The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-04-20
A New Book.

u
mond, Va. Whittes & Shepperson. 1880.
have turned aside from rae weighty
cares of busy professional life to give my
attention to a brief criticism Of this new
effort of a Southern girl to set the magnl'
6cent machinery Of Southern thought IN
motion toward establishing what every
Southerner Graves TO see-a Southern Inter-
ature. I do not need 10 praise our women
they are known of all. In the days OF
darkness when the Confederate States,
rineed in fame and dying of a COLLISION
with superior force, was sinking slowly 10
it's grave, we all know that the bGsIfaatH IatHH e%Rrfo
roreu r1te better than liberty, and under
went untold agonies of privation for the
sake of the lost cause. This is not the ap-
propriate place for further words in their
praise, nor are mine the transcendant abili-
lies requisite to the task but it is enough
TOR me TO say that it is but proper that
they should be among the irst to make
struggle to save independence of thought
to section which has lost independence of
action. And, therefore, We need not be
surprised that Miss Maggie McNinch, a
warm hearted South Carolina girl, has laid
an Offering npon the altar common to all Of
our people.
Her little volume lies before me now.
It's rich wine-colored binding, its clear faced
type, its creamy-sinted leaves, all make it
beautiful to the book-lover and precious to
the sight of those who see in such publish
ing work as this the grey dawn of success.
lul enterprise in our midst. The execu-
lion Of the book would not disgrace the
Appletops or Scribners Of the North. and
vet it comes from the hands of Virginia
compostors, and from the press Of pub
Usher in the Old Dominion Those regions
OF outer darkness, if some wiseacres are to
De believed. But it is such work as this
which is to redeem US from such slurs and
10 bring the golden splendor of new era
10 the South-an era greater than any pre-
ceding it; broad and tolerant in its views,
hut firm in the knowledge Of its rights, and
strong enough 10 project them
It is not my purpose to deal with the
poems which make up so large part of
the Wayside Flowers. They are thought
lu. in tone, and in several Instances las in
Rosabel, Only Yiolets, and Baby's Prayer
are picturesque in detail. But it is my in-
teution to refer briefly and critically to
short prose sketch to be found on page
forty six Of the volume in question and en-
titled "a Leaf from the Gallery of Mem
ory" No one but woman could have
written it. A strain of pure high pathos
runs through its every line, and cold is that
heart which this simple little sketch does
not touch almost if not completely to tears
1t is but winSome wee thing-a brief tale
Of minister, young and Of high hopes,
,uthlessly Tilted by a jade, and slowly pass
ng away in the prime Of glorious manhood
but it takes the bolier nature into the
sacred chambers Of the human soul and
shows it that love is something too high
~ far TO be the football Of shallow firt.
It Gares have moral in this age when
oarsous and politicians and all their ilk but
90 often offer up their principles for q
ness OF pottage. Filtration and coquetry
ne the evil spirits which tie the shoes OF
fashionable life to-day, and the little girl
rom among her native hills, pine-crowned
nd darkly rising to the skies, has dared |
ell, in 70 uncertain words, the evil copse-
luences resulting theIetrom. Nor is this
Ill. While we must admire the courage |
hich has prompted her, even the most
Iyspeptic critic cannot meet with anything |
which would not stand the severest tests of
English rhetoric. Sweetly, plainly, simply
he little story runs on like the brook which |
hatters along through dewy fields and un-
er rustic bridges-sweet because the God
iren kiss of Nature is upon its changing |
iaters, and cannot be obliterated save by |
heir destruction, nor even then. So nat
raj is it that the feelings must respond,
nd the surprised reader finds the sympa-
hetic tear trembling upon the eye, or else
noistening his cheek with the healing dews
f compassionate regret. Poor Kenneth,
arewell! We may lay aside the Wayside
lowers but they will never wither so long
S the lover of literature may find there
mong them that most touching prose.
oem which sings the suffering Of true love
eneath the knife Of hcartless aud shame
eSs Irritation.
Another word, reader. You too have
uty 10 perform. 1t is this You must buy
er book for the sake of Southern litera-
ure. Here, as elsewhere, perfection is
ealized out of imperfection, and even if it
examined in the mean and grasping light
f bargain and sale you will lose nothing,
Or the story Of Kenneth and Bob is cheap
t the price of pa!try dollar. Buy her
oo1 and read it, and by thus doing you
ill encourage, as you should, the rising
terature OF rising section. Farewell.
FRANK E. ANDERSON.
Richmond, Va, March, 1881.