The Portland daily press., 1866-06-23
Miscellany.
American Magazine Literature.

The absence of an international copyright
law has essentially modified the legitimate
development of magazine literature in this
country. The cheap reprint of British period
icals, either complete or by selection, has sup
phed no small part ofthe demand ON this size
OF the water; and limited the enterprise there
in both OF native publishers and authors. In
country where the war OF opinion is so per-
petual, -where education is so general and
reading SO much habit with the people,
certain number OF native periodicals will al
ways be sustained as convenience and an iu-
teectual necessity; but an international copy
right, by protecting the native author from the
cheap rivalry ofreprints, would give birth to
as many successful Magazines and Reviews as
there are schools OF thought, communities, III
terests and local literary talent to be represen-
ted As 1T is, whole sections OF the country
have no adequate organ of the kind; and hum
dreds of able writers abandon the vocation
for lack OF regular and lucrative employment.
Throughout the country there is vast
amount OF talent and culture which is COM
paratively unrecognized; while periodicals
chiefly flourish in New England, New York
and Philadelphia-the first being distinguish
cd tor high finish and original speculation or
invention; the second for humor and knowl-
edge Of the world; and the third for fashion,
abe and sentimental tendencies-as, for ex-
dAA1PiSt LAuohltlC 1uOlltluy3 pei
zine and the Lady's Books. There is one>com-
mon error in these enterprises in this coun-
try, and that is to rely too much on famous
names. The true idea OF magazine is that
OF an anonymous medium. In Great Britain
periodicals have ELECTED unknown rather than
been sustained by renowned talent. 1t is by
no means certain that because man or wo-
man has written successful poem or book,
that therefore he or she will make desirable
contributor to monthly SERIAL On the con-
trary, the interest and value of the articles in
one of our magazines is often in inverse ratio
TO the fame OF the names associated Herewith;
better sketches of travel, more original criti-
cislns and far higher poetry can be cleaned
from the gifted thinkers who have never been
publicly enrolled as authors, than will fire.
quently make up current number OF pop
ular serial exclusively written by those whose
literary reputation is expected to give curren-
cy to mediocre performances. Puunam's Mag
azlne was the best type of such monthly as
we commend that has been printed in this
country. 1t invited and secured a list of young
writers of marked ability, but who were most
ly not then known to fame.
An independent and discriminating editor,
who would seek from the large class OF
thoughtful, individual, highly cultivated but
unambltIous men, unknown to fame but
worthy OF her selectest prestige, material for
his pages,-would create new era in perodi-
cal literature. The readers who really appre-
ciate excellence, care not whence it comes;
beautiful poem, a vivid description, deep ex-
perienee wrought into story,a profound aes-
thetic criticism delights them wherever found;
and they are apt to distrust the claim to their
admiration demanded by name instead OF a
product The question with such is not cho
wrote this or that-but ho,o is it written? The
brilliancy, freshness and seasonable interest
which is SO requisite to magazine literature,
are more likely to be realized by large and
varying then by small and stereotyped group
OF wrilers.- Boston Transcript.