The Portland daily press., 1881-04-30
American Magazines in England.

The following appears in "Topics of the
Time" Scribner for May, under the above IT,
tie:
The recent introduction of still another
American magazine into England has evident
ly brought a new surprise to the writer's Of
magazine notices on the English press and
that America possesses three such illustra ted
monthly periodicals as Scribner's,S st. Nicholas,
and Harpers is an establishment to the En-
ican periodicals in foreign market,
is something which we have not seen
satisfactorily accounted for either at home
or abroad. This success is generally attributed
almost solely to the superiority of American
engraving and the prodigality of illustration.
But we doubt whether this is the only reason.
At least there are other causes at work; one
OF these is the interest taken by the people Of
Great Britain IN American affairs-another,
and an important one, is what may be called
the cosmopolitanism of American taste.
There is a prevailing opinion in England
(and in fact throughout Europe) that America
is very big, very rich, and tremendously sue
cessful." But those who hold in common this
opinion, are divided into two principal classes
One class is forever exalting the example of
America in all matters except that of the tar
iff; the other class regards us not only with
anxious Jealousy, but socially as a nation of
upstarts whose mission it is to "vnlgarize the
world" Not long ago an English journal gave
frank expression to the disdain in certain quar-
ters regarding the public affairs of America.
The editor said that these matters do not Sin
terest' the English people. We are inclined
rather assumed than felt. The editor doubt
less despiSed American affairs, but he was
compelled to think about them. The course of
the London Times with regard to America is
at least partly representative of English feel
ing. Now the American in London who
takes i'm The Times perceives its attitude to
be that of profound disgust. For ten days the
columns OF The Times will be teeming with
correspondence and kilograms from, editorials
and communications concerning, the United
States. The regular correspondent (writing
from Phiiadelphia( will supply further details
OF news already telegraphed; zone or two spec
tally commissioned travelling correspondents
will send columns of descriptions of American
agriculture and manufactures; the paper will
contain reports Of speeches made in praise of
the New World by members of Parliament re-
turning from their travels the commercial COL
umns WILDE full of American matters; our
cattle, our beef, our crops, the rapid payment
of our national debt, an essay by DIR. Beard in
the Atlantic, will afford subjects for editorials,
and letters to the editor-and the general tone
will be one of compliment. But at the end of
the tenth day the editor seems to have said to
himself, go to! We have heard enough in fa-
vor OF America. 1t is time to take that too
bumptious community to task Then the
overgrown boy is, so to speak, laid across the
old lady's knees and spanked. The Thunder
er thunders, and the air is clear once more.
In America there is no very marked division
OF opinion on the subject of England. Even
those who scornfully demand, "What have we
to do with abroad?" generally hurry abroad
with their families as quickly as they can, and
In proportion to.p0pulation as many tourists hail
from Oshkosh as from New York. America,
in fact, has not only hereditary ties with the
Old World, but all sorts of romantic associa-
tions with ner. Though in little danger of
entangling and warlike alliances, and, there
fore, not intimately acquainted with all the
details of foreign diplomacy, America still
takes living interest in the public affairs, the
social life, the literary and art movements of
the whole world.
Paris is a cosmopolitan city, because all the
world goes to enjoy itself in Paris. But one
has only to read the Partisan journals to see
how essentially provincial" or rather how
narrow and self-centered, is the Partisan mind
What in New York would be called the ''city
department" extends over nearly the whole
paper. The telegraphic and other news from
America and from other countries is amusing
ly inadequate. What does the Partisan care
for "abroad, until there is danger of abroad"
crossing the Rhine and starting for Paris?
London, though not so cosmopolitan as Paris
as place of residence or sojourn, is, however,
more cosmopolitan in its tastes. 1t is hospta-
BILE in the reception of ideas from all parts of
the earth; it has an equal welcome for Ger
man philosophy, Asiatc poetry, and the Com
edie Francaise. 1t knows Longfellow by heart.
and delights as well in Omar Khayam. Lon
don is not hospitable in a merely perfunctory
manner; its intellectual welcome is genuine
and hearty. We doubt if London would, un-
der the same circumstances, treat German mu-
sic, for instance, as Paris treats it to-day. The
critics of the British press are, as a rule, men
OF education, with scholarly views and conse-
quently Of generous instincts-under convic-
ton they do not find it difficult to say of some
thing foreign: "This is better than our own."
But New York Is perhaps even more eclectic
in its tastes than London. An article ON the
scenes in Dickens's novels is read not only more
widely in America than in England, but with
perhaps more keen curiosity and relish. All
Americans are by nature Passionate Pilgrims"
the Old World is a lodestone that is always
drawing them to it; their spirits go on pilgrim
age if their bodies cannot. The impulse to
move, that brought their ancestors here, is an
ineradicable tendency. There is besides an
alertness and receptivity in the national mind
that makes it open to the widest range of i'm
pressious. An American magazine, though its
leading desire may be the development of
American authors, and the chronicling and de-
picting of American thoughts, scenes, and en-
terprise, must still, if it wishes to keep its hold
upon public attention at home, satisfy the ap-
petite of its readers for knowledge of the past
and present of the "Old World" 1t is not
surprising, therefore, that American magazines
should find large audiences in another country
speaking the same language.
We have said that there are two main opin-
ions in England concerning America; we
should speak of a third which, though natur-
ally not so widely held is nevertheless the
most correct, and the most valuable for Amer
leans to understand. 1t is that of wise and OBJ.
servant men who have taken the trouble to ac-
quaint themselves with the facts, and who ap-
preciate our national faults as we'll as our ma