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7 S82 THE LEADER. ^Saturday,
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TOBY JOURNALISM. The Coalition Guide ; I...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Ida May. Ida May, By Mary Lnngdon. Edite...
she lias depicted , but " she has preferred to take the medium tones most commonly met with . " The two most painful scenes in the book , are those of a Little child being nearly whipped to death , and another of a young slave being driven to commit suicide by the harshness of an otherwise indulgent master . Ida 'May ¦ , the heroine of the story , is a white , but is kidnapped when only five years old . One of the most powerfully written descriptions in the book , respects an old negro woman , called Chloe , an ogre-like creature -who kept watch over the children captured by the kidnappers . The poor wretch had been tortured out of all the humanity that she ever possessed . Towards the whites especially , she was inspired with a fiendish hatred . But here is Miss Langdon ' s own account : —
By accident these kidnappers bad discovered , upon this mountain , a cave , of sufficient size to suit their purposes ; anil , by building a hut directly la front of the opening , it was effectually concealed from all eyes . Hither they- came from the south , bringing with them provisions for themselves and their horses . Their large covered waggon -was left hidden among the trees and bushes near the road , but the animals were led up the path , and hidden in the cave ; and Here also trere hidden the children that were from time to time captured , until a waggon-load had been collected ; and old Atmt Chloe kept watch over all . Her wants were supplied by her masters , and she only went to Hagerstown , a few miles distant , with the willow baskets that she wove and exchanged for the necessaries of life , so as to prevent the suspicioa and inquiries of the few country people who were aware of her existence in this lonely T & treat . Her appearance was perfectly hideous . Her grey hair huiig in elf-locks over her neck , from under the dirty cotton handkerchief that bound her brows ; and her face , tawny and wrinkled , and seamed with age , was stamped with every bad passion . Her form was bent , and she was covered with a short gown and petticoat , so dirty and patched that it was difficult to tell of what colour or material the original was composed ; and her hands and fingers bony , long , and claw-like , resembled a vulture ' s talons more than anything
human . ¦ :- SucTv'was the being who how rose from her seat beside the door , and , taking the pipe from het month , said , with some appearauce of curiosity , " Hillo ! what dat ? iteckon yer done rob de-white hen-roost dis time 1 " and a fiendish expression passed over her face , as she stretched forth her snaky fingers , and , burying them in the child ' s curly hair , drew her towards herself . The act , and her frightful appearance , caused Ida to cry with pain and terror . " ¦ There 'tis again , " said Bill ; " that ' s just the way it ' s been every minute of the time the gal ' sbeen awake , since we started , Shut up , there , I tell yer !" " Gosh t what ' s de good o ? fcellin' her to shefcup ? ' said Chloe . " Dey alters cries dat -way till you gets em broke in . Crying for your mammy ?™ she added , addressing the child ; " got a mammy , a ' n't ye ?" "O no , no ! " sobbed Ida , Vpoor mamma ' s dead , and papa ' s all alone . O , do let me go back to papa !" ^ Sorry yer mamtny ' s dead , " said Chloe ; " wish she warn't , for I knows how she'd feel
