gcls_courant_021 5

THE COURANT; A SOUTHERN LITERARY JOURNAL.
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The Courant.
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COLUMBIA, S. C., THURSDAY, SEPT. 22, 1859.
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THE COURANT.
Subscriptions to the Courant will be received at the Book-
store of Mr. P. B. GLASS, in this City, where single copies can
be obtained every week.
The office of the Courant has been removed to No. 144 Rich-
ardson Street, over Flanigan's Shoe-Store.
WM. W. WALKER, JR., & CO.
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The Unknown; or, The Spirit Bride.
We take pleasure in announcing that we will publish, in next
week's Courant, a beautiful story under this title, written es-
pecially for our paper, by Miss MAUD IRVING, author of "The
Betrayed Wife," etc.
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A Word or Two about Pianos.
An esteemed lady friend and correspondent, wishing to pur-
chase a piano, has written to us to know which are the best, as
regards tone, durability, and adaption to our Southern climate.
At her request, we (the Associate Editor) here give our reply--
our opinion being based, in a great degree, upon careful
observation and practical experience.
The leading American Piano Manufacturers are so well
known that it would be unnecessary to mention their names.
They have nearly all achieved a wide reputation for the
excellence of their workmanship, and their instruments are
found throughout the civilized world. It is impossible to say
who makes the best, so far as durability and tone are concerned.
Tastes differ very widely in music, as in painting and poetry.
A piano, whose tone would delight one individual, would
scarcely please another, so that every pianist must be his or her
own judge as to tone.
It has been a serious objection to some pianos that they could
not stand our Southern climate. They have soon become
injured by the vicissitudes of heat and cold to which they were
exposed, and, ere long, lost that peculiar tone which was at
first their chief recommendation. Our own experience leads
us to say that those manufactured by NUNNS & CLARK,New
York, are not liable to this objection. We have had one fully
five years, and its tone is as fresh and brilliant as the day it
was made. It is played upon pretty often, and very seldom
needs "tuning." We regard it almost as a model instrument.
We know others who have pianos of the same make, and their
experience is the same as ours. We can, therefore, recommend
our fair young friend to purchase one of NUNNS & CLARK's
manufacture.
HALLETT, DAVIS & CO.'s (Boston) pianos we have often
heard spoken of in high terms, as being peculiarly adapted to
our climate. Our neighbour, Mr. RAWLS, successor to Mr.
Wm. RAMSAY, keeps these instruments for sale, and his opinion
and experience are of value in the selection of a good instru-
ment, as he is a thorough musician.
A lady, whose parlour, by the way, is the scene of many a
delightful musical entertainment, has a Grand Piano, manufac-
tured by HORACE WATERS (New York), which for beauty of
construction and finish is unsurpassed. Its tone is exceedingly
good--especially for accompaniments for songs and operatic
music. We understand that it has not yet suffered any detri-
ment from our climate, and its tone to-day is excellent. This
instrument took a premium at the "Great Exhibition" in New
York, in 1856. It is the only one of Mr. WATERS' manufacture
that we have seen in our city, and if all of his make are equally
good, we can readily recommend them.
Many instruments have been sent to the Southern market
from the manufactory of JOSEPH NEWMAN & CO., of Baltimore,
Maryland. They are made expressly, we understand, for the
South, and will doubtless rapidly work their way into public
favour. Mr. NEWMAN has recently obtained a patent for an
improvement in the construction of the "sounding boards,"
which is highly spoken of by many eminent pianists. So far
as we have tried them, the tone of Mr. NEWMAN's pianos is
very god--but we think an improvement can be made in their
appearance and finish. A piano to be appreciated must be or-
namental, at least many of our lady friends say so, and we
suppose we must coincide in their opinion.
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A Desideratum.
From the extract below, taken from the Home Journal, it
will be seen that Mr. KENNEDY is about to gratify the wish, so
often expressed, that he should finish the world with a com-
plete edition of his works. The Home Journal is mistaken,
however, in saying that these publications have been long out
of print, as a uniform edition was published by PUTNAM in
1856. Mr. KENNEDY is a man of whom the South may be
justly proud. His "Horse-Shoe Robinson" is immensely
popular.
"Hon. J. P. Kennedy is engaged in preparing for the press
a uniform edition of his works, including 'Swallow Barn,'
'Horse-Shoe Robinson,' 'Rob of the Bowl,' and the 'Biogra-
phy of William Wirt.' Most of these publications have long
been out of print, and a new edition will command a great
sale, from the merit of the works, and the deserved popularity
of the author."
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The Illustrated Hebdomadals.
We have received from GLASS' book-store, "Harper's" and
"Frank Leslie's" for the week ending Saturday, September 17.
The reading matter is miscellaneous and instructive--the cuts
are numerous and creditable. All know the value of these is-
sues for light-reading, and as family papers--for chance perusal
and broken hours. They may be found at the book establish-
ment of Mr. GLASS.
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Our European Correspondence.
We call the attention of our readers to our correspondence
from abroad--from the Continent. The places visited by the
writer are of world-wide fame--of ever-enduring interest.
