University of South Carolina Libraries
1 " I BY W. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON. ABBE VIJ J,M, S. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1SGG. VOLUME XIV.^7).^. A VALUABLE LIBRARY. Occasionally wo steal an hour from tlio i)u?y haunts of men and tho stirring pursuits of cotmncr<-ial circles, to wander into tho ruoro secluded walks of literature, j painting or um.io; and 0110 clay last week we bad tlie pleasure of visiting ono of tbe finest libraries ever colloctcd by or retained in the pyvsc?. ion of a Southern gen lieman, and which was tho property and the pride of ' Into Mr. A. A. Siuets. The tu.u; v isoulJ, amid all tho cares and perp wics of mercantile life, preserve thuj taste and inclination for books, and those; selected from tbe classics of every country i and time, is as much by his example n| nnhlin linnf><W?fnr na lio lolin ? A wvj iiv nuv iV>cUO UJIU11 U1U laurels of building railroads or opeuing manufactories. No bibliopole, nor even a simple lover of books can visit Ibis choice library without admiration. In our country, where so few enjoy tho means of accumulating valuable books, and where so few who have the uieanB have the taste for literary treasures, it is rare to meet with very large or very rare collections. But here is certainly one of tho finest and most rcckcrche private libraries in the country. It docs not rest its claims upon the number of volumes which it contains, of which there are, perhaps, ten or twelve thousand, but upon the choice selection of its authors and tho great variety of the editions. It is compojed of works in all branches of learning and the fine arts, embracing the earlier and later poets, the more celebrated novelist!, the best historians and biographers, and every Btandard work in the realms of literature. The library contains the riches of loarniog, from the elaborate missal of the twelfth century, to tho recent files of modern magazines. The antiijuariau delves in (he black-letter tome bearing the imprint of Caxton, and the admirer of Dickens finds his author clad iu his best typographical dress. The enthusiast in large paper copies, where "a rivulet of text meanders through a meadow of margin," cau revel in his own peculiar delight, and the bibliopole who rejoices in "only copies, suppressed editions," and works valuable only from some imperfection which civei th?m ? 0- ? ? rarity, can here find amplo room for Uio indulgence of bi3 taste. Hero can bo seen ono of Lho original editioDS of Hogarth, than whom, no greater pictorial satirist ever existed; and there, too, is ono of the early subscription copies of Boydell's I Shakspeare, whose plates, worn by frequent impression, havo reduced cngraving3 to < cartoons. He will find on tho shelves a i magnificent copy of Montfaucon's anti- i quities, bound in vellum, a work which Sir : "Walter Scott always had by him, and hero, , too, are the literary remains of lho Great "Wizard of Scottish tale. The library i9 peculiarly rich in iliumniated missals, several of which, both in rarity and workmanship, are almost pricv. less. The world owes a great debt to the monks of the middle ages; a debt seldom drfiamftd nf onrl c?ill ? ? ? v.| M.iM utlll OQIUV7IU UC** I knowledge^. During that period of history well and truly known a3 "the dark , ages," it was only in Iho monasteries that the smouldering embers of literature were kept alive, and by the reverend fathers of that day, whoso equal loisuro and taste induced the task of preserving such fragments of learning as were then extant. Neither time nor spaco permits us to go into an elaborate enumeration of the treasures which grace the shelves of this mag* nificent lib:try. It is to bo sold, and ehould, if possible, never leave the State, but he pu c J either by some wealthy gentlemen of literary tastes, or, far better, by some public institution, whose access to it would tend to foster a love for books? tbe purest and most ennobling of all loves. We trust never to seo or hear oi its being dismembered and its contents goiDg to enrich various collections. A well selected 1 library is a harmonious whole, and can no | more spare any of its parts without losing itt completeness than the human body can be deprived of * limb.?Savannah Re- 1 publican. ' In republishing the above, the Milledge- 1 ville Recorder, says; We have often visited the above named 1 library of Smels, and to the lover of liter- ' store no greater treat presented itself to the eye. Mr. S. was peculiarly