St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-08-20
Tnerarp.
Written for The Caledonian.l
Magazine Literature.

nee the first magazine was published
% England. In 1871, Edward Cave is
ned the first number of the "Gentle
mems Magazine" This periodical ii
q III published, though much changed
ID character. The magazine, as it'
Elme indicates, was first used for stOr-
I'll BE- the most important and valuable
Elections from the newspapers. having
#iltle or no original matter. From
Ms small beginning To the magniiiceni
ssnes of the present day the stride Ii
ipmeDse. The present monthly issu'
ID the Century is 250,0O0 copies, anG
x would hardly be risky to say that
kch issue furnishes entertainment and
81 structiOn to a million Of persons
s. her magazines, several scarcely less
merit, though falling something low
in subscription list, have still IA very
ARG constituency. Now, if for mo
So mt We think of the large number OF
lh gaines, - literary, scientific, thee
,icaI, medical aud those relating Ia
neral aud particular Jurisprudence
hich are issued monthly, we shall Ice
oppressed with the immense power
Ii species of literature has as All ed
Sative force. The wonderful degree
"a perfection attained in the illustra-
Ins of LIarper's Monthly and the Cen
ry has done much to stimulate art
3,.ling and art appreciation in those
bro wOuld not have been reached by
=, IA influences through any other me
iIm.
III This species of literature is some
lnes decried, as compared with what
may distinguish Us "bOOk liter
re" and we think sometimes unjust
This criticism Was more inst be
re the making OF magazine literature
Eis sufficiently Temunerative to com
and the very first order of talent
hong literary men. As rule to day,
le very best fiction appears first in
rial form. Theological, social and
+. eDnOmIc questions are first and often
st treated IN our current reviews.
H Magazines, as compared with books,
oVe this advantage, that they must
pm the nature of the case treat mat
srs considered in brief and so com
bud themselves Ia the popular mind.
iiey must either treat IA single phase
the subject Or treat whole subject
outline, 50 that the question really
not whether it is better to read
lorough and comprehensive discus
Lon of a subject covering several hun
I'D pages or read a magazine article
Pcsenting some particular phase of
hIcct, for the choice usually lies
tween this latter or nothing. In this
br<-a- day world, many would read
brief and learn much who would not
induced To attempt Il treatise. The
EIdIng of Il magazine or the monthly
bes not in general supersede the read
< of books. The appetite for read
z grows with what it feeds upon and
ie character of the best current peri
waite the mental faculties but rather
stimulate and invigOrate them. One
ny lind as close and substantial read
= i'll some of the English and Ameri
IN magazines as between the more
Ectentious covers of book.
Magazine literature cOmmends itself
a ,l.r Il.
the public, it will be much more eX-
Hnsively read than other literature of
pc same grade OF merit, since it is
valuable for odd moments occupation,
hd is much more likely TO consider
pies OF present interest. Each num-
Pr is varied in its contents, thus
F rtter diverting the mind of the read
Il. ] will venture to say that the most
ltelligent members of community
,ad one or more magazines, and be-
luse of this, read books not less but
ore. The Atlantic, Harper's Month
or the Century, in family with
rildren, will he likely to be read by
hence, direct aud indirect, intelligent
Ell and women.
To the magazine is due, to a large
ktent. the fact that there is now lit
ature distinctively American. IL Of
rs field to the Impractical. One
light attempt magazine article who
ore formidable enterprise of writing
book. Some of us can almost re-
emher when the impertinent ques-
on, "Nho ever reads an American
DOk ~ was pertinent. Scarcely more
ram half century has been required
make pertinent the inquiry, "WhO
Ver does not read American books 7"
~ One who has never tried it can
LARGELY know how like "A warm per-
+ nnal friend the magazine makes its
Ionthly appearance, and say what
on will, there is little more zest in
,ading ones own literature. When
ie love OF reading the fondness for
uoks has once been engendered, this
lSte needs but to be directed, and
Iere will come of it intelligent men
nd women. 1t is marvellous how
lany of the leading writer's of to-day
ere only educated in this simple aud
nscholastic way. What Steele said
a certain famous woman, "To have
Dved her was a liberal edncatiOn," is
literally true of a love for books. The
nnense increase in circulation of the
rninrN with it, imnroYed library