The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-02
Reading for the Million.

Reading for the Million.
We are pleased to perceive that the cheap
publication system which at first flooded the
country with trash of all descriptions, domestic
and foreign, is now producing wholesome
fruits.
In all great commissions, whether social, poll
teal or literary the scum floats first on the sur
face, but soon is swept away, to be succeeded
by more wholesome and substantial substitute
So has it been with this great reform in the
publishing business, which has brought down
the rate of remuneration to the publisher to a
reasonable standard, and so reduced the price Of
valuable publications ofstandard works, and those
of lighter character, as to put in the power of
persons Of limited means to enjoy the luxury of
intellectual culture-from which the high prices
of such works debarred them, under the old
system.
At first the effect of the change was decidedly
injurious, Men without character, capital or
conscience, embarked in the new venture, and
pandered to the most depraved popular taste in
the larger cities, in those cheap republications
from the very sewers of foreign literature, and
the reproduction of its lowest forms BY seryile
| limitations. Much evil was doubtless thus
accomplished, but it wrought its own cure RIGHT
speedily. The better portion of the public
revolted at the introduction of these obscene
otisprngs of foreign imaginations, to the hearths
and homes of our people, and stamped upon
them the seal of Reproduction.
To limited extent issues of the kind are still
made, but the demand is limited to the larger
cities, where prudishness Gas they term modesty,
lis not the chief characteristic. The LEADING
publishers, who know what really is worthy
of reproduction, have substituted for these first
spawns Of cheap publications, higher and a
better class of works--standard and otherwise
Their republications in cheap and portable forms
of the English Essayists and Historians, as well
rs of the best works of English and American
fiction, have produced most salutary effects, and
will tend largely to increase that general intelli
gence of which this country well may boast
Very recently novel idea has struck two Of
the most enterprising of the New York Houses
the republication Of leading articles selected
from the lighter periodicals and papers of Great
Britain,a scheme probably suggested by LiitelVs
Liring Age. the Eclectic, and other miscellanies,
made up from the graver English and foreign
periodicals. .....
The new publications we refer to, are Har-
per's Neo Monhty Magazine, and Shinger q.
Iownsends International Weekly Miscellaav.
one of which is published in monthly, the other
in weekly numbers. Several numbers of each
of these have fallen under our notice, and the
selections were evidently made by judicious
and discriminating persons, and afford an intel
ectual banquet of the best kind.
The collection of the Harper's is rather of
more solid and gravcr character than that of their
weekly rival, but both are admirably adapted
for reading during this hot weather, by an ind-
vdual stretched at his lazy length on the
ottoman, Cor on soft board,) with the musical
accompaniment of the rafting of ice in glass
at his elbow, or punctuated by the putting of a
mild Havana.
Our notice of these two publications is not a
puff of another kind but purely spontaneous,
as we have not, and very probably may not
receive the publications referred to in exchange
| and they are so cheap that the cost is "not OF
the least consequence" as Mr.. Toots would
say. While commenting on good killers fol
lazy people at the Springs and elsewhere, VIZ
can most conscientiously commend the Rich
naond Literary Messenger, as affording as fine {
feast of native fruits, as these miscellanies do
foreign, and also costing but trihe.