The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-26

increase in the size or the readlng pup
lie, and particularly in the number CT
those readers who realize the impossi-
bility of covering the whole field of lit
erature, but who look to various
sources for guidance in the unavoid-
| able selection. The critical organs have
entered the field with able and con-
scientious stats, and are doing much
educational work of value. Probably
no other single influence is stronger in
directing the taste of the reading public,
and we are glad to say that the efforts
of the reviewers are in the main di-
rected by the highest motives.
Could the reviews in these publica-
tons be always directed purely to the
merits of the books considered, the eff
feet would be far more beneflcent. But,
unfortunately, sometimes other consid-
erations complicate the judgment. In
the first place, there is the natural dis
inclination to say aught against book
which is put unreservedly into the re-
viewers hands. Then at times a good
moral will be allowed to float book
that is utterly objectional from a lit
erary standpoint. Even more common
and dangerous is a disposition to in
dorse a book that exhibits intellectual
power and literary finish, even though
the influence of the book is pernicious
in itself. This last element is particu-
larly of danger In the present time,
when there seems to be a revival of a
false tendency in books which has been
partly suppressed within a compare
lively recent period.
But, examining the magazines of this
class as a whole. we can not fail to OBJ
serve that they reflect rather than lead
the tastes of the readers. We could
hardly expect it to be otherwise, for
every publication is to greater or less
extent commercial enterprise and
must satisfy its constituency Hence
we find that more attention is given to
fiction than to any other class of litera-
ture. Considerable is given to history
and travel, to poetry and bellies lettres
But little, comparatively, is given to
philosophy, economics or science, and
that little is confined to works of a
popular nature or not written in as en-
gaging a style as are the criticisms of
more imaginative literature. In reply
TO this criticism it may be stated that
lhere are special organs that cater to
these solid branches, but it is still true
that the general reader does not have
access to these special organs, and the
makeup of the literary reviews is not
only result but, to a great extent, a
cause or too great attention given to
lighter grades of thought.
Inc critical magazines before us this
week are the Book Buyer, the Book
man, the Critic, Current Literature and
the Literary News. These are not all Of
the class that our readers have access
to, but happen to be all that receive
notice to-day, by reason of the limita-
ions we mentioned at the beginning
OF the article. Of these the Literary
News is not critical, in the sense IN
winch the others are. It consists main
~ OF carefully selected extracts, which
a ~
Tor several years has been a leading
weekly paper, which for reasons salts
factory to the publishers, has been of
late changed to a monthly magazine
such a change is the publishers bust
ness, but to us the value and usefulness
OF the paper seems to have lost rather
than gained. What we specially wish
to commend in the Book Buyer and the
Bookman is the attention they give to
the consideration of the work of the
binder, the illustrator and others who
do much in this day of the world to
make book valuable, but whose mer-
it's are too often obscured. Also to the
attention given to the stage and other
lines of intellectual action
We have devoted SO much space to
| the periodicals already mentioned that
| we must hurry over others which de-
serve mention just as much, but which
we feel that we cannot leave for an
| otHSf
| The Arena, the Forum, the National
| Review, the Nineteenth Century and
| the Yale Review are mainly devoted to
very able and interesting articles deal
| Ing with social and economic problems
| Of educational Importance are THE
Chautauquan, "Educa tion,'' The Kin.
dergarten, Outing" and "Recrea.
ton are concerned mainly with out OF
| door subjects.
| OF the Great Round World we have
often spoken as the best means for a
busy person to keep in touch with his
| tory as it is made. Under its new man.
| agement it is exhibiting a very pro-
gressive spirit and deserves additional
| commentator. But there is danger
that in some of the new features it may
| outgrow it's old concept, which consti.
| tutes its true value. The scientific anG
| travel features are valuable and inter.
esting. But they are not in line with
the original theory of the paper, ano
| we doubt If by them single additions
| subscriber has been secured.
| A few scientific and technical Jour
| nails remain and our paper is complete
The Engineering Magazine is an abb,
| edited publication, it's most importan
feature to the engineer being it's month.
ly review of scientific literature The
Journal of the Association of Engineer
ing Societies is the organ of the eng
| neering societies of Boston, Cleveland
| Minneapolis, ST. Louis, Montana, st
| Paul, Denver, Virginia, Detroit, Pacif
coast and Buffalo, The National Geo
graphic Magazine contains many scien
tific and popular papers respectin,
countries and districts of present i'm