GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, March 1850

CAREY & HART have sent us their pretty "RUBY," a gift for any season. It is full of beautiful engravings, by Cheney, Cushman, Pease, and other celebrated engravers. The letter press is by the best American writers.

We give place to the following, but object to one portion of it – wherein the writer suggests that colored paper is used because it is cheaper, when the fact is it is more expensive. We will try his suggestions, and thank him for them.——"BENTON, Ala.

"Item – on tinted paper, &c. As the style of said Lady's Book is lately a point of notice, will it be amiss to suggest that white paper throughout is in the proper taste for all the world, especially for binding. Indeed, the true dress for music is black and white; and all the snore so when forming a part of any readable book. And as to engravings, the most inveterate "Bushwhacker" would be offended at the eight of a parlor embellished with "richly-framed pictures" on yellow and red and green paper. Query – will not the same idea of a true " legitimate taste" apply to all books of good repute? And do not the odd leaves other than while strike the eye as only cheaper appendages, rather than component parts of a respectable bound book? Who says no to it? Said in behalf of at least fifty folks, and some over; and, as would seem, not entirely without reason.——"Yours truly, MUM."

OUR EMBELLISHMENTS. – In this number we present another engraving of Mr. Tucker's, the gentleman we sent to London for the purpose of enlisting the services of the best artists that could there be found; and we think that the result shows, that, whatever expense may have attended the measure, it is amply compensated by the beauty of the engravings he has forwarded us. The plate of "The Young Angler" is in a new style of engraving, styled by the artist gemograph. What the mystery of it is we know not; we only know that it is very beautiful. While upon this subject, we copy the following notice from the English correspondent of the North American, of this city.

"I recently visited the studio of W. E. Tucker, who is a native of Philadelphia. Mr. Tucker is an artist of whom America may well be proud. I had the pleasure of examining several specimens of highly finished steel engravings, which are the productions of Tucker's burin; and these truly beautiful specimens of art must be greatly admired in the United States, and place the periodicals in which they are to appear in a high position.

THE LADIES.– We return our thanks to the ladies for the very many clubs they have sent us. At least one-half of the clubs we have received this year have been sent us by ladies. We could not get along without them.

We beg leave to call attention to E. Ferrett's advertisement on our cover this month. If any person wants cheep music, here is a chance. We will give any eight pieces of Mr. Ferrett's music as a premium to any one remitting us $3 for one year's subscription in advance for the Lady's Book.

THE COUNTRY PRESS.– There are only a few of our readers, we apprehend, who are in the habit of reflecting seriously upon the moral, social, and political influences exercised by the conductors of the country press. They are aware, it is true, that almost every village and hamlet within the extended borders of our free and happy country has within itself one of those potent levers, and generally under the guidance of a single individual, who is often impelled to the performance of his duties more by the regard he entertains for his profession than by the encouragement or the rewards that are bestowed. Rut they do not always fairly appreciate the control which that single individual holds over the opinions, and over the passions and the prejudices of whole communities. They do not at all times fully recognize the importance of those rays of light and intelligence which emanate even from the most unpretending of the co-workers and laborers in the wide field of letters, because it is not in their power to trace out, at one view, their effects upon the minds of numerous persons. When, however, they look abroad, and contrast the intellectual, social, moral, and religious condition of the citizens of this entire republic, with the enslaved, ignorant, and degraded condition of the people of almost every other country on the face of the globe, they will not, they cannot hesitate to do justice to those who, by their efforts, have done so much in preserving within the bosoms of our people the pure spirit of liberty, and in establishing and maintaining that regard for individual rights, and that implicit obedience to the laws, which form the true foundations of our national superstructure.

It is in this view, if we would estimate them at all, that we must consider the potent influences of the country press. And, thus estimated, who that has an interest in the progress of intelligence, and in the preservation of constitutional liberty, will deny to the press in their immediate circle, that support which can alone enhance its usefulness and extend those influences for good? How frequently are we pained and mortified by, the perusal of appeals made through. the columns of prudently and ably conducted papers, for the means of continuing labors which have for years been almost gratuitously performed for the benefit of the public! It is sad, indeed, to see men of genius, and men of industry and perseverance, in such a dilemma as this-their pride of profession subdued; their intellectual energies yielding under the pressure of neglect; their generous hopes, and their warm ambition to be useful and honorable, destroyed by political malice or sectarian prejudice! Such wrongs, we fear, are too often inflicted upon the conductors of the country press, notwithstanding the professions of liberality we hear on every hand, and notwithstanding the universally acknowledged importance of sustaining, in the midst of every community, an independent newspaper. We may say, indeed, that we know, personally, several such cases as are here referred to; but we hope that they are all that ever have or ever will occur.

As, however, nearly all the country papery that come

under our observation–and they number some fifteen hundred, hailing from every quarter of the Union – are conducted with a view to the instruction and the advancement of the family circle in morality, literature, and science; and, at the came time, present a synopsis of the stirring events of the times in which we live, we cannot imagine how any judicious parent can withhold his support from such publications, struggling in his own vicinity, and, at the same time, bestow his patronage on papers from a distant State-or, city. If it is true that charity begins at home, our country friends are bound to support their country press first, and then, according to their means and the generosity of their dispositions, to extend their charity abroad, and render it as diffusive as possible. We have lately witnessed, in the rejuvenated and cheerful appearance of many of our old and valued country friends, the most gratifying evidences of the " march of improvement," as well as of the favorable estimate placed on their' characters and services by their immediate neighbors. This speaks well for proprietors and patrons; and we hope to see these evidences of mutual confidence and of public spirit increase an hundred fold, until all our exchanges shall look as bright as a gold dollar.

In conclusion, we do not believe-that any well-conducted " eastern publication" entertains any other opinions, or would suggest any advice that would not fully accord with the sentiments here expressed. If there are any who do net agree with us, we are happy to say we are not on the list of their confidential friends.

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