions, which
bear the imprint of genius Their friends
say SO; their friends kneel revcrently at
their shrine, and have only exalted praise
for them. All! within the charmed circle
of the mutual admiration societies approval.
admiration, praise aud worship are les n,ots
G0s'drc. Woe to him who should dare to
raise his voice in opposition to the estab-
lished rules and regulations which govern
these admirable admiration societies, where
everything is based upon mutually.
Southland writer's! Southern poets! Hol-
low titles We have no Southern lit
erature. If we had, how cOuld it
be possible that females of the stamp |
have mentioned could dare to claim distinc-
ton? They are uncomfortable nuisances-
weeds which encumber the growth Of litera-
ture in the South. Full of vanity, as they
are, they will not cease iafiicting their silly
.A"eA uPou UuC puUICs Will peFSeVcfe
in their injurious efforts to intrude upon the
premises Of legitimate literature. Take up,
for instance, the Sunday editions OF either
one of the two large conservative papers Of
New Orleans, and read the pretentious eff
fusiOns Of the "Author of Albert Hastings"
the sickly verses of a sentimental woman,
who glOries in the nom de plane of
"Zephyr;" the school girls compositions by
an ex-schOOl teacher, who calls herself
Beverley" the silly rhymes of half
grown girl, who signs herself Matte" the
=" poems" by Nellie, and the productions of
a score lnore-and l will bet my bottom
dollar that you will feel like-doing some
thing.
These are harsh words, harshly spoken,
and not few of the celebrated writer's
whom l thus bring to the notice of the
good people N Texas, will feel like pulling
my hair.
In my estimation, there are only two
poetesses contributing to the New Orleans
newspaper press of whom we may feel
justly proud. These are that sweet singer,
Pearl Rivers, whom sickness has un-
fortunately compelled to he silent for sew
eral weeks; and Mrs. Townsend (Xariffa).
who enjoys well earned reputation 1
have also to make my bow before Miss
MOllie E. Moore, whom consider an &C.
writer of exquisite poetry.
Texas may well feel proud Of this, her dis
daughter.
A letter from Rome says: ~ hear from a
friend IN Florence that Won Bulow, who
has been giving concerts and lessons in