New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
TILE LITERdRY CENTRE.

Tie Brooklyn Magazine prints short communl-
cations from seven or eight prominent writers
in answer to the question, Is Boston losing its
Literary Prestge7 Most of the replies, it must
be confessed are somewhat loose (; but so is the
question. Prestige is the fame founded upon
past achievements; Boston has not lost that,
and is not likely TO lose it until new school
Of poets and men of letters, in some other city,
cause the splendor Of the Cambridge set to be
forgotten, Just as LOngfellow, Lowell, Emerson,
Holmes and their associates, generation ago,
eclipsed the earlier celebrity of the New-York
Eterati. Literary pre-emlnence, which is quite
different from literary prestige depends upon
present activity rather than associations with
the past, and it is to this, not TO literary pres
tige that the question of the magazine probably
refers The point of inquiry is whether Boston
is keeping the lead in American literature
which for time inquest iOnably belonged to
her.
To us it seems plain that she is not Various
causes are assigned for the long popularity of
literary culture in Boston, such as the influence
of Harvard the excellence of the public libraries
and other collections, and the tendencies of a
social life combining in an exceptional manner
the ease which accompanies prosperity with the
spirit of reflection and repose which shuns the
great centres of commercial enterprise. These,
no doubt, were contrbutory causes. But the
real efficient cause was the personal influence of
the distinguished company of authors whose
simultaneous activity makes by far the most
remarkable chapter in our literary history.
They were not the product of Boston inlu
ences Oh the contrary, they gave the tone both
TO the university and to society, and dis
tinct character to the publishing houses idcnt
fled with their books. BIT they are leaving no
succession in Boston As one by one the ven
cradle figures disappear, the circle closes up;
there are no new BOstOnians to step into the
vacated places. With a few exceptions, for
which personal reasons might be found, the
Younger authors drift away to other cities.
The relative Importance of Boston periodicals
and the Boston publishing business has
obviously declined; and it ia hardly too much
to say that the popular Difference once paid to
the literary tastes and judgments of Boston
has vanished altogether.
The truth is that unless some very strong
cOuntcrvaling attraction is established, like
the concourse of the Cambridge poets. litera-
turc will 90 where IL finds the best sale. New
York offers to literary workers. especially to
those whose fame is yet in the future, so many
advantages in its active and cntcrprising book
houses, its variety of excellent periodicals, it,
literary and art clubs. its libraries. its
abundant life, in which the author must find his
best themes, that tendency to make this
chief literary centre is almost Il matter of
course. 1t has been objected that the tone of
Ncw.York society, on the othcr hand, is en-
trcly out OF harmony with the literary spirit.
That was true once but n great change has
been in progress of late years. We are getting
past the period in which the chief use of wealth
is as a means of getting more and we are learn
ing bow 10 live. We are dey clipping what We
never used to have, large class of people Of
elegant leisure, we'll educated, Nv crsc to coarse
display, but fond Of art aud refinement.
society like this, whatever its defects, has
always been the home Of literature, art, and
science. Art has found a cordial welcome here
already and literature follows so close behind
that here only is it exhibiting Il real activity.