Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-03-29
ALEXANDRIA.
THURSDAY EVG., MARCH 20, 1866.

10,
ever before; though we have never known it
to be very successful or very brilliant-with
rare exceptions-at any time; and these ex
captions may be dated back, some twenty or
thirty years ago We might instance some
of the most popular magazines Of the pre-
sent day, in confirmation Of our opinion !;
and, as an example, when we hear our cotem-
poraries complain Of ''Harper's Magazine
for, what they allege, is its continued hostility
to the South, and the Southern people, and
its persistent efforts to keep alive prejudice
add ill-feeling towards us, we have not united
in the complaint on that score, even if these
complaints are just. We never regarded the
censure, or the abuse, Or the misrepresenta-
tons of that pictorial affair, as matter Of
the slightest consequence, OF its influence
among Intelligent, educated, and right think
ing people, likely to be efficient Or permanent
-':the vigor of the bow does not equal the
venom of the shaft and the weapon never
penetrates the bosom against which it is di-
rected Our objections are entirely literary,
and within the pale Of Legitimate literary
criticism Who that has paid his money for
the magazine of which we speak-if he is a
imbued with letters-has not. Of late years,
turned from the wishy-washy pages, filed
by some of its contributors, conscious that he
has spent his hours Of reading over what is
much like trash-if not that article itself?
What does he now generally find in .it-savc
what is taken from the tales and serials Of
foreign writers-including the productions OF
Dickens, Collins, &C., &C., which we willingly
except-worth moments thought CT after
consideration? What scholar illlminatos
it's pages with the light Of erus'ition =
What real poet flashes his rays Of III
of imagination over It's pases-wbat humorlst
throws the corruscations Of his Wit over its
lcaden columns? We have, in place Of these,
for the most part, the jcjune tales Of story
writer's otworth tho paper on which they are
first inscribed, the mandy PANTY verses Of
Aedg;ngs who inditc such lines as are ;'ncith-
er approved Of by gods Or men"-to use the
classical phrase stale newspaper jokes
worn threadbare before they reach the iDraw-
er" from which they are taken to edify and
amuse the expectant public 70 60 through
the weary pages-"the platitudes and mani
ties'-of some of the writer's for Harpers
Magazine, would tire the most conscientious
and steadfast reader Of the light literature of
the day What is there ever in it-original
or selected-with the exceptions we have re-
ferred to-worthy to be compared to Black
wood, or any Of the best English Magazines.
If an American Dunciad could be written,
and another Pope were to arise, we are quite
sure, he would clutter the doves in Harper's
Magazine, and embalm many Of them ''like
hiesin amber" So much for probably the
most read periodical published in the country.
There are others, candidates for public favor,
of even an inferior description There does
not seem to be brought into exercise, by any
of them, if it exists. the kind Of talent, and
the species Of composition, which create a
name and fame for amagazine, and which can
give it high position in the republic Of let
tiers. And to make up for the DEFICIENCIES Of
the pen, by the presumed attractions Of the
pencil-to court the readers attention by
picture; and substitute the art Of the cngra-
yer for the genius of the writer, is surely an
acknowledgment Of the business Of this crit
icism-especially when, as is often the case.
the artist succeeds no better in telling the
story than the letter press in describing the
scene.
The Inevitable Mr.. Henry S. Foote, has a
new attack of the ''cacoethc5 scrbendi,' and is
now writing and publishing letters on Senator
Stewards proposition. We have only to re-
peat that MIR. Foote is in no sense competent
to represent the views, feelings and opinions
Of the Southern peopIe-and, especially, in the
matter about which he is now busy. We do
not dispute his facility in writing and speaking
his general intelligence-hisa actual abilities
mingled as they are with faults, errors, and
failures Of judgment, discretion and consisten
cy-but We have conviction that he would
figure to better advantage, at this time, in
almost anything else, than in attempts at the
reconstruction of governments, and government
tai affairs. On that platform" at least, con-
sidering his political career BEFORE during and
since the war,-considcring what he has said
and DONE 'superfuous lags the veteran on the