The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-21
OUR PERIODICAL LITERATURE.


The weakness
II the literary taste and ability OF the people OF the
United States were be measured by the number of
pero heals published this country would sta nd
very high IN the world orlctters. Both the wcekcs
and month les may be united by hundreds, without
reckoning the comparatively obscure local puplica-
tons OF TINS class and only taking those tnat are
more generally known. But unfortunately literary
merit Is b. no equal to the number OF period
lcals or the ambition OF the most or writers
employed on them We propose to taSe
glance at the wceklles, Including both those
In the form OF small, light magazines and
the so-ealled weekly press, or, strictly speaking,
weekly newspape 8; but, OF course, 1t can only he
glance a. these publications, or at the remark
able OF them, Tor the limits oil n newspaper artcle
VIII not admit OF more than that.
We may take, perhaps the New York Ledyer, pub.
lished ana owned by Robert Bonaer, as the falrest
type o the literary taste and ability OF the average
American reader and writer In this department OF
literature. Probably It IS also the most successful
and profitable OF al our weeKies. anu that because
it is adapted to the taste anl intellectual capacity
OF the large majority OF readers MI. BonneralAs
shown sagacity IN conducting the Ledger on this
principle. Mr.. Bonner employs number OF the
most popular writer's, and, at times. engages the
services OF some OF the most distinguished scholars
and authors at considerable cost. Edward everett,
u
papers to the Ledger In the NUMBER before Us we
notice such contributors as Mrs. Southworth, Mary
Kyle DALLAS, James Parton. Alice Cary Syivanus
Cobb, Jr., Amy Randol II. Mrs. HARRIET Lewis,
William Henry Peck, Leon Lewis, George w.
Bungay Frances Henshaw Baden and Others.
There IL q carefully selected medley OF con-
Lmusd stories, short stories, personal descriptions
matters of TACT pertaining 10 the time, scraps OF
poetry other reading, with several fair pictorial
illustrations. The matter Is original Tor the most
part. ana varied enough to suit The largest class Of
reaoers
The Harpers have two weekly publications OF very
large circulation. One IS called Hupers' Bdza'i
repository OF fashion, pleasure ana instruction; the
other H1rpers Weekly, journal Of civilization.
which, 1t Is sud- Is edited by George w. Curtis aud
which is published also In monthly parts. The first
is mode up specially for women, both iilustra-
tons and the reading matter. Every in this In
dependent and luxurious country aspires to be In
the fashion, Or at least. to know something
about fashion and TO follow 1t far as
circumstances VIII admit The Bazaar furnishes the
plat and information to satisfy this taste II gives
the style Of Dress The patterns, the necessary IN
structlOn how TO use the materials, ana even the
grouping OF individuals in fashionable society.
Though this is the speciality OF The Bd.ar, IL con-
tains good deal Of light, pleasant reading other
trations are creltable as works OF art and
are equal If not superior, to any printed in our
weekly periodicals. Besides the fashion pictures
there are always some other SUBJECTS, as wcl as
amusing gentee caricatareS. The whole tone or
the BGzdr Is moral and respectable ana there Is
nothing in 1t to offend the most fastld0us reader.
Without showing any high order OF talent or literary
merit. it is good family journal. HdiperS' Weekly
hardly merits the ostentat.ous title OF "a journal OF
civilization, for there Is nothing highly cultivated
or intellectual to justify that. 1t contains mix
ture OF the principal matters Of news Tor
the week. original romance stories OF the ordinary
character variety OF items and gossip, and polit
Cal articles OF decidedly radical turn with coplous
pictorial illustrations OF striking scenes and objects
OF the day. Tho Objectionable ieature in it to the
ordinary reader Il is political and bitter partisan
character For the rest 1t Is interesting pcriodi
cal and up to the taste and intellectual capa
city OF the mass OF American readers.
Applet0ns Journal, which Is SAID to be edited by
fir. Bunce, Is Inferior TO none OF The weekes In
deed, in literary excellence It Is, PROBABLY, the
best. The articles are, for the most part well Wilt
ten superior In style and dictior. and are evil
IDENTITY the productions or scholars and OF higher
order OF intellect than most OF the other weeKles
The Journal is full OF well chosen and interesting
matter. great deal OF It is original. but such
zines or wrtings of the time and are always
upon subjects that engage the attention and instruct
the reader. Apptet0ss' Journal reflects the .e-
lecrual movements and progress of the age in iera
ture science and art In style superior to any other
American weekly periodical.
Frank Leslie is one OF the most enterprising pub.
fishers Of weekly periodicals. He issues four
namely, FrdnE Lestte'S Illustrated Newspaper,
chimney Corner, BOYS and G~ls' Weekly and
Zeitung German These publications are highly
sensational both IN the reading matter and illustra-
lions. The want OF taste for q higher standard
OF writing among the American people Is to be de-
plored; but we can hardly blame tho VINO study
their business interests by supplying Just what
the market demands. II is but fair say. however,
that there in the different weekly publications of
this publisher good deal OF interesting and useful
Information relative to events persons and facts OF
The times
L,tte,ps Liuing Age, Boston publication, is
compilation OF choice articles and stories from the
best magazines and reviews Of Europe ana America.
1t contains little original matter. Tue editor needs
only taste and Judgment TO make selections, and
these qualifications he seems to possess "Papal
Rome" from the PAU MAI Gazette; 'Tne Edinburg
Reviewers Lord Macaulay," taken from the
GentlenaenS Magazine; and "The Internal Relations
OF Europe" by Francis w. Newman, from Fraze,'s
Magazine, among the articles OF the number be-
fore US, and will give an idea Of the character OF
this periodical.
Eoe,y saturday. weekly illustrated journal, pub
lished by Fields Osgood Co., Boston. and OF which
Mr.. Aldrdge is said TO be the editor, Is of the
best Of this class Of publications. The
Illustrations which occupy half the number
before US, are really good. Most OF the matter is
original and very well written Nearly all the art-
clcs are events OF the day, politics and current
topics. There Is also a medley OF Interesting short
items The only story or romance IS one py George
Sand, 'srhe Marquis de yDlemer,' translated from
the French On the whole, EcerV saturday is a
sensible more practical, less sensational, and
has bet err style than most or the weekes.
Hearth ana Home, Orange judd & Co., pro-
prietors, New York, Is, as the name indicates,
O publication for domestic use chiefly. Most
OF the matter is calculated to instruct as well
as so anuse and some OF it Is valuable to the far.