PUBLISHED MONTHLY, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-BENJAMIN B. MINOR, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. VOL. X. RICHMOND, JANUARY, 1844. THE EDITOR TO HIS PATRONS. Hoping that a "merry Christmas" has gladdened your hearts, leaving them untouched by its frost, we again greet you with "a happy New Year." What matters it that chill Winter has come, binding all Nature in his icy chains, if he touch not with his torpor the generous impulses of noble hearts? Though his blasts howl around us, as now, making us almost idolize "our own fire side," where we so "tranquilly abide," it may still be sunshine and Spring within our minds. Let the frosts of selfishness never freeze the generous current of the soul; but let the genial warmth of kindred spirits, the ardor of chaste Love and the fervor of devoted Friendship keep it limpid, flowing and sparkling forever. There is a glory and a use in Nature's winter, with all its cold and storm. With what grandeur and splendor the mountain rears its snow-turbaned head! What Beauty spangles the gem-decked trees! What Joy fills the throng that glide, like spirits in a dream, over the surface of the shining lake! And beneath Winter's chilling robe spring the flowers and the grain. But what glory, what beauty, what good in the blasts of human passion, or the benumbing selfishness of Ignoble Natures? NO. 1. Knowledge, rest content, whilst any scheme for Intellectual improvement and Literary honor is demanding their support!! For the ensuing year, our own efforts shall be unremitting and we will receive the constant aid of many of the ablest pens in the Union ;-Essayists, Poets, Novelists, Critics and Historians. They have assured us of their good will and some have given solid proof of their intention to sustain us. THEY DEEM IT ESSENTIAL TO THE SOUTH TO HAVE SUCH A WORK AND CRY SHAME UPON HER SONS FOR NOT SPEEDING IT ON WITH MORE GENEROUS AID. Nothing is wanting, in order to sustain, in the heart of the South and with the South in its heart, the best toned, best printed and best filled Magazine in the whole Union, but Patrons; or, to speak more plainly, prompt, paying subscribers. We foresee that the pretended, or supposed cheapness of lower priced Periodicals will be an obstacle in our way. Common honesty requires that those who do not furnish but three dollars' worth should demand no more. Is it not better, judicious and economical readers, to give a guinea for a guinea than a shilling for a sixpence; or, what is still worse, than imitate the gourmand, who gave his last guinea for an ortelan? Many think, that after The monarch of the sunny clime could not be their money has been changed into good Messenger persuaded that Winter ever laid his stiff hand upon paper, they get what is worth a premium. The the flowing streams and made them bear the tramp existence of the Messenger, with its distinctive of men. If he was as ignorant of the freezing tone, is and has been worth to the South more thoucoldness of the heart, what Bliss he knew! May sands than enough to establish it forever. The the constant sunshine of Christmas mirth, New Messenger can not be too large for a month's readYear happiness and every day joy keep you from ing. By reduction of size and loss of character, experiencing it, and make you as incredulous of it it could be brought to the level of three dollar as was the Eastern King of the existence of ice. cheapness,-but no true friend can desire to see Another year, with its hopes, its duties and its this done. You may lop the noble oak, until noaims, is opening before us. Different occupations thing is left but its unsightly trunk, fit only to invite the energy of our spirits. Go on with brave be burned; or you may cut it down and leave hearts and strong hands-the wilderness of Life only its misshapen stump; but, in order to enjoy will fall before you and smiling homes and spreading, its beauty and shade, you must extend its spreadteeming fields will reward and bless your efforts. ing branches, by watering its roots and fertilizing We approve the custom of the Editor commen- its soil. Sooner than see the Messenger disparcing each volume with a little friendly chat with aged and brought down from its present exalted pohis patrons. He has to thank the firm and stead-sition, we had rather see it fall. Southerners, fast, to incite the faltering, to arouse the supine you can preserve it, as it stands; and who had not and invoke anew the aid of all the friends of Lite- rather see the proud monument, reared in honor of rary Enterprise. He has to congratulate his readers some noble achievement, shattered by the lightupon the delight he has afforded them, to unfoldning, or uprooted by the earthquake, than suffered to them his plans, and to commune with them