fond of old and ran ?? " - - ?w nv>u, u?r ma be count tlio oort when ho foand a work ho desired. Wo have known him to give u much as item $100 to $800 for a single book, and in hik lite time, he was often requested by the literati of Paris and London to oonsnlt hie library as to authors and books that] Qoulg ttol be found in those oitioa? The collection of such n varied and choice selection of hooks was tho work of forty years with Mr. S. It was not his intention to buy a library or accumulate such a collection, but his thirst for knowledge, and his inexhaustible and unsatiable love of reading led him step by step to buy books that ho saw mentioned in his reading; and tho more ho read, tho more he bought, lieing a gentleman of wealth, ho had agents in London and l'arns to purchase many of tho old and raro works as they were sold from tho libraries of the nobility of Europe. ; Tho library should bo seen to be appreciated, tho artistic skill of tho prints, engravings and illuitrationB, ruuniug as far | back as the twelfth century can alone give one an idea of what was done and is now jdoing in the way of printing, &c. The I oldest book in the library, was written by | one of the Grogories, Pope of Koine, and is something over a thousand years old.? The library is for sale, and wo understand that several gentlemen from the North are bidders for it. It is the wish of the family of Mr. Smets, that as it must bo sold, that the State of Georgia would purchase it. | If not taken by the Slate or bid for by some Southern institution, it will pass out of the State to adoru the shelves of some Northern gentleman or university. A catalogue id now being prepared, and if necessary, will be published, if not, the library will be advertised and sold privately." ^ Talking ag * viwn a ?-? ? "vr? illVll u ill u 11 who can talk well, and Las sagacity enough to use his gift for tbo advancement of his worldly interests, ueeil ever be poor. To the inheritor of a ready-mado fortune, conversational gifts aro not, perhaps, a mattor of much importance. Wealth is a special pleader which requires 110 assistance from art or nature to win consideration 111 society, and the veriest stammerer and blunderer that ever misused the parts of speech, need not despair of popularity and praise, if he has had the luck to be born with a silver spoon iu his mouth, instead of a silvery tonguo. Ilia money will speak for hiuif and to the purpose. Golden opinions aro easily procured, if you havo the gold wherewith to purchase them. But to him who has to make his own way in the world, verbal magnetism (if wo may uso the phrase ) is a wonderful assistance. Let the poor man thus endowed cultivate his faculty carefully and uso it judiciously, and it u,;n jw? i/v i.:... Tc i._ i 1 ..... uu,v w cm >v>ti uiuj. 11 iie uhs pieuiy Df executive ability, an ngreeablo fluency anil a convincing way of putting things, so much the bettor. Hundreds of profitable und praiseworthy projects fall to tbe ground every year in consequence ofuot being placed in an attractive light by their originators. Ferdinand and Isabella shook tbeir beads at first at the idea of sending a squadron into unknown seas in search of a new continent, but Columbus talked them into it; nay more, by the irresistible eloquence of inspired talkers tbe Christian religion was established; and wcro it not that they have been talked into it by earnest exponents of Truth, thousands who aro now voyaging toward a brighter nnd better world tban Columbus gavo to Castile and Aragon, would have missed the heavenward track. t * ? j-iNOLEUii.?A suustance ?s now manufactured from flaxseed called linoleum. It is said lljut it will supersede India rubber ?which it very much resorables, and of which itpos3es3esmostof tho various manufactures in which it is used. Like India rubber, it can bo diesolved into a cement and used in Iho manufacture of water proof clothing. It can ba used for tho coating of iron 01 wood, or for coating ship bottoms. It as good as common cemcnt, having properties similar to the marine glue made from India rubber and shellac. It is readily vulcanized by exposure to heat, and by this means becomes as hard as the hardest wood, and capable of fino polish. Tho variety of tho uses to which it can be applied in this form will at once suggest themselves to the reader. Hitherto it has been made solely to produce floor cloth, for which it is well adopted, These facts will doubtless be interesting to the Canadian farmer, as in consequence of this now discovery, flax?for the successful^ culture of which the noil and climate of Canada are so well adapted?will probably become greatly enhanced in value. Deal gently with those who stray.