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ed from his pallid and piteous victim upon me, his eyes glared-his hands were clenched together like the talons of a bird of prey, and he uttered in a sepulchral tone my name. "Restore my Imogen,” I cried, “or I strike you dead!" He smiled, and I waved my dagger over his head. His eye followed my gesture, and quick as thought, while the crowd were rushing like a dark and giant wave towards us, that godlike voice from the distance, broke upon my ear. My arm dropped-the dagger fell from my grasp-a clammy perspiration oozed from every pore. I reeled from the intensity of intoxicated sensations, and leant against the wall.

saw him speak to her with his mouth close to her ear. [ facc. With a blow I struck him to the ground, and What he said was urged vehemently. She smiled tim- grappled the arch-fiend by the throat. When he turnidly. Oh that smile! it dispelled every gloom. She shook her head, but he opened his large--his lustrous and splendid eyes, and gazed reprovingly and beseechingly into hers, and in a moment an alarmed and dubious expression flitted over her face, and she averted her look. I could have plunged my dagger into his heart, but I trembled and stood still, while a murmur ran through the crowd, and suddenly the Enigma stood upon the platform. He was clothed in a full suit of black velvet, and his forehead shone like a star; his hair fell down in long wavy curls, and his face was pale and his | eye dim as an ashen corpse-but even in death beautiful. Had he been communing with that melodious being, and was he just from the conference?

A pin might have fallen and been heard among that absorbed and entranced assembly, and for a moment my attention was diverted from Imogen and her cousin Ernest, and directed in concentrated curiosity towards the operator.

There seemed a sound from afar off, like the dying cadence of a harp, but none heard it distinctly, yet all were startled at its mystery, and then all was still as the grave.

I once more turned towards Ernest and Imogen, and she was deadly pale, while he was flushed and his actions were agitated and nervous. Then was renewed within me the hell that I had before felt.

The magnetizer turned his full eyes from the crowd towards the twain-they were sitting near to him, and a sudden change was visible on his face.

In front of him were the skeptics, or philosophers, who had taunted him to this final trial, and every solemnity had been put in requisition to sustain him in his hour of need. I tried to force my way through the crowd. I could have torn them to pieces, but they moved not, and so I was constrained to be a mere spectator of that scene, which taxed every fibre of my heart to bear.

Suddenly the magnetizer waved his hand upwards and gazed upon Imogen. She was not looking at him at that moment, but no sooner had he made the gesture, than with a quick start she turned towards him. I was struck mute with horror and amaze-my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth, and I could neither call aloud nor make a sign.

Horrible sight! In a second, like a stroke of lightning the truth flashed across my mind, and I saw that Ernest had staked his hope of success with Imogen upon the magnetic influence of the master.

The music continued, and with it seemed to come a perfume that filled the whole room. Not a person moved, but all looked on in fearful amazement at the wonderful spectacle.

There sat my beloved, my adored Imogen, as I have described her, with the terrible sorcerer towering proudly and triumphantly over all. The music paused but for a second, and yet that second was a life to menot a moment to lose, but I darted forward and regaining my dagger, I plunged it into the body of my foe. I seized Imogen by the hand and tried to wake her. To all appearance she was dead-not a word—not a sigh-not a movement even of a muscle. I called aloud to the bleeding Magnetizer to reillume the victim of his art, but he replied not.

He alone could rescue her. He who had darkened her spirit could revive the soul, and give it back to life and love. I knelt by his side-I raised him in my arms-I pointed to Imogen, and begged him to wave his hand once more, and wake her from her ghastly sleep. He smiled bitterly, and shook his head with a ferocious smirk of exultation.

Driven to despair, I dashed him away from me, and cast myself upon my knees before the inanimate body of my betrothed; but I gazed upon the vacant eye, and called to the deafened ear.

While kneeling before her, I heard a scream, and then a confused murmur of alarm, and the next moment I saw the figure of a dark and majestic woman standing above the magnetizer. She stooped and raised his head upon her knee and whispered to his ear. He slowly raised his eyes to Imogen and waved his hand. The eyes of my beloved moved-her lips unclosed— she drew a long breath, and rising from her chair fell into my opened arms. The crowd, held back through fear and superstition, now raised a loud shout of joy, and when I looked round for the strange being who had wrought this sudden change, I saw nothing but a small black pool of blood. The enchanter and the enchantress had left the hall.

