The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-07-29
Interesting Byc-ways Of Literature--Thc
New York Sunday Nexyspapers.


New York Sunday Newspapers.
During the last few years a new class of news
papers-pary literary, partly gossipping, partly sill
ly, partly smart, partly stupid, partly namby-pam
by-have grown up from the lowest and mos
sickly state, to point of some consideration, il
certain portions Of society, not much beyond the
limits Of this city. We allude TO the Sunday
newspaper press. About fifteen years ago re-
collect starting oursef one of the first Sunday
newspapers in this city--the Sunday Courier
which lasted several months. and contained some
very curious articles. But the project was rather
premature, and we declined prosecuting it, in or
der 10 engage in other avocations The present
Sunday press has sprung into existence during the
last SIX years-the first paper of this class being
the "Atlas," which was originated IN 1888, 1t we
recollect right
These papers rather interesting in several
points of view-in the character Of their conduct
ors-their circulaton-their tone and general get
ting up. Their patrons OF various classes in
the community, chiefly consisting Of the third rate
and fourth-rate actors, the "dead heads" at the
theatres, and certain class of the grog-shops and
eating houses. The editors or attaches of these
papers come also from different classes-some
coming from theatrical life, some from public life,
/,
some are young men, mere tyros in the art OF
writing, and Others old siagers, creeping into
second boyhood, and there is about the whole
OF them, old aud young, puerly, juvenile
verdancy, which is occasionally rather amusing =
In this view also, they are somewhat instructive
and interesting, as they show that youth and old
age are, in some respects, very closely allied In
of the papers we see an old political turn-coat,
who has gone the round OF all parties in public life,
and after enabling each TO estimate him exactly at
his proper value now retails twaddle for the bepe
fit Of the frequenters Of all the grog shops which
Mayor Harper permits to remain open on Sundays
In some OF the others again, we perfect youths
also retailing twaddle, and appearing to be equally
verdant, and equally full Of the same kind Of wit
and humor as that in which the old stager ndul-
ges Nothing, indeed, is more characteristic and
more amusing than the mode in which these pa
pers perpetrate wit and puns Some idea of their
taste, delica;y and brllllancy may be formed,
when it is known that these journals are really
favorites in the public bar rooms and BARRIERS
shops. In these places the Jokes and witticisms Of
the Sunday papers are caught at with the greatest
possible delight, and are repeated over and over
again during the week, often in the ears even OF
tn vrritable authors themselvcs-grateful incense
offered by a discerning public to the children Of
humor and genius!
The conductors of these papers do not pretend
to give news-hey don't think Of such thing
news Remarks on the news of the week, as gi-
the daily papers, with some little local Wit
ticlsri, any clever thing said at such tavern In
Park Row, or the lobby of one Of the shilling
theatr.s, constitute their entire staple. We said
that The Sunday papers did not contain news, but
we believe we are mistaken. They do. They
never omit recording the opening OF new eating
house, the rehting Of "that favorite tavern where
the Captain makes the tallest Kind OF cobblers,"
or the es abshlnent OF a new oy ter cellar, where
sthe oysters open parcularlyrlch." The Sunday pa
pers are reallygrea oyster cears-perlect Shaks-
peares on eating houses The editors Of some OF these
journals have written lllads and Odysseys eating
houses and oyster cellars On the grog shops they
have expended as much really fine writing aswoud
make half dozen Edmund 5urkes. The fgur-
antes at the thsatres-the talented gentlemen who
do all the bloody work in the melo dramas-the
little chorus-singers, who "do' the prima donnas
and even the box-keepers and blllStickers, are
great favorites with these papers. The sunday edi-
tors have rather dislike for the higher order of
the drama. They don't much like your distinguish
ed tragedans; but they are great upon the mid
ding and lower classes of the Thesplans-the
"good fellows" and discriminating admirers of
literary genius" with whom, after the theatres
close, they discuss over a pot of beer the current
news Of the day, and from whom they pick up the
smart things for next Sundays paper"
Alter all, the Sunday newspapers are very re-
spectacle of their kind But it is rather small
kind. Just as the Shetland pony is a very respect
able little animal Of its kind but is rather inferior
TO the fu-blooded racer. In fact, they are a sort
Of clowns in the great circus Of the newspaper
world. They do all the ground and lofty tumbling
make the funny faces for the qualification of the
boys in the pit. and sickle the Of the ground
lings" in the gallery. And every now and then,
the daily newspaper. like the ring master, with his
big whip in his hand, as it goes its rounds, gives
the clown a tip on the shoulder, gently touches
him up, and brings out dozen fresh jokes, and
innumerable funny contortions. Or, these papers
may be said to afford species CT amusement,
somewhat like that afforded by Punch and Judy.
The patrons of this species of literature some
thing on level with the crowds wEo are
vulsed by Punch. There is really often something
laughable in these papers, and we laugh good
naturally at it as we would at the wittcisms Of
Punch and Judy. And we don't see why Punch
and Judy and the Sunday press shouldn't be pa
troulzed and flourish. We would not suppress
either species OF amusement for the world.
The PRESIDENTIAL CoNTRsr-THE DISTURBANCE
IN THE DEMOCRATIC RANKs-The Albany Aryus
comes out very forcibIy, but temporarily, against
the recent movement of the Evening Post clique
the seven wise men OF Gotham. The argus is
very decided and positive in going for Polk and
Texas, and everything else, and in this it discovers
its usual foresight and discrimination. The demo-