Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXIV, No. 5, May 1849Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXIV, No. 5, May 1849
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
THE PENNSYLVANIAN.—Col. Forney is the best political editor that his
party has ever had in Philadelphia—discerning, prompt and fearless. He
deals, however, too much in light skirmishing, and pops his enemy off
once in a while from an unsuspected cedar-bush, merely to show the
accuracy of his aim. But he is an able tactician, and when he _does_
close fairly, his opponent finds him a tough and sinewy customer. His
articles seem for the most part to have been dashed off at a heat, and
lack the polishing touch. He often, too, uses a hard word for its sound
where another would be more effective. Occasionally he sits down in
earnest, blocks out his ground, and makes sore and steady advances; and
especially when he has occasion to defend Mr. Buchanan, his intellect is
fully aroused and on the alert—he then writes with his full vigor and
spirit, and writes well. His partner, Mr. Hamilton, is one of the most
capable business printers that we know, and every thing in his
department is marked by exactness and proficiency. The press-work of the
Pennsylvanian, on each issue, is what the magazines would call “a
specimen number.”
THE TIMES.—A jaunty, crotchetty, impudent little sheet, filled with
quibs and quirks, and a sort of laughing philosophy that shouts over
seriousness. Its editor, would, if he could, go to his own funeral
dressed in ribbons, and wearing a look of rejoicing. He has the
happiness of never seeming for a moment anxious; and you might as well
punch at a wreath of smoke with a foil, as attempt to interest him in a
serious controversy. He will answer your arguments with a pun, your
serious reasoning with a laugh, and will set ridiculously on end your
most carefully rounded sentence, and go to hacking at its grammar.
Having got you out of humor, he will decline all controversy with you,
if you cannot observe the decencies and proprieties. So that the man who
urges a controversy with Du Solle, has his anger for his pains, and is
fuming while he is chatting and laughing unconcernedly upon some other
more agreeable topic. Yet the Times has never given him scope to show
the real ability and general information he possesses. He should be in
the Ledger with Lane, he would settle the “ologies” in short metre.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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