Here the manuscript is continued with scientific ar

The gestures were continued, when all at once the powers of speech and motion came back to me, and I shrieked aloud to the dreaded sorcerer to stop. He did not appear to notice my summons, but proceeded. Again I shrieked and swore that I would strike him dead if he did not desist. Imogen did not hear me !guments upon the science of magnetism, which may She sat like a statue hewn out of the solid rock, with her eyes like those of a corpse, and her mouth open. Her cheeks were deadly pale.

hereafter be published. At present they are too wild and singular for this age. So prone is the youth of our country to indulge in daring speculation, that I will not feed their morbid appetite by a present disclosure.

I was possessed at that moment with the strength of a giant. I rushed forward—I trampled under foot those whom I overthrew-I swept with my arms a passage through that solid mass, and stood by the side of the Petrarch declares that in his youth he saw the works magician. Ernest sprang to me, and we stood face to of Varro, and the second Decade of Livy.

NAPOLEON AT ST. HELENA.

Lines written on seeing a picture of Napoleon Bonaparte, standing alone, just after sunset, on one of the cliffs of St. Helena, gazing in a pensive mood on the wide waste of waters

before him.

Napoleon! Child of Destiny! What train
Of agonizing thought employs thy brain,
As o'er the Atlantic wave, with down-cast eye,
And thoughtful brow, thou look'st despondingly?
Does hope of conquest still within thee live?
Or o'er thy fallen fortunes dost thou grieve?
Thy thoughts seem fixed, amid the twilight's gloom,
On other days, perchance, or on the doom,
That war's uncertain chance, and England's hate,
Or the unchangeable decree of fate,

Has brought on thee. And dost thou seek some balm,
The fever of thy o'erwrought brain to calm ?
Art thou at last convinced there is a God

Who rules earth's countless nations with his rod;
Protects the meek; exalts the lowly born;

And sinks the proud beneath the poor they scorn?

Or dost thou still on fickle chance rely?
On changeless fate, and blindfold destiny?
And dost thou vainly hope again to see
The star of fortune rise triumphantly

From out the sea, and claim for thee that throne,
Which thou, with empty boast, didst call thy own?
-The Star of Austerlitz, that led thee on
To fields, where thou thy blood-stained laurels won ?
Great chieftain, say, shall it rise no more,
To call thee back from St. Helena's shore,
And blind the nations with its dazzling beams?
Vain hope! the envious clouds that round thee rise
Have quenched its beams, nor shall thy wishful eyes,
Ere see its light again flash on the sky,
The sign and token sure of victory.
Napoleon, say, can'st thou not penetrate
The misty cloud, that darkly shrouds thy fate?
Nor learn the moral of thy life; nor see
Of fame, of wealth, of power, the vanity?
Where has thy greatness fled? Where is thy crown?
Where are the kings that trembled at thy frown?
Has wisdom to thy soul no entrance found?

Has conscience with its sting no power to wound?
Dost thou remain, still haughty, stern and proud,
As when before thee Europe's Sovereigns bowed?
-When France with all its legions, ready stood,
Battling for thee to shed its richest blood?
Napoleon, say, hast thou not felt remorse,
When backward gazing on thy heedless course?
When on thy couch reclined at midnight hour,
And reason o'er thy mind asserts her power,
Do not the ghosts of men in battle slain-

Of millions slaughtered on the ensanguined plain,
Thy boundless love of power to gratify,
Full oft before thee rise reproachfully,
And call for vengeance on that guilty head,
For which so oft the innocent have bled?
Proud man! thy thoughts were sad enough, I ween,
As from the barren cliffs of St. Helene,
Thou didst survey, heart-sick, the Atlantic wide,
Around thee rolling still its briny tide.

