THE CALENDAR. APRIL.

"Reading furnishes the mind only with the materials of knowledge; it is thinking makes what we read ours."-Locke,

This month derives its name either from aperire, to open, because at this season the earth seems to be opening and preparing to enrich us with its gifts, or, according to Varro, from Aphrodite, the Grecian name of Venus, because April is consecrated especially to this goddess. It is singular with what pertinacity a custom, which has once got a foothold among the popular amusements of a people, through several successive generations, will still continue to maintain an ascendancy, which even the progress of refinement and the consequent change of manners, are hardly able to subdue! Such an instance may be found in the strange and ludicrous custom of April fool's day, about the origin of which there has been much diversity of opinion, but which prevails throughout Europe, and in those parts of America that are inhabited by the descendants of Europeans. Something similar to it is said to exist in the East Indies, at the time of the Huli feast. One of the explanations of the custom is as follows:-In the middle ages, scenes from biblical history were often represented by way of diversion, without any feeling of impropriety. The scene in the life of Jesus, where he is sent from Pilate to Herod, and back again from Herod to Pilate, was represented in April, at the feast of Easter, which frequently falls in this month, and may have given occasion to the custom of sending on fruitless errands, and other tricks practised at this season. The phrase of "sending a man from Pilate to Herod," is in general use in Germany, to signify sending about unnecessarily, and is equivalent to the Yankee expression, " of sending one on a wild goose chase." The tricks of the first of April, however, may be the remains of some Roman custom, derived from the East, and spread over Europe, like so many other customs, by these proud conquerors. In France the unlucky party who may have been fooled is called un poisson or poison, (mischief,) d'Avril. In the north of Scotland, he is christened a gowk, which signifies in the Scottish dialect a cuckoo, and, in this country, an April fool. One of the best tricks of this description is that of Rabelais, who, being at Marseilles pennyless, and

desirous of going to Paris, filled some phials with brick-dust or ashes, labelled them as containing poison for the royal family of France, and put them where he knew they would be discovered. The bait took, and he was conveyed as a traitor to the capital, where the discovery of the jest occasioned universal mirth. Thus much of the origin of the name of this month, and of a custom of such general observance in it, which has come down to us from a remote period.

In our last number, we recommended the adoption of a systematic course of reading. With the indulgence of our readers, we would now continue the subject, and offer to their serious attention a habit which, if pursued in concurrence, would result in incalculable good, we mean that of original composition. In truth, excessive reading alone would soon choke the seeds of original thought, and reduce the individual to a mere tame and servile repeater of other's ideas. Book-worm is the usual appellative of such a mind. It is in this way that the overburdened intellect, a stranger to deep and long-continued reflection, becomes, at length, really incapable of self-exertion, and slavishly follows the ipse dixits of its self-imposed masters. Now this we believe to be the secret of the proverbially imitative style of American writers. Independent, self-originated thought, the fruit of great intellectual toil and discipline, the free and natural expression of our own hearts, is treated too much like contraband goods, as yet, among us. We have looked long enough to Europe for the productions of mind, as well as for the fabrics of its looms; and England has too long been the workshop of the United States, in an intellectual and moral, as well as a physical sense. But we look for better days, when a work, the production of American genius, will not first be constrained to take a voyage to the mother country, in order to receive an endorsal there, and thus be recommended to our perusal by the praises of the British reviews, ere it can find currency in the land of its nativity.

But to return from our digression. Composition may be devided into two kinds, mental and written. Mental composition, especially, is of essential importance to the vigor and health of the mind, and possesses this advantage over the other, by the facility with which it can be pursued at any time and place, without the requisite paraphernalia of written composition. In reading any work, it would greatly conduce to the developement of the judgment, to make frequent pauses, and trace out

the inferences and the particular bearing and tendency of detached portions of it; and, upon its completion, to contemplate its general scope, its moral tone, the correctness of the sentiments advanced, and the character of the style. Thus, whilst the mind is adding to its stores of knowledge, and the heart is receiving good impressions, these various faculties and affections would be called into vigorous action, and allowed an independent existence.