-? Draw them back by love and persuasion. A. kiss is wnrlh o * 1.!?J ?? VMWI4UUUU A &1UU woHd it mot* valuable to lhe loat than a imiha of gold. Thiak of thia and bo on (your guard, ye who would chase to the grave the erring brother. 1 COOKERY SCIENTIFICALLY TREATED. I Pofessor l>lot a famous authority in I culinary 111 alters, has been giving illustrated I lectures on cookery, in ]Joskin, where his i subject and manner of treating is at'raol:; j much attention, llo cooked on the singe j the dishes of which ho discoursed. From j a report of his third Icclurc, published in ibo Uoston Poxl, we extract some general observations which will bo found intore.;ling and useful by tho ladies : An omelet may be mado morn flrdrv * J ~J ! being set in the ovcti as soon as done. Never bring fat lo the table. Potatoes, when cut into thin slips like a pencil, mako them potatoes FranuaUo. The quicker broth cools tho longer it will keep. Many people mistake rich food for highseasoned food. Rich food id healthy; highseasoned food is unhealthy, liich food is not stimulating : hot food is stimulating. In summer make broth every other day. In baking meat, no matte* what kind, always put in some broth. The top of an oven is always tho warmest. To prevent from burning, grease a paper with butter, and put on tho top of tho article baking. This will keep tho top of tho meat or bread as moist as the bottom. Tho paper provents tho steam from rising. You need only to baste tho paper occasionally.? Some meats require less tirao to bake than j otners. J/ork and veal, to be lioalthy, , should always bo overdone. Speaking of the trichinae in meat, the Professor said that if the meat is overcooked there was no danger from it. Many people have eateu diseased moat without injury. A whole brigade of tbo French army, in 1793?and it was an historical fact?was fed on diseased meat for four or Jive months; aud at the end of that time tho men were apparently as healthy as those of other brigades which ate wholesome meat. Tbo fact of it waB tho diseased uioat whs overcooked, and tho men did not know the difference. The Professor could not recommend diseased moat, but the object of referring to tlio subjuct wa3 simply to show the importance, sometimes, of overcooking moat. At the oloso of iho lecture the ladies came forward to tho platform, anil, with tpooua, tested some of tho 1'rofessor's cook* ing. It was evident that they relished, as on tho two previous occasions, the result, of his "astronomical experiments. The uext lecture will be delivered on Wednesday next, at 11 o'clock, a.m. Living Too Fast.?Most people livo too fast in this country. "Wo crowd life.? Without intermission we feed our mental I furnaces with tho pitch-nine of excitement. and the conscquonco is that too iminy of us collapse long Leforo tho tiino when we might bo expected in the regular wear and tear of life. Business energy is a fino thing; but man id a machine, built upon the compensating piinciple. Its tendency to whiz must be restrained and regulated; otherwise, eomething is sure to snap prematurely, and the ''wonderful work" be suddenly shattered. Our men of ' extraordiaary enterprise" eeom to forget thi9, ^r not to understand it. They allow their brains ... 1 * _? turn uervoua ayaiema no real, in too many cases a man of this stamp gives neither God his due, nor nature tho sweet ropose that sho requires, on tho Sabbath day. Cupidity cjoes with him to church, and duriug the exercises Speculation ails on his shoulder, nnd like the tempter at tho ear of live, assails his soul with demoralizing whispers. His thoughts are busy with tho morrow's opportunities for gain, and little rccki he of the balance that may be struck against him at tho final audit. Thus iu their fierce pursuit of fortune do too many of our business men break down their mental and physical constitutions, and thrubt aside the paramount considerations which fllinnl/1 flft'nnf *!