O'er those dark waves full well thou must have known,

Freighted with thee no ship would ere be blown,
By summer gales. O'er that wide sea, gaze on,
Gaze still with hopeless eye, Napoleon!
No more shall Austria hear thy cannon's roar;
No more o'er Alpine heights thy eagles soar;
No more shall Gallia's hosts thy voice obey;
Nor at thy feet her crown Hispania lay;
No more for thee shall youthful warriors bleed;
Or conquered hosts to thee for mercy plead.
Thy sun has set-that sun, whose morning beam
Made thee like more than mortal champion seem.
Slowly it sinks behind the darkened west;
The nations now from fear of thee may rest;
The cliff whereon thou stand'st shall be thy grave,
The sea-bird's cry--the murmur of the wave,
Thy requiem shall sing along the shore,
And Europe hear thy battle-cry no more.

A TREATISE ON

THE ART OF NAMING PLACES.

INTRODUCTION.

An eminent writer having favored the readers of the Literary Messenger with some valuable hints upon the art of naming horses, I am encouraged by his example to submit a few suggestions on a kindred subject, but one of still more general interest-I mean the art of naming places. My design is, first, to show what is the prevailing practice in America; secondly, to point out its disadvantages; and thirdly, to propose a better method. In a country where new towns and townships, states and counties, are daily springing up, the practical importance of the subject I have chosen, needs no demonstration. To those ladies and gentlemen, in all parts of the union, but especially the new parts, who have votes or influence in naming villages or tracts of country, I respectfully inscribe my lucubrations-humbly soliciting a patient perusal before final judgment.

CHAPTER I.

American method of naming Places.

There are three predominant methods of attaching names to places in the new states of America. The first, and perhaps most common, is to adopt names already appropriated in the older states. An impulse was given to this practice by the events of the revolution, or at least by the desire to perpetuate their memory. Thus the Lexington of Massachusetts propagated its title in Virginia, while Massachusetts, in its turn, received a Princeton from New-Jersey, and Kentucky borrowed both. It may well be questioned, whether the scenes of revolutionary conflict would not have been more truly honored by being left in undisturbed possession of their distinctive names, instead of losing their identity amidst a throng of honorary namesakes. Is it any compliment to Lexington or Princeton, that VOL. IV.-33

A still more operative cause of this bad practice is the amor patriæ of settlers from the east. Springfield, Litchfield, and all the other fields of Massachusetts and Connecticut, are thus made to flourish in immortal youth, and may indulge the hope, that as the tide of emigration rolls towards the Pacific, they shall see their names emblazoned on the map beyond the Rocky Mountains. The only drawback is, that the old yankee towns themselves have stolen names, and must yield the honor to their prototypes in England.

the barbarous appendages "N. J." and "Mass." are | mistakes, after such names as Ovid, Ulysses, or Caabsolutely needed, to preserve an ordinary letter from millus. May this proud distinction be perpetual! May miscarriage ? no inferior member of the union ever trench upon the New-York patent for naming places by the aid of Ainsworth's Dictionary! A less sublime variety of this same method, is to choose the names of moderns, either foreign or indigenous, especially the latter, and particularly those of revolutionary heroes or distinguished politicians. No one could have quarrelled with this easy method of perpetuating worthy names, if it had been provided by agreement or by law, that no name should be given to a plurality of places. The City of Washington strikes foreigners as a noble title, having all the qualities of a good name, sonorous and significant, convenient and invested with sublime associations. But alas! we know better. To us, the name of Washington has lost its virtue-we cannot conjure with it. Instead of being consecrated as a national

CHAP. II.

Another Method.

