The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-24

Philadelphia Record.
The contrast between the American mag
azines of fifty years ago and those Of to-
day is so marked that it will impress the
most careless reader. Take a bound volume
of Putnam's Magazine from the shelves of
a public library free it from its layer of
dust, turn its yellowing pages, and 10!
you are confronted with some of the most
famous names in the literature of the
ninteenth century. Contrast this treasury
OF wit, humor, pathos and sentiment-em-
bodied in the clearest of English prose, in
the most musical English verse-with
the current number of a magazine of to-
day, and the unfavOrable gulf set between
the two periods will at once be apparent
The great names of literature have given
place to those of men and women who have
gained a passing notoriety through good
or bad fortune
A successful Wall-street broker is travel
ing for health and pleasure. and in a
mountainous country of eastern Europe Is
captured by bandits The bandits, in
businesslike manner, demand $4,000 as
ransom; otherwise the American traveller
VIII return to his Borrowing family and
friends minus his ears Negotiations are
entered into with the outlaws, and after
long delays, during which the brokers'
precious ears are constantly threatened
the money Is paid, and he returns in an
unmutilated condition TO his office in Wall
street. But his adventures have made him
famous man. and magazine editors are
clamorous I'm their demands that he shall
tell the story OF his capture and retention
by the bandits In his own way. Their
ordinary rates of payment shall not stand
In the way OF this much-desired contribu-
ton; the manuscript, If accompanied by
photographs OF his eminent ears, will be
paid for at his own valuation.
The Wall-street broker. being man OF
letters. writes
the desired article or series of articles,
and receives in return a check that satisfies
even his own conception of the value OF
his work. His eminent ears are photo
engraved for the public edif1cation, and all
that can possibly be made known OF his
perilOus adventures are given TO the wait
ing world. The result is doubie-distilled
dullness, presented in the most unattractive
FORM and without the slightest natural or
acquired literary aptitude. But the editor
believes that he has satisfied the curiosity
OF the readers of the magazine of which
he has control; from his point of view, the
lasting value Of the article for which he
paid so high a price does not enter into
the question. And when the eminent ears
of the Wall-street broker have ceased to
interest a tickle public, the frost-bitten
nose of an Arctic explorer may be used as
a substitute
There can be no doubt that a famous or
notorious name adds seeming Importance
and weight TO a magazine article however
lacking it may be in interest or attractive
ness of treatment; and contribution
which on its intrinsic merits would be
rejected is published If IL bears the name
of some celebrity of the hour. OF course,
readers are primarily 10 blame for this
state of things. They yearn for names
with which they are familiar. and the
editors of popular magazines endeavor to
satisfy them a mere matter of business.
The question of literary culture is not con-
sidered either in the editorial rooms or by
the purchasers of the periodicals of to-day.
And il must be admitted that the voice of
a forghorn carries farther than the most
dulcet notes of Pans pipes.