*? ? oa I1 ?? ???wv wvui up iiuiuuiini vieiivurcn. We are a surprising 'people, no doubt; but if we better understood tho valuo of rest and worship, the majority of ua would Jivo longer and dio happier. Love is as necea sary to a woman's heart as a fashionable bonnet to her head. Indeed, we think, rather more bo ; for nothing less than a large measure of love will content her ; -whereas the recent fashion has shown that she can be satisfied with a very little bonnet. One of our exohanges, in noticing the presentation of a silver cup to a contemporary, saya:?"He needs no cup. Ha oan drink from any vctael that contains liquor ?whether the neck of a bottle, the mouth of a demijohn, the spile of a keg, or the bung of & barrel/* THE COQUETTE. "Vou're clovcr at drawing, I own," Said my beautiful cousin, Linetle, A > we sat by tho window alone, "But, Fiiy, can you paint a coqucttc f" "She's painted already," quoth 1; "Nay, nay," said tliu laughing Litsette, "Nc*v, none of your joking?but try And paint ujc a thorough coquctte." "Well, cousin," at once I began In the car of the coger Lifletto, "I'll paint you, 03 well a.s I can, That wonderful tiling, a coquette. "She wears u mo.-d beautiful fwc, (Of course! said the pretty LUctte,) And isn't deficient in grace, Or else eho were not a coquette. "And then, alio is daintily mado, (A Binito from the dainty Lisettc,) people expert iu the trade. Of forming a proper coquette. "She's tlio winningest ways with the beaux, (Keep on I said the winning Lisette,) Cut there isn't n man of them knows The mind of the fiukle coquette! "Sho knows how to weep and to sigh, (A sigh from the tender Lisette,) But her weeping is nil in my eye? Not tlint of Mm ..'V ?v.?uiukj vyijuuny. "In short, she's n creature of art, (O, 1 a 11 sii! said the frowning Lisello,') "With merely tho ghost of a heart? Enough for a thorough coquette. "And yet I co-:ld easily prove, (No " , don't! said the angry I.isetto,) The h.' ulways in love? In lovti with herself?tho coquette. "There?ilo not be angry?you know, My dear little cousiu LiscttS, You told me a moment ago, To paint yon?a thorough coquette." AN EDITOR'S TRIALS IN UTAH. Tho Vidctte, a widoawako Geutile, pa per, has, for some time past been published iu Salt Lake City, bearding tho Mormon devils in their own don, to tho great discomfort of their "Saintships." Tho editor recently received a letter written in blood ?or red ink ?which reads? Jt-tT Skedaddle ! It is tho "red hand'' of the Destroying Angel, and threatens assassination. Tho editor ie not much friglitonod by the order, but says: " Well, wo shall keep tho document, and leave our readers to judgo whether we are much frightened. If tlieso misorablo hounds and cut-throats think they can intitl.n -I--- " ? - v..w r imviii, wuv, mey are simply mistaken. "Wo havo spoken plainly in tbo past, and wo shall speak still raoro plainly in the future, holding ourselves accountable only to God, our conscience, and the laws of the land. " The following day the editor received another warning, of which he snys: " We stop the press to give place to the following: 'Now,' as the lark aaid to her young ones,' It is time for us to loave 1' We could stand the 'bloody bund ' and tbo skedad die' of the other warnings, but tbo following gets us; Sai.t Lake City, April, 18G6. Mr. Editor Vidette: If you dont quit nbusincr Stenbouso anrl Kia Afnrmrtm, Q ?? ? ? uavi utVUO| TtC II come and marry you. We don't 'moan blood,' but wo won't stand to bavo Stenhouso maligned; 50 look out. 27 Mokmov Women. We weaken on tho turn. AY ill some ' ono tako our place ? 27 -'Mormon Women! We apologize, we don't edit tlio Vidcltc ?Stcnhouso is a good follow?a brave man?and ho can loolc a Jog in tko face ! Besides, Jio never did borrow a pair of brass kuuckles. O Lord havo mercy on us poor miserable sinners! Don't shoot this wav I Wo nro not ?lin m?n I #1 ? - - - ?- - ?-"V U4MU I ? I wives! We'll go Cotton.?"Wo clip the following pertinent remarks from Iho Galveston Bulletin of the 13th instant: We thiok that a few general remarko hero may furnifh somo information concerning the views entertained in regard to the future of the staple. Estimates of the growing crop vary from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 bales, which, if proved correot, would have a tendency to increase prices, 1 though not for two or three months, as the English market has under Its control about 2,000,000 bales. It will be a difficult thing to make such markets as those of Liverpool and Manchester understand that, notwithstanding their heavy supply at present, they may be compelled to change their opinions, and pay higher prices than those now ruling. By reference to all our exchanges we note the faot that factors elsewhere are aoting as those here, in with drawing tboir sample* irom me manieia, aa they know full well that .they