The second common mode of giving names, is to se-name, it has been debased by association with a thousand hamlets. How strange that emigrants and setlect them from the map of the old world. To one who has travelled through New-York, illustration is super-orable name, by adding another to the list of its misaptlers should imagine they are doing honor to that memfluous. Rome! Syracuse! Ithaca! Jericho! What can be more classical than "Rome, N. Y." These plications! If this however, were the only instance of New-York-State Romans, if they ever have occasion such inconvenient multiplication of a single name, we to write or speak of the eternal city, are no doubt in the might be able to endure it, and to persuade ourselves habit of employing the genuine American expression, Father of his Country. But what shall we say of the that it evinced the strength of national attachment to the "Rome, Italy." This is a mere conjecture; but we hundreds upon hundreds of ignoble names, which are know full well that some American writers, when they mention the Tuileries or Garden of Plants, can find it not only honored with a place upon the map, but with in their hearts to say "Paris, France," for fear of con- two, three, half a dozen or a dozen places? In this founding it with "PARIS, KY."! What a commentary of local names, is not, as in the other case, compencase, the public inconvenience, arising from a paucity this upon the merits of the system! This practice is coeval with the settling of New-England. Almost all sated by the value of the names themselves. We have the names given by the Puritans to places, were taken not even this romantic consolation, when our letters from the Bible, or brought over from Great Britain. miscarry, or come back to us with half-a-dozen super| scriptions, half-a-dozen post-marks, and half-a-dozen They had a right to pursue this method. They came hither by compulsion, and were fairly entitled to assim- postages. ilate their new home to the old one as completely as they could, the rather as they could not then anticipate with certainty the growth of their adopted country, and had therefore no reason to expect any actual incon. venience from this kindly remembrance of the names of the old world. There is no such apology for him who travels westward, of free choice, and with his eyes tion has been made of some particular objections to In enumerating these three methods, incidental menwide open to the practical effects of this imitative no- which each is liable. The objections to the whole sysmenclature. What right has he to rob his native town of her good name, by a sort of theft, which nought en-nience. 2. Disgrace. Its inconvenience needs no proof tem may be reduced to these two heads: 1. Inconve riches him, but makes her poor indeed?

CHAP. III.

Another Method.

CHAP. IV.

Disadvantage of these Methods.

to any one accustomed to write letters. So strong is the feeling of habitual confusion and dubiety, produced by the endless reproduction of the same names, that before long no man will be satisfied, without ensuring the safe passage of his letters, by specifying counties and townships as well as states. It is exThe third common method of naming places, is to ceedingly uncomfortable to be always doubting of the name them after men. The page of history from whereabouts of every place you read of. Compare which these are selected, depends upon the taste and your own sensations when you read or hear of Washprepossessions of the namers. The refined conception | ington, Jefferson, Jackson, Columbia, Portsmouth, or of immortalizing ancient writers, heroes and philoso-any of the many villes and burghs, which are held ss phers, by giving them a local habitation and a name common stock by all the states. Compare the uncerupon our modern maps, has been confined in a great tainty, vexation and solicitude, the reference to gazetmeasure to the Empire State. Setting aside some par-teers and maps or knowing friends, which all such tial imitations on a very small scale, New-York enjoys a glorious monopoly in this branch of the fine arts. The addition of "N. Y." is scarcely needed to prevent

names occasion-with the pleasant sense of certainty and clearness which accompany names that have been used but once-such as Savannah, Cincinnati, Natchez,

or Chicago. Compare our own condition in this respect, with that of Europe, where a duplicate name can scarcely be detected on the most minute of maps. Here is one great advantage on the side of the old countries; an advantage too, arising from their having had their origin in what we call "dark ages," as distinguished from our age of light. The old Goths and Gauls and Saxons neither knew nor cared about the names of other countries, and this happy ignorance compelled them to invent. Our settlers are just well enough instructed to be imitators, and ignorant enough to overlook the disadvantages of imitation. Some New-England emigrants may even be entitled to the credit of not knowing that the good old yankee names, which they are carting to the west, were not invented by the Pilgrims. If the force of prejudice and habit were once broken, an ordinary pedler from "down east," could manufacture new and striking names for places without stint or limit, every one of them better than an atlas full of villes, burghs and tons, [Calhouns and Bentons, Jacksons and Marshalls, Clintons and Websters, Harrisons and Clays.]

CHAP. V.

Another Disadvantage.

CHAP. VI.

A better Method proposed.