tohav « ye toted pff ^ how she'd cry !—0 , wouldn ' t she , though?—and tear her Lair , maybe . How I'd like to see her , wouldn't I ? Hasn't I seed , de nigger women cry so when , dere ¦ chillen was toted off to be sold?—don't I 'member when dey took my darter , —0 , don't I ? 4 SorryyoTtr mammy ' s dead , —' got a daddy , though , to feel bad , a ' n't ye ?" 44 , yes . Poor papa I Do , please , take me home again , " and the child cried piteously . "¦ Shut tip ! - —there ! " said Bill , striking hor . "Do you suppose I'll stand this yellingmuch longer ? " « ' ( josh ! " interrupted his ^ companion , " what de use talkin' ?—just give hersommatto fcreak her sperit ; dat de waie dey do de young nigs when dey cries for dere mammies . I ' se hearn ' em cry , and Been ' em whipped for it , many de time ; and 1 'se hearn heaps o' white buckra say dere nothin' like a good breakin ' -in , to save trouble aterwards . Dat ' s what does itj—breaks dere sperit and learns ' em dere place . " « ' I declare I believe 't will be a first-rat * plan , " said Bill , with an oath , " and it may as ? well -le idone now as any time ; for , blame me , the little jade didn't try to get away , comin' up the hill , and I ' m tired of hearing her yell ; " and , as he spoke , he cut from the
tree beside mm a long rod , which he stripped of its leaves and swayed m the air to prove its strength . " Come here , " he added , seizing Ida by one arm ; " I'll learn ye to aaind . *' "Bat the woman interposed . " Letfra */ " she said ; " 0 , dot that ' s a nice feller , — -ye don't know the good 't 'II dome . Don ' t I member wlien de white man flog my darter , my little girl , dat cried 'cause she was sold off from mo , And dey whipped us both till de blood run down , to make ' her let go my gown ? - ^ -O , do let me do it , now , —do ! Ye don't know the good it do me , jast to think of it I" , "Take it , then : but mind yourself what you do , '' said Bill , throwing down the rod and releasing his hold of the child . "O , 4 on'fc whip me , don't I ' cried Ida ; " I'll ba good , I won ' t cryl O , don't whip me I" . . "I want ' s ye to cry , —I likes to hear ye , —it ' s raoosic , " said the hag , pausing , with the rod uplifted , to enjoy her agony of terror , " Cry no-vr , cry loud 1 " and , as sbo spoke , the rod descended on tho bare , delicate shoulders . " Gry , ye white wolf-cub t ory , ye white foear » "wbelp I scream little rattlesnake I I likes to hear — —I'll make
, ye yo ,-cry away ,- yc may for the blood of my child , where the -whips cut her ! '' And f » st and hetwily fell the blows on the arms and shoulders of tho victim , covering them with blue , livid marks , till , suddenly , the shrieks of tho child stopped , her struggles ceased , and she foil down at tho 4 eet of her tormentor . All 'this had passed in a minute , and Bill ,-who liad stood by , half-amusod and halfehpeked At this burat of demoniac fury , now sprang forward , with an oath , and raised tho child . " You ' ve killed her , you she-devil , I do ooliove , " said ho ; and , indeed , she lay in his Arms as if dead , for this terrific ordeal had been too much for . that touder frame , so unused to suffering . Sho liad fuintoil . Chloe put both hands into a pail of water that stood outside the door of her . hut , ond , scooping saino up , dashed it into Ida ' s face , again and again , " until she gnsped and opened her eyes . " Tliero , now , " she said , " she ' s come to . I ' se glad sho a ' n't dead . I don ' t liko tor hav « ¦ f olk * i > , ~—dat ' a too good , do a ' n't no pninin c ?«^ , — -1 lxkoa tev liavo ' em live , and , moreudder , I wants ( Us little brat to live , so I can do it again . 0-, wasn ' t It jolly to hoar her yell I" she kidded , with a chuckling laugh .
