, 1872-11-04

MANO5GA1f46
accepted and awaiting publication averages, in
dependent Of serials, about 200,-enough to sup
ply the magazine for nearly two years in ad-
vance. The proportion OF accepted to rejected
manuscripts, as have learned by careful in
quiry, is as one to thirteen, which certainly is
not encouraging to novices in ink +or to those
ambitious of earning fame and fortune by their
pen. The articles received average from Is to
80 day,-generally about $50 per week,-from
every part Of the country, and from different
cities Of Europe.
One person is active1y employed in merely
taking charge Of the manuscripts ofered.-en-
tering them, with title, name of author, date Of
receipt, return, Or acceptance, in q volume
kept for the purpose, and corresponding with
the numerous approved and rejected contribu-
tore. One has only to run over the pages OF
this volume to be convinced Of the uncertainty
and precariousness Of the literary profession.
He reads there: "Tendency to the Ideal" by
Mary Jane Jones, Of Penn Yam; 1.-THE Future
9f tie sop sy psnrsh af Rk Of RhateRss ht saas
Buttercup, of the Milk-and-Water Academy, Of
Jonesburg, Va; s'The Terrors Of the Unknown
World" by the Rev. Lycurgus Puddington; !;
"True Love in Heaven" By Mrs; Jemima
Jerkup; 1.-THE Fight IL the Wilderness,
Flower" by Mrs. Bulky Bushrod; and so on,
page upon page, With - Rejected written pitt
IesslY after each entry. Few names that are
familiar appear among the Rejected, though,
now and then, one Of the professionals ia SO set
down.
Harper's is the sole monthly in the Republic,
except the Overland, that does not print names
Of authors with their articles. Some names it
prints, and others-the great majority, indeed
follow their inclination in this regard. Gener-
ally they advertise such authors as are well
enough known to add to the reputation OF the
magazine, though they do not wish to make
reputation for authors therein. This rule, how
ever, is not always adhered to strictly, and some
writer's say that favoritism is shown in certain
cases. The fact Of printing some names and
not others naturally creates dissatisfaction
among the imprinted, who feel convinced their
merit and fame are quite as high as the merit
and fame Of those embalned in small caps.
Men owning magazine, and paying for con
tributions, have the privilege, I presume, Of
treating authors, geographically, as they choose.
Whether they are entitled to the privilege or
not by any principle Of Justice, they will be pref
ty certain to exert it. It is the old question Of
Capital and Labor, whose ghost will not be laid.
AEoNYMoUsSESS.
In regard to names, it would seem to be to
the interest Of q magazine publisher to print
them, because readers almost Invariably want to
whether they like or dislike it; and they are
scarcely ever deferred from reading paper ON
account Of the name accompanying it. repeat
that all the monthlies, except the two mention
ed, advertise their contributors. The Atlantic
was begun Oh the anonymous plan, and 80 con-
we're best pleased by knowing whom, as well as
what, they we're reading.
The Atlantic departed from it's original pur~
pose first, by giving the names Of authors on
zine (Harper's has been doing this for some
time) and, secondly, by printing the names Ia
the newspaper advertisements, though emitting
them in the monthly. Then, abandoning all
compromise, it made authors as conspicuous as
their titles, in fair, clear type Harper's pub
probably, publish more than it now does SO
that it Wilt ultimately, opine, adopt the custom
OF its contemporaries. Personality pays. Never
has there been SO much love Of personality in
literature and journalism as there is at present.
TIE ATLANTIC,
nearly fifteen years old now, stands at the head
of monthlies in respect to pure literature and
the standing of its contributors. It is very
common to say that this magazine is conducted
in the interest Of the Cambridge set, and that
very few persons outside Of Boston are welcome
to its pages. I cannot see that there ia any
foundation for this report especially Of late
years, though am aware OF q good deal Of pref
udice against the Boston monthly (perhaps it
comes from the Amy Of the rojected), and Of
constant stories told to its disadvantage
clover as it once WAS, nor to be
a favorite with professional scribes generally.
Dy-the-by, II accepted writer's are to be called
Scribes, why should not the declined writer's be
known as Pharisees?) The complaint is that it
is given over to dilletanteism and excess of mu-
tua1 admiration, and that al authors outside Of
a certain clique, are reckoned to be among the
intellectually unsanctided. This is, doubtless,
the carping Of cynical critics, who stand not in
awe either Of the Common or fremont street;
who would smile before the Great Organ, and
stand covered under the very shadow Of Harvard
University.
IT'S CONTRIBUTORS.
The most gifted and learned authors Of the
land are among the contributors to the: atlantic:
Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Russell Lowell,
Henry ". Longfellow, William Cullen Bryant,
Oliver Wendell Holmes, John 6. Whittier, Louis
Agassiz, T. ". Higglnson, James Parton, Julia
Ward Howe, Harriet Prescott Spoford, Charles
Sumner, Horny James, Edward Everett Hale,
Stedman, Richard Henry 6toddard, Adeline D.
T. Whitney, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, and half
arhuncred beside. The circulation Of the maga-
zine is n about 900, though over 10000 is
is $3.50 each, and this to not more than haif-a-
dozen writer's, such as Holmes, Emerson, and
Lowell; and the best general rate is $40 per
page Of $50 words.
6t the manuscripts offered, not more than
one in sixteen is accepted, and the number re-
ceiyed is about 150 per week. The Atlantic
claims to pay On acceptance, though it frequently
fails to do so; compelling writer's whom it does
not value to wait for the money until publiea-
tion. The first publishers, Phillips, Sampson l.
Co., failed, and the magazine was transferred to
the firm now Represented by James R. Osgood Il
Co, With all its ability, it had hard struggle,
having sunk some $4,000 before it Was firmly
established. It has been prosperous for the
past ten years, and continues to be so albeit
the circulation increases slowly, and is said BY
some to have fallen off.
WILLIAM D. HoWETLS,
8 native Of Ohio, formerly editor OF the (Colum-
bus) State Journal, tue author OF ''Venetian
Life" and other charming books, has been the
editor Of the Atlantic since the retirement OF
James T. Fields, whose assistant he wg3 FOR 8
number OF years. Afr. Howells' salary ia $1,000
= year, and he has number OF subordlnates
superintending special departments. Ho con-
tributes regularly to tie monthly, and, though
young, stands in the front rank of native men
OF letters. He is q clever poet but he is best
known by his dainty and delightful prose.
THE GALAXY
is in its eighth year. It WAS begun, and contin-
ued for 6, tWalyemonth, as fortnightly. 1t has
been from the first under the immedis.e direc-
tion Of William c. and Frank P. Church, who
are still it's editors and partial owners, having
sold O. half interest tn Messrs. Sheldon d Co.,
the present publshers:: The magazine had
reached it's fifth year and expended $50, 900 be-
fore IT BECAME self-sustaining; but now: With =
circulation Of some 1900 and an excellent repu-
l. -. L