Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-25

~ 1871.
The Proposed southern Magazine.
RrcHMoSp, January q. 1891.
To De Editor Of Gie D,spa,ct.
Now that the suggestion TO revive the
So,lhern Literary Messenger, or 20 establish
q southern magazine, has been fully dis
cussod from q sentimental standpoint and
treated with ell the embellishments OF
rhetoric, reminiscence. and personal and
sectional fattery, let us look at il particu-
larlY--i. C., come down TO business"
Let the desirability OF such a publica-
ton be conceded: the writer, indeed. has
urged il in the city press years ago. Every
southeTner will agree at once 70 all that
has been said on this subject. and o great
deal more that might DO said. Bot its
rTdc'todbia'y is another and quite adifferent
thing.
After everything has been said the fact
remains that it is simply matter Of bust
ness. Will il payp Capital is devoid of
sympathy or sentiment. This enterprise
viii require capital. and good deal Of it,
too; and capital will be induced to enter
It only by the prospect of dividends. not
by defamation. That II Is the vehicle of
southern sentiment, and therefore devoted
to a worthy object. will no more insure its
success than will mans fine sentiments
secure him his daily bread; both magazine
and man must be able 10 compete with
the other fellow in the same business.
This ought to be self-evident; and il it
were not we have certainly had enough ex-
periments at eleemosynary literature since
the war 10 demonstrate ii. Every reader
will recall one or more of the little starve-
lings Ii must of necessity be so. 1t is
simply one manifestation of the law of
supply and demand. The proposed maya
zinc must rank with the best OF Its already
established competitors In point Of literary
merit and mechanical execution, else 1t
will not command the patronage even of
the southern people, however loudly senti-
ment may lift up her voice. Selfishness
and sentiment are sworn enemies, and peO-
pie have selfish way of insisting on having
the best for their money-a trick that our
people have acquired to a surprising de-
gree in the last twenty-five years.
But the proposed magazine cannot take
such rank unless il can compete in the
literary markets with the strongest OF its
rivals. The best pens and cleverest pencils
must be within reach of its purse, One Of
the most striking phenomena of our age is
the divorce Of literature from poverty and
it's alliance with riches. Your literary man
is no longer a shabby fellow with flowing
and dshevelled hair and fine. fTenzied eve,
reeking with genius and want. On the
contrary, he has got his hair cut, changed
his shirt, sports tall, sleek hat, and q
dapper coat and cane; his eye has settled
down to business, and wears how
h-will-you- give-me" expression. He
is in favor Of free coinage, and his muse
sings only to the accompaniment OF the
! guinea's jingle.
| fear me much that this clesr-headed.
| practical fellow would continue to send
| his wares TO whatever market promised
best returns, and that his chief interest IN
| the Literary Messenger would be TO ascer-
| tain the strength of its eXchequer as CON-
pared with that of the Century, Harper,
| ScriI1per, &c.
How much capital will it require2 The
modern magazine Of the typeof the Century
IS one of the most expensive things i'm
| aginable. If anybody can furnish us the
detailed costs of single issue of one OF
| them the sum total will, believe, sur
| prise a great many people. l have heard
| Il estimated at $4,000 per issue. L doubt
| If that is much out of the way. At all
| events il would scarcely be worth while to
| start the new magazine with backing OF
| less than 100000 Of paid-up capital. one
| of your contributors has already noml-
| mated the editor, but think 1t would be
| in order to withdraw the nomination until
we get the stock takenl
This, Mr.. Editor, in q crude way is the
| business side of the matter. l would not
| willingly yield to any man in enthusiastic
! interest in all that concerns the South, par.
! ticularly her literary revival. Most of all
am / interested in her side of the great
questions which led to the war and to the
! history Of that struggle; and for tins rea-
| son above all others have ! desired to see
| in the South a recognized vehicle OF south
\ ern thought and opinion. No sensible man
| doubts the determined purpose of the
| North TO make history to suit its own side
| of these questions; and when l near, as
sometimes do, our young men say that the
South was wrong | feel that the spirit OF
Peter Farley, like that of John Brown, Is
marching On.n If, by the way, you want
to see how ignorant the present generation
is on that question / suggest that you send
ont reporter to ask every man he meets
who is under thirty-fve years of age what
were tho causes of the war. The answers,
| predict. would make an interesting
| column in the Dispatch.
But would not like to see southern
magazine attempted without ample, tinan-
! cial backing; for, without that, failure. Is
assured in advance. repeat II cannothye
| bv sentiment or location, but by its own
| merits-the survival of the tittest.
! But do believe that with such ample
| backing and capable management the sue
cess of the enterprise is fairly well assured.
/ The time seems ripe for 10. The recent
| literary movement in the South is second
/ only TO its wonderful material develop
ment. Wealth is rapidly accommodating
| and with wealth will come leisure, the
| hand maiden of literature. The only diff
| Guilty that l see III the way Is to convince
capital that it will pay. j. Z. L*s*.