The southern press., 1851-04-09
Tho u srnmosh n4onshIss.

lures from the Nsw York Hsrssx on H~y~s
Momhiy and The Ia,sraaisoasl Wsessi,xs--G the
Mamnaoth Mo@hiiss." az sssey @sdsssls se~se
nate themselves IN hug pssrards stock w lAs
+ windows Of the bookstores.
The article Ia la the usasl slip shod clap "A sall
style OF the Herald criiiqucs. and eonsssus secss
sensible suggestions mixed up ~ish others ~hs,il
we conceive to be frivolous and unealisa. sor
In the main, however, We concur with the e.ti.
mate Of the literary merit. Of these Journal.
expressed by the Herald; for the late numbers
of both have been SO trashy. aud have isilca o.
far below the PROMISES OF the prospectus, and
the performance OF the editors IN the earlier
issues, as to be beneath criticism. The only
wonder is, that persons having access TO such a
variety Of foreign publications, from sll Of
which they are free TO pilfer ad ibiiHm. should
have shown SO little Judgment or taste In the
guidance of their scissors, and have clipped out
the most trivial and unintercsting Of the cousd.
buttons, to cram down the throals of gaping
public.
| The sins of omission, however, are not the
worst of which we have to complain for, as the
Herald justly remarks, the management Of these
monthly scrap-books has evidently been coniided
to prejudiced, as well as incompetent or idle
hands. The monthly summary Of political
news, Especially in Harpers) is grossly partial
and partizan in its coloring and suppression Of
facts, and calculated to convey false impressions.
1t is kind of masked battery, from which the
Northern artillerists fire away unseen and un-
suspected by those who are watching otherpoints
from which the enemy is assailing Southern
rights.
We deem this fraud upon the public and
caution our Southern friends to beware of this
new device Of the enemy. If they doubt the
correctness of this statement, let them turn to
the back numbers Of these journals, and they
will be able to verify the allegation to their en-
tire content.
We feel bound to make this expose, because
we expressed our satisfaction, on the issue OF
the earlier numbers of both these publications,
that the picture books for grown-up children,
such as Godcys and Grakam's Magazines, were
about to be superseded by superior type Of
monthly magazines, containing the cream of the
foreign periodicals-and rs our expectations
have been disappointed, must make the amenac
to our readers.
IL we are to choose only between home and
foreign trivialities, we give the preference to
the domestic article--more especially when po-
litical poison isnot mingled with the honey prof
fered by the former. We have carefully exam
ined each successive issue of these Serials which
have gradually descended an inclined plane, "from
fair to middling," until at last they cannot even
be counted Ordinary" Light reading" they do
undoubtedly supply for the very whip syllabub
of foreign artists is served up to safe the edge
of the hungry appetites of the sixty thousand
readers which Harpers boasts of. The Inter
national, candor compels us to say, is rather
more substantial, and may claim the consistency
of literary custard.
The cheapness of these publications is hello
out as an inducement; but trash is dear If OBJ
tanned gratis for time is precious thing, and
| ucUtdl ulSSlpuiioH u u'oO"'Sf w WV
\ young especially For our own moments of lei
sure and mental relaxation, we would prefer
one number Of the unpuffed and unpatronzed
Southern Literary Messenger, of Richmond, to
| a cart load of these mammoth monthlies; and
| for gleanings from foreign periodicals, to those
| who take the British Quarteriies, and Black
rood, we commend Liielrs Living Age, pub
| lished at Boston, by veteran purveyor, who
understands the foreign market.
Such is our candid opinion of these Nam
moths" but whether they will consider this :" a
first rate notice." we know not At all events
it has the rare merit of perfect sincerity, and
may therefore be relied on, even if the proprie
tors of those journals do not choose to take the
hint, and insist on more careful selection OF
articles, or more competent conductors. The
serial stories which they stuff into every issue,
! are in thems elves nm abominable imposition on
the pockets and the patience of the public,
though they may profit the producer. If these
things be not speedily rect6ed, these Man,
moths will soon be classed among other ex-
tinct species.
~ Ur-s.. III a..