The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-05-07
From the Washington Republican.

center, Where 1t Is
Mr.. Stedman-Emphatically in
New York city. And ! regard it as
one of the most suspicious signs OF
the immediate future Of American
literature that it is becoming metro-e
politan, rather than sectional. have
thought tor years that such would be
the cases
Reporter-But ''Boston, my Bos-
ton," is ''Ichabod"to be written on her
pillars?"
Mr.. Stedman- The New England
school OF literature, centering at Bos-
ton, and most ably represented by
Emerson. LongfeIlow. Lowell, Whit
tier, Whipple, Holmes and kindred
great names, has been brilliant one,
marked by originality and power. |
am Yankee, and found OF its history ),
and influence.
Reporter-And have not younger
authors been taught by it?
Mr.. Stedman-Yes ali of us.
Nevertheless, there has been someth-
ing restricted and special, not so much
about the work referred to as with
relation to their market. Both have
been the features of a single genera
ton, which we cannot expect to be
succeeded by another Of equal impor.
lance. | have an idea that Boston
he's borne to New York a relation
Similar to that formerly borne by
Edinburgh to London. An artificial
market for literature has conferred
there, maintaIncd'by the intellectual
supremacy of a few living men, and
therefore necessarily of a temporary
nature. Just as the literary center
shifted from Edinburgh to London,
the true metropolis, 80 ii is now shift
ing in the United States from Boston
to New York.
Reporter-But is it true that Bos-
ton has held the supremacy only for a
single generation p?
Mr.. Stedman-Yes. Prior to tina;
the Knickerbocker school, suceh as It
was in the mere department Of liter
allure and represented by Cooper, Irv
ing, Bryant, Halleck, ETC., occupied the
popular regard. Even in the early |
history of Putnams's Magazine, before
the Atlantic was founded. New
England writer's, poets and philoso-
pbars found their best market in its
pages. But before the recent war,
literature, whether in New York. |
Boston or the South, was more or less
local and provincial. 1t is now il i
transition 8 ate. with every indication
that broad and catholic American
school is to concentrate and find i'll
market in the great center of COM
merce, art, journalism. Literary
and social life the past few seasons
have been very Brilliant and stimulat-
ing in New York, and the brighter
young men and journalists, sna book
Makers are gathering there in large
-.lmbers.
Reporter-9as not the atlantic
ally been removed to New York i?
Mr.. Stedman-No that is mis-.
ke.-The Atlantic has been sold
by J. R. Osgood & Go. to Aurd &
Houghton, New York house but
Hurd & Houghton also have an
establishment in Cambridge, and the
atlantic CONTINUES to be published
as a Boston magazine. The day that
1t should be mt-ed to New York
would te its doomsday, for its COM
nercial value depends uponits prestige
as a representative of New England
thought. aax 80
Report Isn't there something like
an affection for the atlantic among
r@agazinists ?
Mr.. Stedmsn-Y Yes; a strong one.
Every American author. worthy the
name, feels a personal interest in the
maintenance and success of the old
Atlantic in misrepresentation capac-
ity.
Reporter--Has Its subscription lis'
been affected Of late2
Mr.. Stedman-Its subscription
list may have been affected by tn,
success Of Scrsbner's Monthly tn
Golary. Old and Neao, and othe
metropolitan orr local magazine
which now circui ate laroelv in tn