cannot give Mtiafaction to their planting friends at prioM that buyer* aro offering. If (hie feeling i3 general, and we bcliovo it is, tlio ' foreign markets, in our opinion, cannot keep prices down. A DESCRIPTION OF CHARLES DICKENS. A correspondent of the boston I'osl, writing irom Jjontion, gives tho following interesting description of Dickens, tho princo of novelists, who i6 at present charming the reoplo of that great city with uightly readings from hiswiitings: Precisely at eight Dickens makes his appearance with white kid3, a red roso in his buttonhole, and a juuuty little walkingstick w?ih au ivory handlo. lie is in full evening dress of black, and wears no jewelry but a ring and watch-chain, llo steps briskly forward swinging his cano, and at once taking his stand at tho desk without any preliminary introduction, quietly surveys his audience. Loud and longcontinued clapping announces his presence, but ho does not yet begin. An English audience are never punctual, and by twos on/1 rnnn ? * ? *? 4 ~ " uuu auiu&a tutJf Wllliuuu IU |)OUT 1U long after his arrival. Dickons caluiiy awarits till quit, no 13 a man of gentlemanly and polished exterior#?His head is quite bald, and ho wears a moustacho aud whiskers. His hair is gray, and ho ba3 eviodntly long outgrown the ''lioz" of younger days. Ilis expression is genial, and his manner confident, though unassuming.?Though he has a slight stoop, yet his form is manly and of good proportions. There is but littlo expression of character in his face and his cheeks arc ruddy, as of one who loves good cheer. His ears aro set very far back, which is generally regarded as a sign wi grcnt mioueciuai power, liis lorohead is high and the labors of a lifo of fifty-four years have not left a wrinkle upon it. Evidently his works Lave been done with ease and love, as the natural outspringing of mind full of subjects that were drear tojiim, and causing little mental anxiety. A llogetlier Dickens strikes ono as a man who lias spent a half century, iu the exhausting labors of literature, but in the enjoyment of a lifo passed in the joyial society of good company aud boon companions ; who has for years been "full warm of mirth, of gossipping, nor mot with fortune /.ll... 41 ? < >? vtuui viiuu uw icuaia* du. marigold. It is full twenty minutes past eight before the voice of tlio reader Btrikes upon tho ear, and all else is bushed. Tbo part is Dr. Marigold, "tbo Cheap Jack," and though the book is boforo biro, the speaker never opens it, but trusts to Lis memory, which nevev fails him, to tbe ond. As ha3 been often illustrated l>y his own appearance in privato theatricals, Dickons has a great degree of dramatic talent, and in his readings it is used with admirable results. Though ho iias not much facial expression, though he has not that nervous sensitiveness which many groat actors possess, and which make Mr. Llome^tho spiritualist, bo effective as a reader, yet ho has other qual | ities that rentier bis delivery very impressive. He has a good voice and an animated expression. IIi3 hands aro used freely and with excellent effort. Do is never entirely forgetful of his audience or lost in his part, and yet ho shows throughout that nice appreciation of each character, which, every author might be expectod to possess for the children of his brain. His air, his gestures, and his voice, in Bhort, clearly express his sympathy with the more delicate lights and shadows of the parts ho impersonates, and givo his audience a deeper insight into the inner life of those whom they thought they knew so well before. fP!.. t t\ tr i ? i -? xuo awry 01 uv. aiarigoia lie reaa wuu a mingled humor, pathos and naivelo that I never supposed it capable of. Fishing Conundrums. ? What fish may ho 6aid to be out of place? A perch in a bird's cage; a skate in a cutler's shop; a place on the top of an omnibus; a sole at the bottom of your foot; and a mussel in a lady's neck. "Ideolare, Mr. Goldthumb, you have read everything." MWhy ma'am, after working thirty years as a trunk?maker, U a * - ? ? Aanaa If T IrnAm WOUICl DO lO my ? * v something of tbo literature of my country 1" , ? >?