Written composition owes its neglect to the manner in which it is taught at our schools. Every one will recollect the great distaste which he once entertained for this exercise, and the black mark which early prejudice annexed to theme day in the calendar, and the dread with which its periodical return was ever attended. There is a radical defect in this particular, and we commend the whole subject to the wisdom and experieuce of the "American Institute of Instruction." It is easy, however, to overcome this antipathy conceived in our schoolboy days against so useful an accomplishment, and even to acquire a love and proficiency in it. Letter writing, in the best days of Roman literature, was considered and pursued as a polite and liberal art. Excellence in it was deemed indispensable to a scholar, and in no branch of belles-lettres did the Latin language, under the plastic power of genius, assume a greater purity, beauty, majesty and elegance. Witness the collection of letters of the accomplished Pliny, which, for the gracefulness of their diction, and the living portrait which they give of this finished scholar and statesman, and the benevolent spirit, which they breathe throughout, clearly evincing their author to have been the most amiable and exemplary character of all antiquity, and possessed of every generous and social virtue, will richly reward an attentive perusal. Melmoth's translation of these letters is a valuable work, conveying to the English reader a very accurate transcript of the original. Nor is our own language deficient in beautiful specimens of this polite art; but it is not our object to point out models, so much as to enforce its pursuit among our readers, and the sex generally. Let each one select, from the circle of her friends, a few correspondents, and continue the habit of letter writing for some time, and the exercise will become a delight. Let the graceful ease of polished conversation, and the full and unrestrained flow of feeling, as prompted by the natural sentiments of the heart, be the spirit in which epistolary composition should ever be conducted. Letter writing should be the conversation

of friends at a distance, whose only method of communication is this. A stiff and artificial arrangement of language, which too often characterises the epistolary intercourse between friends, reminds me of the antiquated and starched up armchair, which was wont in olden time to sit in state, in the wellfurnished but unfrequented drawing-room, to ruffle whose smooth and puffed up cushion were sacrilege indeed!

Another form of written composition is what may briefly be termed "sketching." Upon reading any work, whether in history, belles-lettres or biography, the taking of a slight sketch of the subject treated of would be attended with considerable profit in the deeper impression which would thereby be made on the memory, and the greater facility of writing which such a habit would produce. It is not the design of this suggestion to recommend the practice, to which so many are addicted, of "taking notes" upon every book they read. The immense sacrifices of time would be a sufficient objection to such a course, if there were no other. But, besides, the memory does not discharge its rightful office, when all our knowledge is locked up securely in a note-book. Such a dependence would be accompanied with considerable inconvenience, to say nothing more, and reminds us of an anecdote told of a distinguished scholar, who, in conversation, if he had occasion to cite any passage or sentiment from an author, was obliged to have frequent recourse to his note book, which finally he was constrained to make the inseparable companion of all his walks, it being the constant guest of his coat pocket. What we would urge, is the keeping of a common place book, to sketch down one's views, opinions and sentiments, upon every subject or topic which may have interested the mind in the perusal of any work. The common-place book is not designed to serve as an external memory to the mind, but rather as a treasury of original thoughts.

Mental and written composition, in connexion with a systematic course of reading, we deem to be of the highest moment to every one who would aspire to the possession of a well-cultivated mind. It is woman, to whom is intrusted the sacred charge of the immortal mind in the infancy of its being, that can shape and give a direction to the future character of our race. Genius generally, and high moral excellence always, are the noble birth right of maternal greatness. What a glorious stimulus to the progress of the female mind, that the highest interests of the whole human race are bound up in the moral and intellectual elevation of woman!

N. L.

LITERARY NOTICES.

ICELAND or the Journal of a residence in that Island, during the years 1814 and 1815. Containing observations on the natural phenomena, history, literature and antiquities of the Island; and the religion, character, manners, and customs of its inhabitants. BY EBENEZER HENDERSON. Illustrated with a Map and Engraving. BOSTON: PERKINS AND MARVIN.

The purpose of Mr. Henderson, in visiting this remote region of the earth, was to learn the moral and religious state of the people, and distribute to them the Bible in their own language, which had been prepared by the British Foreign Mission and Bible Society. Actuated by such high and holy motives, he appears to have encountered the perils of his journey with ardent enthusiasm; and he has certainly succeeded in throwing around his pictures and descriptions a moral beauty and interest that must be felt by readers of every class, and which makes the heart linger, even in those awful scenes where imagination would otherwise hardly dare to pause.

We think the most sceptical can hardly read this volume without feeling that there is, in the Christian religion, a purifying and exalting influence; and that, were all mankind as deeply imbued with its pure spirit as are the inhabitants of dreary Iceland, it would be a blessed change for the world. The history of Iceland is probably known to most of our readers, that is, in a general way, and we can give the best idea of this valuable work, by the author's own words, when describing his journeys through the Island. But first, take his description of the necessary preparations, which show that a journey is not there to be undertaken with those ideas of pleasure with which we contemplate a tour to Niagara.

Travelling in Iceland is attended with much more trouble and difficulty than in any other part of Europe. Here there is neither coach nor curricle, cart nor wagon, for the conveyance of one's person and baggage. Every thing is carried on horseback. The first thing, therefore, that a traveller has to think of, is the procuring of horses, which he may either hire or purchase; but the latter mode is preferable, as in that case he has them more at his command; and it is also attended with less expense, especially if the journey be of any length. As there are no inns on the island, the traveller must also provide himself with a tent, which is the more necessary on account of the deserts he has sometimes to traverse, and even at the