SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS
Reading edition
THE CHOSEN ONE.
"Here's a long line of beauties—see! Ay, and as varied as they're many— Say, can I guess the one would be Your choice among them all—if any?" "I doubt it,—for I hold as dust Charms many praise beyond all measure— While gems they treat as lightly, must Combine to form my chosen treasure." "Will this do?"—"No;—that hair of gold, That brow of snow, that eye of splendour, Cannot redeem the mien so cold, The air so stiff, so quite un-tender." "This then?"—"Far worse! Can lips like these Thus smile as though they asked the kiss?— Thinks she that e'en such eyes can please, Beaming—there is no word—like this?" "Look on that singer at the harp, Of her you cannot speak thus—ah, no!" —"Her! why she's formed of flat and sharp— I doubt not she's a fine soprano!" "The next?"—"What, she who lowers her eyes From sheer mock-modesty—so pert, So doubtful-mannered?—I despise Her, and all like her—she's a Flirt! "And this is why my spleen's above The power of words;—'tis that they can Make the vile semblance be to Love Just what the Monkey is to Man! "But yonder I, methinks, can trace One very different from these— Her features speak—her form is Grace Completed by the touch of Ease! "That opening lip, that fine frank eye Breathe Nature's own true gaiety— So sweet, so rare when thus, that I Gaze on't with joy, nay ecstacy! "For when 'tis thus, you'll also see That eye still richer gifts express— And on that lip there oft will be A sighing smile of tenderness! "Yes! here a matchless spirit dwells E'en for that lovely dwelling fit!— I gaze on her—my bosom swells With feelings, thoughts,——oh! exquisite! "That such a being, noble, tender, So fair, so delicate, so dear, Would let one love her, and befriend her!— —Ah, yes, my Chosen One is here!"
London Magazine.
TRAVELLING ON THE CONTINENT.
The man whom we have known to be surrounded by respect and attachment at home, whose life is honourable and useful within his proper sphere, we have seen with his family drudging along continental roads, painfully disputing with postilions in bad French, insulted by the menials of inns, fretting his time and temper with the miserable creatures who inflict their tedious ignorance under the name of guides, and only happy in reaching any term to the journey which fashion or family entreaty have forced upon him. We are willing, however, to regard such instances as casual, and proving only that travelling, like other pleasures, has its alloys; but stationary residence abroad brings with it other and more serious evils. To the animation of a changing scene of travel, succeeds the tedious idleness of a foreign town, with scanty resources of society, and yet scantier of honourable or useful occupation. Here also we do but describe what we have too frequently seen—the English gentleman, who at home would have been improving his estates, and aiding the public institutions of his country, abandoned to utter insignificance; his mind and resources running waste for want of employment, or, perchance, turned to objects to which even idleness might reasonably be preferred. We have seen such a man loitering along his idle day in streets, promenades, or coffee-houses; or sometimes squandering time and money at the gambling-table, a victim because an idler. The objects of nature and art, which originally interested him, cease altogether to do so.
We admit many exceptions to this picture; but we, nevertheless, draw it as one which will be familiar to all, who have been observers on the continent. One circumstance must further be added to the outline; we mean, the detachment from religious habits, which generally and naturally attends such residence abroad. The means of public worship exist to our countrymen but in few places; and there under circumstances the least propitious to such duties. Days speedily become all alike; or if Sunday be distinguished at all, it is but as the day of the favourite opera, or most splendid ballet of the week. We are not puritanically severe in our notions, and we intend no reproach to the religious or moral habits of other nations. We simply assert, that English families removed from out of the sphere of those proper duties, common to every people, and from all opportunities of public worship or religious example, incur a risk which is very serious in kind, especially to those still young and unformed in character.
Quarterly Review.