Though tourists, year after yar, may go thither and give us
descriptions, yet, as each individual mind differs from another,
each successive goer will find it in his power to afford us some-
thing fresh--something original--something edifying. This,
we think, we can claim for "Nous Verrons"--read his letters--
the time will be not ill-spent.
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The Carolina High School.
This popular High School, under the joint Coryphæus-ship of
A. BREVARD BRUMBY, Esq., M. A., and J. WOOD DAVIDSON, Esq.,
M. A., will be resumed in a short time--on the first Monday in
October. M. BESANÇON, a Graduate of the University of France,
has charge of the departments of the French language and
Mathematics.
It is a flourishing school, and worthy of the support of
our people. See the advertisement on the eighth page.
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The School of the Ursulines.
This Institution, in charge of the Ursuline Nuns of this city,
opened on the 19th instant, in their new house--formerly the
"American Hotel." With ample accomodations for boarders,
and increased facilities for instruction, the "Academy of the
Immaculate Conception" will doubtless meet with full favour
and confidence from our community and the State generally.
The system of education here pursued is universally admitted
to be thorough and complete.
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Wise!
We are glad to see, occasionally, that the "Ledger" gets its
deserts--as, for instance, in the following:
"OBJECTIONABLE LITERATURE..--The leaders and stewards
of the M. E. Church at Lambertsville, N. J., have 'resolved,
that the circulation and reading of the New York Ledger and
Police Gazette is a violation of the spirit and intent of that
portion of the general rules of that Church:--first, the injunc-
tion to do no harm; second, doing what we know is not for the
glory of God; thirdly, the reading of those books which do
not tend to the knowledge and love of God."
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Critical Notice.
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"TEN YEARS OF PREACHER LIFE," &c., by WILLIAM HENRY
MILBURN, AUTHOR OF "THE RIFLE, AXE AND SADDLE BAGS."
New York: Derby & Jackson. MDCCCLIX.
The autobiography of any man in public life, if plainly
written, and with no effort at display, will contain much that is
interesting. No matter what part he may have enacted--what
position he may have occupied--strange and eventful incidents
have ever and anon occurred in his history. To record these
properly is no easy task. Men will not always write as they
talk, and an undue and vain desire for literary fame has often
ruined what otherwise would have been a most interesting and
attractive book.
One of the chief charms of the work before us is, its simple,
yet earnest and expressive style. Nearly five years have
passed since we heard Mr. MILBURN--a name now familiar to
us all--lecture or preach. The impression then made by his
oratory was agreeable, and the perusal of his book has been
no less so. With his writings, as with his discourses, there are
no strivings after effect--no effort to appear learned--no as-
pirations to win applause. He is always earnest and sincere--
plain and forcible--often-times rising to eloquence, yet never
descending below the limits of good sense and taste.
Mr. MILBURN has here given us a truthful sketch of the lfie
of a Methodist minister, with its manifold vicissitudes--its con-
tests and triumphs over "the world, the flesh and the Devil."
The subject would be at all times interesting--but in this in-
stance is rendered more so by the personal experience--the
life-history of the writer himself--being associated with it. It
is a record of his life for ten years--a record by the hands of
others at his dictation--for, as is well known, the eyes of the
eloquent preacher and attractive author are closed in blindness.
We recommend this book to our readers, especially those of
the Methodist denomination. While candour impels us to
state that we do not entirely approve of Mr. MILBURN's remarks
concerning "the peculiar institution of the South," still we do
not object to his work on this account. He is in thought and
feeling "one of us," and minor differences, on a subject of so
great magnitude, can well be tolerated where both parties are
true and loyal, as in this instance.
For our copy we are indebted to Mr. P. B. GLASS--successor
to R. L. BRYAN.
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DERBY & JACKSON, it is said, are soon to publish a book en-
titled "Calhoun and his Contemporaries," by B. A. REYNOLDS,
Esq., of Mobile, Alabama.
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The Berkley Sensation.
New York has had quite a stir lately, in consequence of the
arrival of the English sportsman, the Hon. GRANTLEY BERKLEY.
Is this one of the persons who figure in so unenviable a style
in MAGINN's "Fraserian Papers?" If so, we should be sur-
prised to see him received in circles where the history of the
brutal attack on poor FRASER is known.
The Home Journal says:
"The Hon. Grantley F. Berkley, the well-known English sports-
man, has arrived in this city, and is stopping at the Clarendon
Hotel. The honourable gentleman visits this country for two
purposes, viz., to make a sporting tour through the West, to
hunt the buffalo, antelope, elk, and other animals of the prai-
rie and wilderness; and, also, to visit the large farms and
plantations, to witness the operations in regard to the care and
rearing of stock. That he will meet with a warm and gener-
ous reception from the sturdy sons of the West we do not
doubt. Mr. Berkley is a brother of the present distinguished
member of Parliament from Bristo. Sir John Rennie, a
friend of the Hon. Grantley F. Berkley, is also at the Clar-
endon."
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For the Courant.

