The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-12


The present home q. Of The Atlanta seems
well-nigh' ideal for such a magazineas The
firm of Hurd & Houghton, predecessors of
the well-known firm Of Houghton, Mifflin
& Co., acquired the Atlantic in 1873 In
1880, after the style Of the firm was
changed the offices were transferred to
the old Quincy mansion at&4 Park street,
near the statehouse, and facing Boston
common. The old mansion shows dts
age, but it is still a place Of 1ife,g warmth
and sunny cheerfulness, standing at once
for the unchanged purpose Of the maga-
zine, and yet for that virile optimism
which has adapted itself to the changing
order as an interpreter Of life. The
offices Of the Atlantic are on the second
floor Of the building; Of course being
shared in occupancy by the Houghton,.
Mifflin company. One on entering or at:
least after getting beyond the outer office
and the clicking of the typewriters, could
easily convince himself that he was in
someone's living room. Facing him Is an
open CRATE with a glowing coal fire, CIV
ing out cheer as well as warmth. He is
reminded Of Hawtherne's Fire Worship"
and at once feels kinship for the pros
porous looking fire worshipers at the va
rious desks. The whole atmosphere Of
the place Is homelike, and when an old
gentleman comes out Of an easy chair in
one corner. pokes down the fire and lays
on fresh coal the Illusion is completes
Everything goes on quietly, but goes on,
as in a well-regplated home; Converse
ton IS carried on in subdued tones. Thru
another door and yet another one he
comes to the private office of George H.
1. Mifflin, the present head of the firm, a
man of kind heart, quick to act on gen.
ferrous impulses. Surrounding hims are
EhnolyS ,1,.i,, re- oil hot q o,~xp
man is likely to gather about him, for
convenience in his work and the utmost Of
comfort and enjoyment at his work. All
these offices look out on Boston common.
Over to the left may be seen fremont
4 street, and down below and a little to the
right St. Gaudens' "imperishable monu-
ment to Shaw" Farther to the right, SO
4 far 1t would perhaps be necessary to
raise a window to see it, is the. capitol,
/ with its great golden dome.
i On the same floor, but in the rear Of the
i building, is the real seat Of the mighty
j in so far as the Atlantic Is concerned
4 the office of Bliss Perry, the editor. The
4 same comfortable surroundings are to be
found there as in the front offices. The
4 outlook from the windows, however, is
some more >lugubrious. Instead OF
1 looking out upon a playground, the editor
4 sees burying ground, the historic 'Old
4 ITdnaFy Burylng GROUND 1IS nonOred
4 dead have been dead so long, however
that nothing but the luster of their names
j is. suggested by the nearness Of their dust
land gravestones, so that there may be in
4 SEPARATION after all in Mr.. Perry's outlook,
at least, he shows no whit of depression
\ by. his daily associations with the dead
past
None Of the manufa curing Of the Allan
tic or of the publishing house is done at
the Park street office. That is all done
fby the Riverside Press, controlled by the
same interests--on the banks Of the river
i Charles, In Cambridge, and just short
walk from Harvard university, to see
which institution lis TO cease to wonder
If one ever did why Harvard grads are
enthusiastic IN their generation for their
alma mater The plant of the Riverside
i Press has been growth. From small
beginnings 1T has come to beAa great and
busy establishment whence come books
Of most valuable contents, thoro and con-
scientious construction and artistic de-
Isign. as we'll as a magazine, which, once
having made a friend, seldom loses him,
for the very good reason that Is found III
THAT motive of the founders, which still
persists-the Interpretation Of life in lit
Ierature. esseN