about to moulder and decay, by the neglect of those who his prospects-ah! and he has to regret that many should have cherished and perpetuated it. are so indifferent to the noble cause, in which he is What are the few thousand patrons of the Mesengaged, as to withdraw, or withhold their encour-senger to the vast number of those to whose inagement and support. How can any, whose hearts terest, to whose patriotism and appreciation of and minds have been visited by the " Day-star" of laudable enterprise it strongly appeals? We can VOL. X-1 not rest satisfied, nor feel proud of the South until she has sent us TEN THOUSAND subscribers. IPHIGENIA AT TAURIS. A DRAMATIC POEM. IN FIVE ACTS. (Translated from the German of Goëthé.) We are almost ready to resolve that we will have this number if we have to go through the land, a second Peter the Hermit. Come then, ye sons of the South, who love your own land, and ye sons of the North, who wish a bond of union with The Grecian host, destined for the destruction of Troy, your brethren-who wish to reciprocate that gene-cian bosom burned to avenge the injured Helen. There lay was assembled at Aulis. All was now ready and each Grerous patronage which your every effort receives the ships freighted with heros and all the munitions of war; from us;-Come and enroll your names in behalf but in vain they waited for propitious winds. Agamemnon, of the Messenger. To you, most generous and 'King of Men," the commander of this mighty host, had steady Patrons, we owe unbounded thanks, and killed the favorite stag of Diana, and the Goddess, in disshall strive, unremittingly, to requite you for your pleasure, allowed "not one favoring breeze to swell his flagging sails." favors, by sending you a work worthy of yourselves. Calchas "disclosed the fates" and demanded the costly To effect this, let none be Patrons in name only-sacrifice of Iphigenia, Agamemnon's cherished daughter, but all in deed and in truth. Let every friend en- to appease "the Queen dispensing light." The father's list his friends; every gifted pen pour fourth its love hardly yields to the Greek's devotion; but the wiley treasures and all unite to rear a monument of talent Ulysses is sent to lure the dedicated victim and her mother worthy of the Fathers we have buried, of the land the Great Achilles. The hour arrives, the Altar is preto the camp, under the pretence of marrying Iphigenia to which they left us, of the privileges we possess pared and the victim, now willing, is ready to die; but and the destiny that awaits us. Diana ransoms the maiden, and enshrouding her in a cloud, bears her away to Tauris, in the present Crimea, and makes her priestess of her Temple there. What happened there the play will best unfold. At this season of Christmas Gifts and New Year Presents, it may be expected that we should offer you something more substantial than sentiment, or exhortation. Alas! alas!! we have neither" Mys-at Aulis and at Tauris. The German poet has represented Euripides, in his works, has celebrated Iphigenia both teries of Paris," Newspaper " Annuals," nor any some incidents differently from him. The name of the other unrivalled "Premiums," to offer you. A author of the following translation would give weight; cordial greeting and our Messenger's stores-our but we must confine ourselves to saying, that it has been "heart and lute"-are all we can give you. highly approved by a German scholar and by an excellent Oh! judge of its English Dress.-Ed. Mess. ye grown up children, will not these suffice? If not, then sincerely do we hope, that St. Nicholas has well filled your hanging socks with sugar plums and fire-crackers. But ye, whose devotion did not propitiate the bountiful Nicholas, be not disconso-THOAS, King of Tauris. late; for your fond mothers have, or will, no doubt, ARCAs, his Minister. award you the portion of that "big boy," "Little Jack Horner, Who sat in a corner, DRAMATIS PERSONE. IPHIGENIA, Priestess of the Temple of Diana at Tauris and ORESTES, Brother of Iphigenia. SCENE.-The grove before Diana's Temple. ACT.I.-SCENE 1. Iphigenia alone. But indeed we are disposed to be liberal-yes we Through your deep shades, ye high and waving summits, move, e'en now, with shuddering emotion, To think rightly is of Knowledge; to speak fluently is of Wo to the wretch, who, far from home and kindred, Must mourn in solitude life's dearest joys To read with profit is of care; but to write aptly is of Dashed from his lip. His thronging thoughts still roam practice. Back to his Father's halls, back to the scenes, To be accurate, write; to remember, write; to know thine Where first the fair Sun to his eye disclosed own mind, write., The face of Heaven; where the sports of childhood, Tupper. Strengthening the ties of blood, still closer drew |