Pope's Homer.
Dear Courant:--The notices of old books, by "The Charles-
ton Courier," and other papers throughout the country, have
suggested to me me to lay before your readers an account of
one to be seen at "The Columbia Athenæum Library:" a copy
of POPE's HOMER, in six volumes, folio--a copy of the first
printed, bearing date 1715--the first volume 1715--the last 1720.
The title-page is as follows:
THE ILIAD OF HOMER.
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TRANSLATED BY MR. POPE.
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Te sequor, O Graiæ gentis Deus! inque tuis nunc
Fixa pedum pono pressis vestigia signis:
Non ita certandi cupidus, quàm propter Amorem,
Quod te imitari aveo------- LUCRET.
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LONDON:
Printed by W. BOWYER, for BERNARD LINTOTT between the
Temple-Gates, 1715.
Next comes the "Royal License and Privilege for the sole
printing and publishing" "the six volumes of the ILIAD OF
HOMER, translated by" Alexander Pope.
Each book is accompanied with ample "observations," or
notes, critical and explanatory. The opening of the first book,
inasmuch as it differs from our present version, may be inter-
esting. I give it verbatim et literatim:

"The Wrath of Peleus' Son, the direful Spring
"Of all the Grecian woes, O Goddess, Sing!
"That Wrath which hurl'd to Pluto's gloomy Reign
"The Souls of mighty Chiefs untimely slain;
"Whose Limbs unbury'd on the naked Shore
"Devouring Dogs and hungry Vultures tore,
"Since great Achilles and Atrides strove,
"Such was the Sov'reign Doom and such the Will of Jove."

As before stated, this edition of POPE's translation of HOMER
--the princeps editio--is comprised in six volumes, folio, bound
in calf, dated from 1715 to 1720, and is, perhaps, one of the
few copies--if not the only copy--in the State. It was pre-
sented to the Athenæum by its munificent donor, the Hon.
WM. CAMPBELL PRESTON.
I have several other books, in "The Athenæum Library,"
and elsewhere, to note. Faithfully, P. D. S.
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THE OLDEST BIBLE IN THE COUNTRY.--We have upon our table
to-day a copy of the Sacred Scriptures, printed in the English
language, which is said to be the oldest in this country. It was
printed at Geneva, by John Crespin, in 1568. This remark-
able book was, no doubt, when made, an excellent piece of
mechanical work, so far as durability of material could go;
and it has stood the test of time remarkably well. Generation
after generation has consulted its pages for spiritual comfort,
and upon its sacred "record" each has engraved the marks of
its times; and still, most of the printing and writing is legible.
The title page of the Old Testament and the first eighteen
chapters of Genesis are gone. The rest is quite perfect, and
on the New Testament title page we find the date of the work.
We copy it verbatim; but we have not the ancient style of type
upon which it was printed:

THE
NEWE TESTAMENT
OF OVR LORD
IESVS CHRIST,
conferred diligently with the Greke and best approved translations
in diurs languages,
EXOD. XIII. VER. XIII.
Feare ye not, stand still, and beholde the salvation of the Lord,
which he will show to you
this daye,
THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOV,
therefore holde you your peace. Exod. 14, vers. 14.
AT GENEVA,
PRINTED BY IOHN CRESPIN,
M. D. LXVIII.

This copcy of the Bible is now the property of C. C. Curtiss,
a teacher in Professor Benedict's academy, and it has been in
his family and in the hands of his ancestors for nearly or quite
two hundred and fifty years. The family record in this book
is closely written with the names of the Curtiss family, and
goes as far back as 1630, when the name was written Turtis.
This volume has been sought for by different persons, who de-
sired to purchase it almost at any price. In one instance a
large sum was offered the father of the present possessor, but
it could not be spared--it was not for sale.
Of the peculiarities of this volume, and the noticeable fea-
tures, a great deal might be said; but we have not the time to
go over it, and do it justice. --The Rochester Union.
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