The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 5, January, 1835Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 5, January, 1835
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
I would add to the above what the grave Doctor says of the fashionable
ladies of those times; but being a great friend to the "womankind," as
that queer, caustic old Batchelor Monkbarns used to call them, I
forbear to run the risk of their displeasure, by disparaging their sex
so much as I should be compelled to do, were I to repeat the Doctor's
words. And now, my good sir, confidently trusting that you yourself, as
well as your readers, will admit the irrefutable character of the
proofs which I have adduced to establish my assertions, I bid you
farewell, and remain
Your friend and constant reader,
OLIVER OLDSCHOOL.
P. S. For the satisfaction of yourself and readers, who might otherwise
suspect me of malevolence towards some individual, (of which I know
myself to be incapable,) I beg leave to assure you that, although the
portrait which I have endeavored to sketch is not a fancy piece, my
sole design in presenting it is _general_, not particular. It is to
aid, as far as I possibly can, in banishing from our land a fashion,
not only preposterous, absurd and filthy in the highest degree, but
actually disgraceful to rational creatures. Let it go back to the
savage Cossacks, from whom 'tis said to be borrowed, and no longer
beastify (if I may coin such a word,) the appearance of the rising
generation.
From the Augusta (Ga.) Sentinel, Jan. 15.
VARIETY.
_To the Editor of the States Rights Sentinel:_
SIR:--Some friends, whose opinions are entitled to deference, deem it
incumbent on me to avow, or disavow the authorship of a dozen couplets,
lately become a matter of grave and high controversy. Though supposed
for twenty years past to be mine, they have recently been ascribed, by
sundry acute critics, first to O'KELLY, and then to ALCÆUS. Disdaining,
heretofore, to notice such charges of plagiarism, from a perfect
confidence in the ultimate power of TRUTH, and a contempt for this
petty species of annoyance, my silence is now broken, only in
compliance with the wishes of those whom I esteem. Valuing these rhymes
very differently from others, it becomes me, on so unimportant a
subject, merely to avow myself the author. The lines in question, then,
good or bad, are mine alone; neither Alcæus nor O'Kelly has the
smallest right to them. Originally intended as a part of a longer poem,
which, like the life of him for whose sake I projected it, was broken
off, unfinished; they were published without my knowledge or consent,
and, however the contrary may have been assumed, contain no personal
allusions. Whatever _my_ life may be like, whether roses or thorns, the
public is in no danger of being troubled with my confidence.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient, humble servant,
RICHARD HENRY WILDE.
_Washington, 31st Dec. 1834_.
* * * * *
[Communicated for the Southern Literary Messenger.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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