Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-11
SOUTHERN MAGAZINE
WHIT lsNEepEp AND HOW IT CAN
B. SUSTAINED.
Reeeiiecsicns OF Some Of the Crest
writers OF Oar Section
ia the Fast.


timely suggestion that the Soufaern Lie
rory Messenger be revived. Persons familiar
with that sterling monthly should second
The motion Of the Dispdtch. Those who
know Il not should spend few hours in
tho State Library studying its pages.
II any magazine IL 10 be started 10 the
6outh its future would DO assured by link
ing IL with the past Of the Messenger. For
thirty years IL was successful medium
for the expression Of southern literary
opinion, and but for the war 1t would
doubtless. be enjoying to-day prosperous
and honorable career.
II may not have been at all limos fnan-
cislly successful Literature and wealth
are seldom partners. But the student OF
letters, OF political history. and Of sociolo-
~ would miss much in not having care
fully examined the Messenger. II is one OF
the best fenectors Of the social, political,
and literary life OF the South during the
quarter OF century so pregnant with in
tellectual vicor preceding the war. That
struggle killed the Messenger. But the
war is over. thank God. and returning
prosperity will enable the South 20 have
the means and the time 70 enjoy a first
class monthly magazine, published on
southern soil, supported IN the main BY
southern writers and southern readers.
and medium of combining in healthy
proportions the best things Of the Old
South with the best things OF the New.
A brief resume of the literary Situation
In the South in 1880. and comparison with
that Of to-day should encourage all lovers
OF literature not only in the South but IN
America to hail with hearty support the
appearance of q southern magazine.
FUNCTIONS OF THE MKssxsoEB
When in August. 1884, T. W. White issued
his prospectus of the Messenger he observed
two reasons for its existence. lie asked az
one reason. Are we to be doomed forever
70 A kind OF vassalage TO our northern
neiehbors7n and as the second alluded TO
"the shackles OF incidence, indifference,
or the love Of pleasure have imposed upon
u.s."
That was written twenty-five years be-
fore the war began. IL is now twenty-fye
years SINCE the war ended, and while that
quarter of century has not permitted o
very luxuriant growth of Incidence and
love of pleasure in the South. while those
shackles have been broken the question
NAV still be asked, "Are we to be doomed
forever 70 q kind of vassalage TO our north
ern neighbors 2"
In the same way much of the comment
made at that time could be repeated with
truth at present. Abiding to the new ven
ture Washington Irving wrote: Strongly
disposed as always have been in favor of
'tbe South and especially attached to
Virginia by early friendships and cherished
recollections. | cannot but feel interested
in the success Of work which is calcu-
lated to concentrate the talent and illus
trate the high and generous character
which pervades that part of the Union."
In the same strain wrote j. X. Paulding.
"You have" his letter reads, abundance
of talent among you. and the situation OF
90 many well-educated men placed above
the necessity Of laboring either manuslly
or professionally affords ample leisure for
the cultivation of literature. Hitherto
your writings have been principally politi-
cal. and in that class you have few rivals.
The same talent directed to other pursuits
in literature will unquestionably produce
similar results; and Virginia. in addition
TO her other higher claims to the .conside-
ration of the world, may then easily aspire
to the same distinction in other branches
that she has attained in politics"
SO much for generalities. But in par
ticulsr Paulding struck the keynote of
southern literature when he wrote, Be
sides. the nurses must certainly abide
somewhere in the beautiful valleys and on
the banks .of the cl . streams of the
mountains of Virginia. Solitude is the
nurse Of the imagination, and If there be
any Virginia lad or lass that ever seeks
they will assuredly find inspiration among
the retired, quiet beauties of her lonely
retreats. Doubtless they only want We
hicls tor their illusions. IL your
young writers will consult their own
taste and genius and forget that there
ever were such writers as Scott, Byron, and
Moore will be bound they produce some
thing original, and tolerable origi-
nal il as much superior to tolerable imi-
tation as substance is to shadow. Give
us something Characteristic OF yourselves,
your country. and your native feelings,
and don't care what it is. The
best thing q young American writer can
do is TO forget that anybody ever wrote be-
fore him; and above all things that there
are such caterpillars as critics in this
world"
This utterance of Paulding's has been
quoted ut such length. because in ii is en-
bodied so much of advice suitable at pres
ent. The Messenger entered upon its hon.
orable life at q time when, according to the
man who was its editor in 1913, the South
was almost unoccupied by native publ
cations, our people were spending money,
and such Of our scholars as were not idle
or did not confne their productions to
newspaper articles were exercising their
genius in behalf of northern publications. u
In the optimism of q man of twenty-five
years he continued: How glad to us will
be the day when an ardent, liberal love OF
learning shall have supplanted some of the
hobbies of southern intellect, have aroused
its slumbering energies, and impaired a
taste of purest joys and sweetest solaces
The result can be produced"
ABLE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE NKssKSoER.
Porting over its thousands Of pages one is
constantly reminded of such lights as
Judge Beverly Tucker, Edgar Allan Poe,
w Gilmore Simme. DIR. j. @, McCabe, Mrs.
june I. 0omax) Worthington, Miss Evelyn
II. Taylor, william Writ, Francis Lieber,
Thomas Il. Dew, William Maxwell. John
Randolph, Conway Robinson, John b.
Dahaey. Lieutenant Matthew +. Maury,
ySnn X. Thompson. s. Teackle Wallis,
Charles Campbell, Hon. William @. Rives,
Mrs. William @. Riyes, William Maxwell
Wood, William Munford. John p. Kennedy,
dubon Legare, and host of others. Art,
science. diplomacy. politics. statesman
ship, poetry, fiction. history, and bellies
letters in general all were represented by
natives OF adopted citizens OF community
lacking in cities.
Life in city means mental seclusion from
ones fellows. Persons are attracted TO o
city, in the main, TO better their condition.
More artificial Injuries are to be had there,
and money is to be made moro rapidly
there than in the country. But there 10
less rest; less time in dealing with the
practical 10 give play to the imagination;
more competition resulting from thestrug.
gle for the survival Of the fttest; moro ac-
quaintances, perhaps. but fewer friends.
The individual in daily intercourse with
others whom policy compels to veil their
real feelings is himself obliged 10 do like
wise. The result is introspection, some-
times healthy, moro frequently debili-
tating.
In the country q body who Is normally
human knows and feels something about
everybody else for miles around. Worship
is not an armed truceof money-makers for
Q day. One hes friendly interest in the
prospects of ones neighbor. We know TO
what extent nature and man have operated
against the crops and what prices he Is
likely TO obtain for them. He Is really
anxious TO divulge the latest bit OF neigh
borhood news, and after the sermon TO dis
cuss from one standpoint or another the
worlds movements as chronicled in his
daily OF weekly paper. now become ne
n&asitv for him. Even couft-day eayoring