It is not the object of this little treatise to expose an evil, without proposing remedies. To those who are convinced by the foregoing chapters, that the usual practice is both inconvenient and disgraceful, a method of correcting it will now be most respectfully submitted. The statement of this method will include several distinct propositions, any one of which may be adopted if the others are disliked; while at the same time there is nothing to forbid a simultaneous execution of them all. My first proposition, then, is this: that where there is an Indian name, it be retained, in spite of all absurd and tasteless efforts to convert it into something with a ville, or burgh annexed. If this rational and easy course had been pursued, we should not be now pestered and disgraced by post-office equivoques and geographical double-entendres. Every body who has been in Europe knows that our Indian names of places are exceedingly admired; not merely for intrinsic beauty, which they sometimes want, but as original and dignified by their associations. Oh if our great commercial city could but wear again its fine old Indian. title of nobility, instead of being nicknamed after a decayed, mouldering heap of houses in the north of England, preserved from oblivion, only by its splendid The other disadvantage of the system ought to ope- minster! After this place New-York is named, to all rate with power on the sensitive self-love of this vain intents and purposes; although in historical strictness, nation. We may vapor as we will about native talent, it derived its title, not from the city, but the duke of American genius, an independent literature, and what York. The prefix new, is universally disgraceful; a not! We may rave till we are tired, of our annuals, and provincial badge which ought to have been knocked off fourth of July speeches, and lyceums-it is still as when we gained our independence. The rustic vulgarclear as day that we have not even such a measure of ism, York, at which the smart cits laugh, is vastly betinvention as would enable us to name our towns and ter; but Manhattan would be infinitely, infinitely better. counties, without stealing from the map of Europe; The Canadian York has now a name of its own; ought nor taste enough to steal what is worth stealing; no, not our own York to possess one too? It is a matter nor sense enough to consult our own convenience. If of congratulation, that in naming our new states, so we have invention, taste, and common sense, let us be- much good taste and judgment have been exercised. gin to show it in our maps and road-books. This na- Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, tional infirmity has not been overlooked by our benig- Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Arkansaw, are names of nant neighbors. It has caught the eye both of satirists which we all have reason to be proud. To the end of and sages. Witness the hundred Warsaws of Sam the civilized world, every educated person understands Slick, as an example from the first class, and the fol- them, and admires them. This advantage is owing to lowing extract from a work of Sir John Herschell, as the obvious fact, that the naming of a state falls into an instance of the other. "Those who attach two better hands than the naming of most towns and senses to one word, or superadd a new meaning to an counties; but it proves, that among those concerned, old one, act as absurdly as colonists who distribute there is discretion and good taste enough, if they were themselves over the world, naming every place they only used to some good purpose. Let those that have come to by the names of those they have left, till all authority in this thing, be persuaded not to make themdistinctions of geographical nomenclature are confound-selves ridiculous, by sacrificing noble aboriginal names ed, and till we are unable to decide whether an occur- for paltry imitations and vile compounds. One great rence stated to have happened at Windsor, took place in Europe, America, or Australia."

example of this folly has been given-not belonging to our own times except by sufferance. To this may be joined a small one of more recent date-one out of a thousand. A beautiful neighborhood in Pennsylvania, was once called Neshaminy: it is now called Hartsville! There is no weight in an objection sometimes urged to Indian names, that they are frequently uncouth and

This apparent poverty is rendered more disgraceful by its leading us to borrow from the very countries, which we profess to rival or surpass in all the qualities of intellect. If we are so wholly independent of Old England, let us prove it, and at the same time promote our own convenience, by disusing English names.- dissonant. Not to mention that this often seems so But this, belonging rather to the next ensuing topic, from which it will be needless to detain the reader, by any enlargement on the evil just exposed, the reality of which must be apparent to the mind, and painful to the feelings of all patriotic yankees.

only at the first, and that even then, the most uncouth will bear comparison with many of our own domestic manufacture; there is no reason why an Indian name should not be slightly trimmed and softened, by throwing out a consonant or throwing in a vowel, before it is

CHAP. VIIL

A third Method proposed.

