, 1872-11-04
The Dead and Living Publications.
Harpers, the Atlantic, the
Galaxy, and Scribners.
Their A1teCedents and Success
Their Editors and Con-
tribut0rS.
The Question Of Paying on Acceptance
1.-The Scribas and Pharisees.


From Our 0wn Correspondent.
New YoBK, Oct. 80, 1872.
American literature has SO steadily improved
that it is very different to-day from what it WAS
even ten years ago, and this is shown in nothing
more than in our magazines. They still have
many defects, but they will have 1essened less as
time goes On. We have far fewer month1ies
than Great Britain, because our daily and week.
" papers supply toa certain extent, their place;
but those ne do have are undeniab1y superior to
any equal number OF the English publications.
What London magazine is there SO
good in its way as the At
lantic, Harper's, the Ga1ary, or
Scsibner's. Assuredly not Fraser's, nor the
CornhiA, nor the Fortnightly, nor Mac1fillan's.
The British quarter1ies eclipse ours completely,
cesses fail to sympathize with the deliberation
and solidity required for such issues.
THE LONDON MoNTHL1Es
are generally mora substantial, and the contrib
utors more thoroughly acquainted with their
subjects, than are the monthlies and the writer's
Of New York and Boston. But they lack the
vvacity, the ease the grace, the variety Of treat
ment, our magazines can clearly claim. If We
are more shallow and fippaut than our trans
atlantic brethren, surely VIC are brighter and
more Interesting, as what We print indicates.
TWENTY YEARS AGO,
our monthlies were in no wise creditab1e, being
tawdry, nimsy, cheap,-a mixture OF frontier
authorship, diluted sentiment, and weak imita-
tion. Those we're the days when Grahdm's,
Petersons, and Godey's Ludy's Book purported
to represent the talent and the taste Of the writ
ing and reading community. They were once
found at all the booksellers on every private
Ibra1y-tab1e and, strange enough, we're
thought to have merit. They were born OF
Philadelphia, and, saving Grahan's, still exist,
gwen flourish in mild1y-inane way. Their
reputation, however, is extinct, except among
school-girls and rustic milliners, who enjoy the
feeble pages as children enjoy molasses and
water.
The one magazine in this city and country de-
serving Of esteem was
TIE KN1CEERpoCKER.
It had merit equal to its fame, and, though we
should not regar It highly now, its literary quail
ity and tone were in advance OF its time. Begun
in 1882, by Charles Fenno Hoffman, who subse-
quently became insane, and is still, think, an
inmate OF q lunatic asylum, it passed into the
after, into those OF Louis Gaylord Clark, almost
forgotten now, though still surviving in one
Of the dreary departments Of the Custom
House. For quarter Of century,
time became we'll and widely known, largely
from the literary light shed upon him by his
genial brother, Willis Gaylord Clark.
Another monthly, deceased, revived, and dead
again, which mcrited better fate was
PUTSAMs.
In the first stage Of its existence, it was re-
markably able; Parke Goodwin, George William
Curtis, and Charles F. Briggs being it's editors,
and many Of the very best writer's OF the day
amung it's contributors. From their articles
we're afterwards compiled various popular
and !: Prr1e and IT, Richard Grant Whites
:: shakspeare's Scholar" Godwin's " Political
Essays," and other works of wide reputation.
Commenced in 1852, the magazine virtually e1-
pired in '56, and, some twelve years after, reap
peared, only to continue, IN feebler LIE than 1t
had formerly known, until 1870.
The oldest Of the established and prosperous
monthlies is
now in its twenty-third year, and, for that rea-
son, perhaps called New BY its publishers: It
so many magazines that had set out with much
promise and high expectations; but
nseons The 9apt Hpef fastiss Brosrs ahe re9e sen
ample that they had fata in Its its auceass
has has steadily increased, until it is ut present
nearly 100000, giving it not for from 'ooo'ooo
readers.
Henry J. Raymond VAS it's first editor, and
continued to be for some years after founding
the New York Times. The early issues we're
largely made up of selections from English
sources, and the illustrations altogether
inferior to what they, have since
become, The Improvement - literary
and artistic tone has been marked and regular,
and it has long been recognized az the model Of
3 popular magazine. OF late years it's contribu-
tions have been either original or from the ad-
yance-sheets of British authors while its Illus
trations hare been carefully, correctly and con-
scientiously made by corps of artists and en-
erayers connected with the house.
Alfred II. Guernsey WAS Mr. Raymond's editQ-
rial SUCCESSOR, and held the position Until, be-
coming reader for the firm about three years
ago, he was followed by Henry a. Alden, the
present incumbent 81 the Responsible once: The
tors (receiYing extra pay for their contributions
"A nav be seen by the tact That, in the index Of
the monthly for twenty years, Mr.. Guernsey ap-
pears as the author Of eighty different papers.
the best. Of the three editors his SALARY is 1916
week.. giving his entire time and attention to
tha work. and constantly studying to increase
the interest and variety, as vol as to ad-
vance the general excellence OF the pages he
controls. He is always to be found at his post,
and ever ready to entertain any proposition that
viii augment The popularity Of the magazine.
Hdrpers has made specialties Of illustrated
articles of foreign and domestic travel biograph-
ical and historic sketches, and serial tales of
fiction. These are lnterspersed with short sto-
RES. adventures, scientific papers, poems, arti--
cles upon current topics, and an almost endless
variety of compositions. Ma magazine, at home
or abroad has 80 many contributors upon such
divers subjects, and its editorial departments
are full and complete: