The Portland daily press., 1867-12-11

Something of the pleasure with which we
greet again dear and long absent friend,
comes over us at sight Of the familiar green
covers Of Putnanss Monthly. Not that the COW
er is quite the same, we regret to say, but its
color is unchanged, and the southern cane and
northern corn re-appear in the design it bears
For this is really not a new birth but revival
Putnam's has not been dead all these years,
but sleeping. 1t revives with all its old spirit,
with many of the best of its old contributors
tC give it power, brilancy and popularity and
with q host of young ones eager to enroll them
selves under its banners. We greet it joyfully
and wish it in its new career i long and unin-
terrupted prosperity.
The first number is dated January 1868. 1t
opens with a chatty paper, entitled "The Old
and the New" written by Mr.. Charles F.
Briggs, and telling the story of the old maga-
zine very pleasantly. He says:
1t is just fourteen years since we had the
honor to assist in getting out the first number
of Putndm's Monthly; and, so far from feeling
at all ashamed of il, we confess to feeling of
pride rather, in the part we took in it, and on
the whole, derive considerable satisfaction in
remembering the cosy little dinner in q
certain cosy house in Sixteenth street,
at which the plan of the work was dis
cussed and the adventure determined upon.-
As this is only q gossipy little prelude, and
not grave essay, it will not be considered inn
proper, we trust, II We mention cOnfidentially
to the reader that the little party consisted OF
Mrs Caroline M. Kirkland, Mr.. George Sum-
ner Mr.. Parke Goodwin, Mr.. George w. Curtis,
Mr.. and Mrs. Putnam, and the present writ.
er. 1t was but fifteen years ago, and OF that
little party two are already gone. The rest re-
main to assist in the revival OF the work which
was then so pleasantly aud 30 auspiciously be-
gun. -r-
Mr.. George William Curtis follows in let
ter addressed neminally to. Mr.. Briggs, but
really to the readers, old and new, of the Mag
azine, in which he gossips as follows:
1 found myself consulting, in bare room In
deserted house in Park Place, where nobody
could find us out, with Mr.. Publisher Putnam,
Mr.. Harry Franco, editor-in-chief, and M
Parke Goodwin. associate editor, upon
first number of Putnana's Monthly
I'VE were an amiable triumvirate; and al
though l say it, we put great deal of con-
science into our work. Our council chamber
was third story front room in doomed
which were then in Park Pace. L saw doomed
house; for although comfortable and stauncb
building, it was dwelling house. and as fash
ion had at last flown even from PARK place
the spot below Bleecker street where IL lin
Sereu oHseSt-tne mousse was patieDtly wait
ing to be demolished, and make way for a
store. Every day we. met and looked over
,xasorlp''! hnw a"adP how many there were! And Al,
country seemed to be an enormous nest of
hlghtingales; or, perhaps, mocking-brds-
certainly cat-birds. / can see now the phi,o-
sophie Goodwin tenderly opening trembling
sheet, traced with that feminine chirography
so familiar to the editorial eye, and a hope
full voice beginning to read. After few lines
voice is heard-lnethinks from Frances
chair: Yes, yes; guess that's enough'-Wal-
ter di Montreal, thy hour has come, and the
familiar chrography fiutters into the basket"
Mr.. Curtis refers ina kindly manner to
many of the old contributors, living and dead.
The list Of their names includes not few
who, then obscure, have since become widely
known.
Thirteen years of the Nation" Is wei
written political review of the period between
1854 and 1867, by Mr.. V. b. Denslow. NDopos
his Ferry" is ballad by VIM. Allen Butter,
and is good. Prof Schsle de We're contributes
an article on Corals an anonymous writer be-