ultimately fixed by usage. Such a process has actually or agreeable than Vermont from the French verd mont taken place in most of our current Indian names. The or verds monts. It may not be extravagant to add, that, object is, not to preserve the pure form of the Indian in the west, even Indian names might thus be made word, but to have an original, distinctive name. With "to order;" some descriptive epithet being adopted, such modifications as are here proposed, a noble list of even though it had never figured as a proper name. names might be produced, intrinsically fine, and wholly free from the inconvenience and disgrace of being duplicates. A curious illustration of the difference between the two sorts of nomenclature here referred to, is afforded by the title of the celebrated railroad between New-York and Philadelphia. "Camden and Amboy" is unequivocal enough, when written as a compound. sition of commemorative names-commemorative either As a third expedient, may be recommended the impoBut separate the elements, and speak of Camden-you of events or persons. The latter species of commemo will instantly be asked, which Camden do you mean? ration it is true, has been the source of much of the Camden, S. C.? Camden, N. C.? Camden, Geo.? Camden, Del.? Camden, N. J.? Camden, N. Y.? effect? Because the names selected have been those of confusion now existing. But why has it had this Camden, Maine? or Camden, England? But speak of Amboy, and you will hear no question of the sort,ceive this honor from many different quarters at the persons generally known, and likely therefore to reunless a Jerseyman should ask whether you meant same time. The evil has arisen from a foolish tendenPerth Amboy or South Amboy; but these are mere fractions of an integer, on opposite sides of the same river, and do not therefore fall within the scope of this

discussion.

CHAP. VII.

Another Method proposed.

very

The method just proposed can be extensively adopted only in the newly settled regions of the country, and even there, it may be open to objection, in particular cases, which must be provided for. The second proposition, therefore, is, that names be given which are descriptive of some characteristic and distinctive feature of the places named, their site, or their environs. That this corrective may not engender the evil it is meant to counteract, it is of great importance that the names, formed on this principle, should be drawn either from something wholly peculiar to the place in question, or something not likely to be chosen as the ground of a distinctive name in other places.Greenfield, for example, as a distinctive name, is absolutely worthless. It must not, however, be inferred that, by this rule, no such name could be given, except to places which possess some extraordinary natural distinction, such as Rockbridge county in Virginia, so called from the famous natural bridge. A circumstance, not wonderful or striking in itself, may be sufficiently peculiar to suggest a local name. An overhanging cliff of reddish earth or stone, though not at all extraordinary, might be a good reason for calling the village near. it Redcliff; nor is it at all likely, that, without direct piracy or plagiarism, more than one village would select such a name. In order to afford the widest scope for this suggestion, and reduce the chances of direct interference to the lowest point, it may be well to suggest the derivation of descriptive names, in certain cases, from other languages than English, though the latter should in general be preferred. Tremont, (from tres montes,) would have been a better name in some respects, than Threehills or Threemountains, and in all respects better than Boston, a name purloined from an old seaport in Lincolnshire; nor can it be imagined that greenmountain would have been more convenient

cy to overlook local and peculiar circumstances, and give the preference to commonplace generalities. If, instead of desecrating some great names, by depriving them of individuality, and unduly honoring some small names in the same way, it had been the practice to call places by the names of founders, early settlers, local benefactors, or eminent inhabitants of any class, even though they might not be members of congress or heads of departments, our maps and gazetteers would have been more respectable. The reader can easily illustrate this remark by applying it to the place of his own residence, and those adjacent to it. It may be added that, besides the superior convenience of this method, it would be a valuable means of doing honor to a multitude of most deserving men, and of saving from oblivion a whole catalogue of names, far more worthy of remembrance than a moiety of those now scattered, with a niggardly profusion, over our territorial surface. As the object of this work is to suggest, and not to amplify, the only other necessary hint, in this connexion, is, that when the names of men are good enough to be distingushed in the way proposed, they are too good to be spoiled and made ridiculous by any sort of barbarous appendage. Who that has a particle of taste can waver between Jacksonville and Jackson? Even Pittsburgh, allowing for the force of habit and association, is less worthy of the place than the naked, ugly monosyllable, PITT, would have been. But, be this as it may, we have enough of villes and burghs already for a thousand years. The suffix town, is not so bad, except when it is frittered into ton; but the best and safest rule is to discard them all, and let the name, whether long or short, stand on its own bottom.

CHAP. IX.

A fourth Method proposed.

As a last resort, where the foregoing methods are for any reason inexpedient, names may be invented. I remember to have seen in print, an ingenious mode of managing this sort of manufacture, so as to secure the two important points of euphony and originality. The plan proposed was to form two sets of tickets, one inscribed with consonants and one with vowels, and

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