Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-11-13


When Phillips, Sampson, s Co., of Boston
gave notice of their intention to issue new mag.
azine, the Atlantic Monthly" much interes,
was excited and many hopes engendered on this
side the Hudson. For up to this time we in New
England. as elsewhere in the United States, have
been mostly dependent upon New York and
Philadelphia for our literary periodicals. And
the KnickerbockeIs Ia bit elated and good deal
proud, by the way, of their success and pre- emf.
nenee in this line) limited their doubts of the en-
terprising Bostonians' success and suggested the
safety of abandoning the enterprise in the out
set ofnot even hazarding trial. Their sug-
gestions were, however, not needed, and the cat
lantic Monthly has made its appearance, doubt
less fully answering the expectations of the ma
jority it certainly is far above mediocrity in
comparison with other American periodicals.
Still II is far behind those Of English or Scotch
publication, as have all on this side the Atlantic
ever been. Now why is this ? Do not American
intelligence and taste demand much as Brit
lsh Do they not seek or can they not attain as
nigh standard Or if they demand as much,
cannot American genius and intellect supply the
demand Somewhere there is fault Either
not as much is asked of the periodical contribu-
tors and publishers on this side as by our neigh
bors on the other side, or else we have not as
HihASA ~ HtfSs iot OhfS SCdlSc lSdCA VIC SAauOW
of theirs.
So far as the three leading articles are concern
ed, this might have been Trans. Atlantic maya
zine, since they all relate to European subjects.
Though, Douglas Jerrold much and so
deservedly admired, and his recent death lament
ed in this country, the first article should be
more acceptable. But are there no traditions, or
romantic churches, or academic halls. nearer
home than is Italy, to write abOuts Is there no
American "Fresole :" And must one go to
Manchester Exhibitions to. find specimens of
painting and sculpture worthy of notices
If the eccentric author of Representative
Men, Or the equally eccentric hero of Walden
Pond, are contributors to the Atlantic it would
seem that one of them must have furnished 1.-THE
Autocrat Of the Breakfast Table" 1t spaikles
with gems which correspond well with those
which bedeck either of their crowns. illusions"
also savors strongly of the same cookery. though
a shade less highly spced 1.-The Financial Fur-
ry'' is too truthful not to be good. II any article
is copied into the newspapers it should be that.
The tales are no more than middling.
One Of these, "Pendlam, Modern Reformer,"
deserves some notice, not much from any merit
it possesses from the aaal'gout to call it by no
worse name, which its place in the magazine
manifests. Its author evidently meant to make
his article as unobeetionable possible, while he
has evidently intended By it to cast not only Tidi
Guile but odium upon that class of people known
as reformers: not upon any one class, but uPon
all, be they temperance men, non.resistants, an
imal magnetists, marriage reformers. association
lists, sprltualists, or what not, all attempt
ed to be represented in Pendlam.
The author probably had some particular indi
vidual in view, whom Pendlam personates, and
perhaps he is but true picture of the original
But when through him the author would carrica-
ture any of the above classes of individuals, he
mistakes, because he certainly is not a true rep.
resentatiye Of either. They are not blown about
by every wind Of doctrine-they are not like a
rudderless and composites vessel they do not
begin with wine and end with gin, as the author
must know if he is acquainted with them.
Because fungus grows upon one tree dstort-
ing its form, marring its beauty, destroying its
vitality should it be said that fungi infect that
whole family oftrees ? The classes of people thus
held up to rldicule and odium not only large
and respectable now, but constantly increasing.
Of course they have too much dignity and SELF
respect to retaIiateor seek revenge, but will this
plain thrust at such people increase the popular
ity Of the magazine Besides it does not pro-
fess to show up the folies of mankind, even al
lowing that the opinions and sentiments of the
above mentioned classes are follies.
Was the publication of s'Pendlam," then, eth
er judicous or in good taste? F.M.B.