Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1862-02-01

IL some respects the Inauguration of q Literary
Monthly in the South at the present time has been
chosen at most UnprOpltiOus time. There never
was a period when publishers were more sorely
pressed to ret the material for carrying On their
businesses Elper is difficult to Obtain and rules at
exorbits brices. The same is true of printers
inl = Ehrial for engraving and lithographing
csnno Be o6tained at any price, except in limited
quantities and of very inferior qualities. First
class engraYeFs sleo cannot be secured. What with
sAeae ana othsr similar annoy ances, publishers
BUSINESS "a notrifiug task. Yet in another aspect
II Is most excellent period for inaugurating such
an enterprise. The Yankee blockade has shut out
all Inc sensation literature and magazine Publicae
lions winch the Southern people, from habit, had
exclusively patronizad. The times, it is true, do
not favor much reading unless it pertain to the ex
citing scenes of the war
Aet thefe IS mental hiatus, which it is necessary
to I'LL, and from this the demand for reading mat
ter, Of literary philosophical, historical and mis-
e9laneous Character is sufficient to encourages, sus,
tain and nurture the growth of 8 periodical equal
to the most excellent that ever fourished in the
North.
We shall not discuss the question of the existence
of literary talent in the South sufficient to sustain
it, SIS the expression Of doubt on that point would
involve an sbsurdity so gross that we shall not per
petFate it. The South has been foremost in every
field her leading minds have ever entered, in poll
tics, science, invention, agriculture, war Her
literary talent has never had fair field and favor
able encouragement, yet her sons have achieved no
mean success IS 6teyrfeirs
The Southern Monthly has demonstrated the exs
lsence of this literary ability ia the South during
its brief career. Its pages sparkle with brilliant
sketches, and entertaining essays, romances and
criticism. If tits not all that our ideal of repre-
sentative Southern Monthly should be- it has at
least made fair progress in shat direction and every
succeeding number Is sn Improvement Oh the last
Is should rot be judged harshly because its aim IA
nigh, and any criticism at all should be content
with kindly suggestions and encouraging hints. A
word as to the engravings. We know that Mr..
iU?HTr is genuine artist, bnt the materials at
land are not favorable for faithful execution Of
lis sketChes by the photographer. The wood cannot
'e Obtained for engraving The lithograph has to
"a reHorted te15.sR soor material at that. By and
al t'i fhSf We cJed fe t9 s. ~ '''''l- I'm
We chance 70 know thst if energy and ukill, Gus
lined by q generous public csn do anything, the |
ne il approaching, when cur Monthly will present |
n appearance in this, 50 in every othsr respect,
lat viii make the Southern people proud of this
lterprise it, literary contents, its eugravngs, its
7ery department. As it is, we accept it thank
lily as being quite as good as people engaged in
] exhausting war, who have sadly neglected to
ster the arts and literature among themselves
,retofOre. and who are blockaded on all sides
ON procuring the material to inaugurate the arts
noDg them, can expect. 1t is the germ from
hich We deVoutly trust, will, in good time, spring
noble and refreshing stem that shall be the beauty
d the ornament of Southern homes, and shall
use other scioaS to arise to gladden. the heart
d cultivate all that ia good and true and beautiful
1oRg US. {