Westward Ho!

By Paulding, James Kirke

Book Id: WPLBN0000074334
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 1.53 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Westward Ho!
Author:	Paulding, James Kirke
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Literature, Literature & thought, Writing.
Collections:	Classic Literature Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	World Ebook Library


Citation APA MLA Chicago Kirke Paulding, B. J. (n.d.). Westward Ho!. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.us/

Excerpt
The devotees of sects and parties are exceedingly prone to imagine that every book, whatever may be its nature or object, is intended to operate in favour of or against their cherished doctrines or policy, and to test its opinions and sentiments by that standard alone. Such a rule, applied to fictions more especially, is calculated to put a tyrannical restraint on an author in the delineation of characters, as well as in detailing the sentiments and language naturally growing out of their particular habits, manners, and situations. Having conceived a character, it should be his aim to make it act and talk as such a person might naturally be supposed to do in similar circumstances. But we think he ought not to be held responsible for this any farther than probability and the decorums of life are concerned. Neither, as it appears to us, is he justly chargeable with hostility to any particular class, or profession, or sect, if he should happen to exhibit a character for the purpose of exposing their occasional excesses or absurdities. All we conceive a writer justly responsible for, in this point of view, are those sentiments and opinions he puts forth when he appears in his own proper person, and makes his bow to the reader. Thus, for instance, the little exhibitions of hostility to the Yankees occasionally introduced in the following work are given as characteristic of the feelings and prejudices of those to whom they are ascribed, and not as the sentiments of the author. So also with regard to the scene in Philadelphia, which is simply an exhibition of what it is supposed would naturally be the feelings of a sagacious slave in the situation and under the circumstances described. The author yields to none in respect for the motives of those who are sincerely anxious to rid this country of the embarrassments of slavery; and none more heartily wishes the thing were possible, at a less risk to the happiness of both master and slave.

Table of Contents
VOL. I. · TO THE READER. - · CHAPTER I. The dark and bloody ground. · CHAPTER II. A genuine Tuckahoe. · CHAPTER III. Showing how the Gray Mare proved the better Horse in more ways than one. · CHAPTER IV. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. · CHAPTER V. Showing that a Gentleman will understand his affairs the better for a little Arithmetic. · CHAPTER VI. Westward Ho! · CHAPTER VII. Colonel Dangerfield prepares to found a new Empire. · CHAPTER VIII. Over the hills and far away. · CHAPTER IX. · CHAPTER X. · CHAPTER XI. A short Retrospect. · CHAPTER XII. Chit chat, and all that. · CHAPTER XIII. The sudden departure of Rainsford, and the mysterious deportment of Master Zeno Paddock. · CHAPTER XIV. A voyage, a story, and a land adventure. · CHAPTER XV. The Author doeth homage to his mother earth, after which he describes a hunting match. · CHAPTER XVI. Rainsford is besieged by the Holy Alliance of Zeno and Judith—The former achieves a great discovery. · CHAPTER XVII. Treating of what follows that which went before. · CHAPTER XVIII. A great discovery of Mrs. Judith Paddock; to wit, that this is a most scandalous and wicked world. · CHAPTER XIX. Showing how little reason one generation hath to laugh at another.