" Mo you don t , old fool 3 said Bill , as aho again approached with tho rod , as if about to carry out her cruel desire ; " no yo don ' t—hands off" ! I was mad , or I wouldn't alotyo whip her at first . 'Twonb do to spilo property this way' or Kelly ' 11 bo in my hair . Besides , she ' s mighty ni / Jh doad : now , —ace how still sho lays , " " Gosh I doad , I reckon 1 " eaid Chloe . " Sich a . little- wliippin' as dat kill any young mi I I ' se seen ' qvx bear heap more ' n dat lore dey faints away , down in Car'linn ; and doy < lon ' t bring ' em to wid water , noidor , I makoa sure , —dey takes somepun stronger ' n datt—O , a ' jvt I felt it?—don't do picMo put do llfo into a . nigger , whon he done hnu a . < Jtittin ** np ?" " If old your tongue , you brutol" replied Bill . " White children a ' n't to bo treated liko niggers , and , any way , you novor seo nigger children pioUlcd , noithor . Ilold your tongue . " " White chil-Jron a ' n't to bo treated liko niggers , n'n'fc doy , liny ? " said the other with a grin that showed hor toothloss gums from oar to oar . " Mighty sight diflbronco dey'll bo 7
twoeu dut Uttlo prat in yor anna , and uein littlo niggara in do cnvo , whon yo gets cin in do jnnrkot . " " Well , hold yor tongue , any way ; I ' m alck o' yor clack , " interrupted Bill , ' and go Into tho houao and got my suppor , and muko somo gruol liko you mado for mo wlien I was nick here—muko it nice , old woman , for I moan it aluOl 4 o tliia littlo erutur oomo good . Blio a'n ' t « i * t onough to keep . a fly « livo einoo wo got her , and , artor all tho oxjiouiio wo ' vo been « t , wo can't auord to havo lior dio on our hands . " Ohloo roluctuntly cntorod tho hut to oboy thin order , muttering to horsolf , aud licking her fl « Vby lips , liko u hyona who hnn t us tod blood and in 4 rivon from Uh pruy . In n littlo whilo BlIlTdlbwed , carrying tho child , who had not spolceei , and hanlly Bhowod any nlpn of Ufa , oxoopt l > y a low , ' ( juiolc breatlting , and a convuloiro shaudor that now and then psmaed ovor her . Lnylitg onthoruda bod that stood in one corner of tlxo hut , ho bomui to ohafu hw limbs , and forcohev to uwullow a littlo water , fur ho way now aoriously uWmod lent sho might dio .
* ' She ' d be worth a cool five hundre 1 to us , ™ he said monrnfally , " beside bpino- sich a pretty little thing :, as makes me most sorry for her . " Indeed , it would hare moved a heart of adamant to have seen her , as she lay helplessly on that heap of dirty rags , with her long curls wet and clinging round her face , her eyes wide open and dim , as if a mist was before her sight , and her white neck and arms bruised and disfigured with the marks of violeace . She allowed herself with difficulty to be fed with the gruel : but she seemed net to know who was feeding her , or be conscious of anything that passed beside her bed , and no threats or entreaties could induce her to speak , or to close her eyes in sleep . Ida fares better than might have been expected after such a beginning . She is sold for fif ty dollars to Mrs . Bell , and recovers under tlie nursing of an old negro called Venus , to whose care she was entrusted . Presently the child becomes so pretty as to excite tlie jealousy of Mrs . Bell , and she is sent off with a gang to be sold . She is rescued by a somewhat Quixotic young gentleman , Master Walter Varian , and taken to the house of Mr . Maynard , Walter ' s uncle . There , by accident , her story is discovered . A number of gentlemen are dining at Mr . Maynard ' s , when the conversation turned upon slavery . One of th . e guests laad met Mr . May , Ida ' s father , as he compassed sea and land , in search of his lost child .
v I shall never forget one poor . man , whom I met in New Orleans three years since , searching for his child that had been stolen from liim . I never saw a man so bowed and broken with anxiety and sorrow . He said she was his only child , and liis wife had died a few months before the daughter was lost . He had traced the kidnappers into Maryland , and there lost their track , and , since then , had been all over the south and west seeking her in vain . Poor fellow . ! his face haunted me for weeks afterwards . I never saw such a picture of despair , It was dreadful to think what he must have suffered . " " Did he tell you the child's name ? " asked Walter , anxiously , for he felt a deep interest in the story . " Yes , I asked him particularly , that I might know in case I ever heard anything about such a child . The name was Ida- ^ -Ida May—rather a peculiar name , too——* ' He paused suddenly , fdr with a faint ery the child sprang through the open window- and stood before them . When , finding herself the object of remark , she had glided out of view , she had not left the piazza , as they supposed . Between the windows of the dining-room there was a k » v seaty and here : she had seated herself , that she might still gaze on the beautiful flowers , and also hear the voice of her kind friend Walter , for whom her young heart
beat with . an . enthusiastic admiration and love . There she had lingered , listening to the conversation , until , as the last speaker began his simple story , her attention became aroiised and fixed- The stirring events of the lkst few weeks , which had so painfully broken the monotony of her existence , had excited in her mind a dim and . confused memory of scenes and eventsin thepast which Jaad likewise brought fear and suffering , and something in that recital seemed to clear away the thick haze that clouded her mental vision ; and when at length th « name— -her ftame-r-was mentioned , the " electric chain" was touched ) and vividly , as with a lightning glare , all the long hidden years were visible before her . Standing m the raidst of the startled circle , witli her head bent forward , and her small hands clasped imploringly , she threw around one quick glance of agonised inquiry , and exclaimed wildly , " That ' s it , that's my name—Ida May ! I remember it all now , and poor papa , and my dead mother ' s grave , and Bessy , and the flowers , and those dreadful men , and O , that dreadful woman that whipped me so ! 0 1 remember it all now ! Where have I been , so long , and where is papa * and dear , dear mamma—where is she ? " and with these words she fell down insensible on the floor at their feet .