-? ?. A eurioua typographical error appeared in morning paper recently. In giving an account of an inquest, (t was stated "the deceased boro an accidental character, and the jury returned a verdict of excellent death.1' A would-be gentleman, the other day, called at the post-offioe, and displayed his ignorance of natural history or the French language, or both,by i|que*tiflg to tfesnpplied with a stamped antelope - - - A CURIOUS POLITICAL .iJKINISCENCE. Among the witnesses fr^.. "^orth Carolina examined before tho Committee ofFifteen, was lTon. Bedford Brown, of North Carolina. IIo said lie was opposed to secession, and in favor of tho Union all the time, although ho served in tho State Legislature under Confederate rule. XI13 teatij monv, published at length, ib in eame view with that of Alexander II. Stephens, in respect to tho dispositions of tho Southern peoplo and tho true remedy for tho disorders of the times. He strongly counseled the admission of tho representatives of tho States, at once, into both Houses of Con? gre8s, Congresp. being competent to judgo of tho qualification of the members separately, a3 they present themselves. Mr. Brown must bo now beyond threa scoro ami ton TT~ j?~ -? -1-10 was ia the Senate of tho United Stales 30 yeara ago, coming ia with Qon. Jackaen's first administration, and continuing a fast supporter of Democratic party through, two terms in the Senate, and we believe, supporting that ticket up to the last. Th/sre ia a curious political anecdote told of his first election to the Senate, whidU was a matter of accident. Mr^ Brown was a member of the Legislature from Caswell county, we think, at the time, whon the two Houses were ballotting for a successor to John Branch, wbo had receiv cd the appointment of Secretary of the Navy from Gen. Jackson. The local parties of North Carolina were very much raized up between Federalist nnd Republican, East and West, Jackson and Adams, and had cryatalized into the forms of a party which subsequently obtained and ruled bo long. The contest for Senator was among four or fivc*prominent public men, and the balloting was not considered as a candidata in fact, although ho received a few scattering votes. At last, weariod of the contest, there was an informal agreement made by which all the leading men nominated, should bo withdrawn, and a new man Mr, John Owen, acceptable to a groat majority, should bo nominated and elected. The arrangement was not quite made when it was suggested to have, in tho meantime, another ballot, to which tho votes would be scattered, as usual, and the final ballot be then held under this agreement. Members proceeded accordingly to vote at random. By the merest accident, there being no concert at all, the members threw away thair na thev iTinncvVih nn r without, on a candidate without chance, and a largo number put Mr. Brown's nama ou tho ticket. Hero another curions incident determined the elcctioD. Tba town of Newborn was then a borough town in the Country of Craven, and bad its separate representation. Mr Gaston, one of tha ablest men North Carolina ever produoed# represented Newbern. Alfred Stanly, sou of Hon. John Stanly, was Representative from Craven county. Between tho families of Gaston and Stanly there was an old r?.?i i?i ?1-.1 it ?v?uu nuiuu uau viv^tuuvu Ui UJO )TUUUg9t braDcbe3 after tho elder had forgotten it. While this ballot wa3 going on Mr. Gaston t a venerable gentleman, whose seat wa3 noar that of young Stanly, folding his own ballot said to his neighbor, "Alfred, vote blank." Not to bo dictated to by a Gaston.?Stanly put the name of, Bedford Brown on hie ballot, because Brown happened to catch his eye, being seated in tba Speaker's chair. On counting the ballotn, Bedford Brown was elected Senator by a majority of one vote, as much to hia own surprise as tbat of a majority of those who voted for him. There was a good deal of grumDiing, ana we iains some auempts ia reverse, the vote, but all failed, and Mr. Brown took seat, to make himself & useful and dilligeut member, and to become as popular that on the expiration of that term he was re-elected by a large vote. He was succoded in 1841 by Mr. Graham, J ?N. O. Picayune. A man bad his sign up?"Cheap Ladies? Shoes for sale here." He found that not a woman entered bis stone. No wonder; the la$es don't like to be called oheap? they wiant to be called dear. j' * ? ? A newspaper article recently Informed the public that the workmen at Mr. Jones's machine ahopjhad struck. Mr. Jones cama otft Jtho next day denying it> as thsy had not struck a stroke for a week. It haa at length befin disoorerad that tha IoDg lalked-of individual ia the *bnue coat aod bine buttons" is brother to tfaa map who wean a weed with a white hat round H. ; , -Li,,' . ~?; ? ? ? Why are good reiolotions like fainting ladie*? Became they wank "carryiagonL"