New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-16
DISCUSSING LITERARY TASTE
THE ALPHA BETA GAMMA SOCIETY
TAKES UP THE MAGAZINE QUESTION.
rs MAGAZINE READING PRoFTrABLE-' THE
SUBJECT OF DEBATE AT NORMAL


COLLEGE YESTERDAY.
/ The weekly meeting OF the Alpha Beta Gamma
Society OF the NewYork Normal College was held
yesterday afternoon in one OF the lecture rooms OF
the college, the president Miss Lucy May Ocott. In
the chair
The large number present listened to the reading
OF several brief papers regarding magazines and
magazine literature The question: rs Magazine
Reading Prohtable?" was treated from the affirma-
tive side by Miss Sadie Berringer, and from the
negative by Miss May Hopkins
Miss Berringer said in effect: THE magazine is a
compendium OF the best thought In all directions.
The finest writer's the deepest thinkers, the most
profound scholars found among the contribu-
tors to the leading magazines We find in
some magazines the latest contribution to any line
Of thought that interests us. II scientific phil
osophical. there the reviews: II literary
artistic, we have only look in the right place and
we are sure to find something helpful and in
structive. The magazine forms a medium OF inter-
communication for thinkers on all subjects in all
parts Of the civilized world There we find most
valuable information in history biography art SCI
ence. In succnct yet comprehensive form. The
books that It would require weeks to read are
skinned for us and the presented in the
magazine"
Miss Hopkins argued on the other side: THE
magazines too often full OF words only words
while even the serious and worthy articles at their
best. are superficial and one-sided. A or
woman reads number OF books or talks with a
number of people. all looking the side of the
shield and writes a weghty article from that same
side, and Ii is printed in a magazine, where people
accept it a final solution Of the question what
ever it may be, and forget that everything has
more than one point OF view This is one OF the
most pronounced evils of magazine reading 1t
cutlvaes Incidence instead Of industry teaches US
to lean upon the opinions of others instead OF
searching Tor ground for opinions of own.
1t Is true that many useful and yalua-
BILE articles in the magazines but the mass is
likely TO overlook these in its absorption OF the
more ephemeral-I had almost said trashy-portions
Of the periodical AS for the argument that maya
zines keep US courant with current events that
Is properly the function of wel-edited news
papers.
in the food OF magazine literature poured upon
this end OF the century. books being crowded
out. We longer form libraries of books worth
keeping and living with. We buy magazines and
sell them to the cheap dealer. 1t is 10 the magazine
that owe the craze for short stores-for stories
OF morbid sensations and startling Incidents We
no longer have time or inclination for delicate
tracing Of character development in the ordinary
novel. In word. magazines have put premium
haste. superAciaty and sensationalism in lit
erature."
Miss Sarah Graham spoke briefly the value of
the cheap" magazine as a means Of bringing art.
literature and science 10 the masses. Ii has been
said that travelling essential part OF cul.
ture but in the magazines travel In
and independence. meeting and women of
note authors. painters composers philosophers
and statesmen. feeling the magnetic force OF their
thought, impressed and Influenced by their words
Miss Lily Pkington read an interesting paper
the history OF magazines. from the establish
ment in Paris in 100. Of lie Journal des Swans"
mp TO the present era OF almost numberless period
Gals The Cfentlemans Magazine" founded in Lon
mon embracing stories. poems and general artt-
Giles.
The next meeting OF the Alpha Beta Gamma will
be held IN the lecture room on Friday next at 2@o
solved That the Athenian training produced bet
ter citizens than the Spartan"
MARY KYLE DALLAS ON LITERARY TASTE.
Some years ago very, very serious work. clad
In the CARL of fiction. placed before the public
and all the world work praise it," said Mary
Kyle Dallas when questioned 10 her Views on the
value Of modern literature and womans for it.
For my part. I tried to read i5. and could
felt that I ought admire Il, but the admira ton
would not come. | was aweary' before the prin-
cpal characters had begun TO play their parts Nat
urally was ashamed of myself. and. suspicious be-
ing awakened in my mind that was not the only
stupid person in the world, proceeded to investi-
gate. The result was comforting.
First discovered thar what my friends said OF
the book was exactly what was said by the profess
sional crtcs-nst an original word was uttered
corning it, After that ventured confession to eaten
knew but one had really finished the first volume
about a dozen had read four Of five chapters and
the remainder mad faltered and grown faint at the
end OF 1--WE or six pages. IL book that no one
could read through except from a stern sense of
duty yet every one spoke OF il fine. elevating
wonderful. and the publishers believed it the most
successful that ever issued from their press In
fact as selling book Il was. All who bought books
bought this a. matter of course and many a vol
ume stands on the library shelves 20 this day with
its leaves
Does this seem to indicate tina. I side with those
who declare that womans literary Is an un-
known quantity because she chooses ner books
she does her gowns and bonnets. according 10 the
dictates OF the prevailing fashion?
"On the contrary consider IL a proof that she
has very decided literary tastes and IS guided en-
trely by her feelings and emotions in the selec-
ton OF her reading matter. She buys the fashion
able books she uttars the popular sentiments
garding them. but she cannot read them unless
she likes them. To discover her real tastes Won
must know what volumes lie hidden under her
pillow; in her desk or work-baskei. or are car
ried about with her In her travelling-bag. Woman
Is much more dependent on her books and mag
azlnes LOT soIice IMAM men can be- and they be-
come part Of her life. With her real tastes fash
any but intimate friend what books she
really loves and why they much her
In public she expresses the conventional IL
like 10 better. the fashiOna BILE opinion on
always avoid appearing odd. II possible which IS
Of the reasons why society is uninterestng
The professor SO much talked about OF late has
simply been unable 70 discover the real literary
taste OF the average woman OF his set. but am
assured that II Is generally good. and that had ne
opportunity 10 compare her private treasures
i'm the book line with those Of the men Of her own
set the advantage would be altogether on the
WOnan's side. a far decacy and purity .
The woman who likes immoral books and maya
zines or those that cast contempt sacred sub
jects. is scarcely 10 be found among any English
speaking people"