And thus this portion of the story ends . The child is adopted by Mr . Maynard , and finally marries Walter . Ida May is written with , such an . obvious purpose , that we had almost forgotten to criticise it as a work of art , the interest of the novel being made throughout subordinate to that of the subject . As a novel , then , Ida May will certainly be a success . The different characters are well drawn and well sustained . The writing is always good , aavd often , powerful , and we are bound to say that Miss Langdon has shown no tendency to exaggerate her case . The book is perhaps as fair a picture of slave life in America as has ever been given to the public .
7 S82 The Leader. ^Saturday,
7 S 82 THE LEADER . ^ Saturday ,
Toby Journalism. The Coalition Guide ; I...
TOBY JOURNALISM . The Coalition Guide ; Illwtratbna of the Political History of 1853- 4 . London : " The Press" Ofrke . A Retrospect of the Session of ^ 1854 . By an M . P . George Cox , King-street , Coventrgarden . The old fashion , is reviving among us of collecting and publishing select bits from the newspapers . The Leader has sent forth several volumes lately ; and out contemporary , the Press follows the mode with the Coalition Guide , The fashion is a very good one ; journalists would write better literature , and Just as good newspaper matter for the immediate purpose , if they wrote with the fear , looking forward , that they might have to look back . The great fault of English journalism is its carelessness of style— -clumsy thinking being , in the end ? induced by a habit of inelegant and inaccurate writing ; .
The Coalition Guide is a collecti on of leading articles , squibe , epigrams , & c , & o ., which have appeared against the Coalition Government—that is , which have appeared in the Press , which vras started , apparently , to abuse the Coalition . The forms of these satires are not novel ; they aru the Anti-Jacobin forms , too faithfully copied ; and the title is not vexy original , for we remember several suoh political Guides among others , a New Tory Guide , very detrimental at tho time , no doubt , to George Canning , in which "the writers of the present collection must have found various hints . One verso in the Neio Tori / Guide , wo remember , and wonder it has not , in this instance , been , applied to the present young Peel of the Coalition : — " What is tho young Peel liko ? With his father ' s ataro And sandy hnir , < That is what young Pool's liko . "
. This is very absurd and not funny ; but we recognise one or two analogous imbooilitiea in this undiscriminating foray , individual and gonoral , on the Coalition . The taste for political squibs has quite gone out ; cither because we arc less earnest , or more earnest , in politics , or for somo other reason ; but tho fact is indubitable . ^ Tliero is wonderful clovernesH , humour , mud drollury , »» this collection $ but tho wit would probably havo boeu far more ell'eotivo if it had been directed in a diiloront shape . Tho snuio effect ennnot bo produced twice by the sfttno literary instrument—and certainly you cannot doponil , on the form without tho spirit , as sovorul comic publications should have discovered by this time . Political squibs were dona with in England wlncm Moore was getting old and Mncnulny coming into voguo—tho two wrote tlie IuhI ; wliiuh appeared in tho Times ; und as , at about this period our politics wore intensifying out of moro personal questioning , it in easily understood wliy personalities of tho direct satirical species somewhat ceased . r J . 'fio squib ia tho invention of witsi who have not a froo press in which , to speak openly ;— itis wlao a lito-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 16, 1854, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16091854/page/18/
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