The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Here is another contribution to the constantly increasing store of
popular literature. If the present generation does not surpass all its
predecessors in the acquisition of knowledge in its various forms, it
will not be from any deficiency of intellectual food. In England, the
Family Library, the Libraries of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge, the
Penny Magazine, and innumerable other productions of the same class,
are employed to diffuse through every portion of society, sound and
valuable instruction; and many of these excellent publications are not
only reprinted in the United States, but the time is not distant when
we may justly boast of others of entirely domestic origin. The work
before us seems to have been commenced under favorable auspices, and
with laudable objects. The editors in their advertisement, which we
quote at length for the benefit of our readers, "propose to publish, at
convenient intervals, a series of volumes of standard merit, calculated
to interest and instruct every class of the community. Although they
have chosen for the title of the series, the name of the American
Popular Library, it is not to be understood that it is to consist
wholly, or even principally, of American works. Nor, on the other hand,
will any work, however popular, be introduced into the series, unless,
in the opinion of the editors, it shall possess such a character as
will secure to it a continued reputation, after it shall have ceased to
interest by its novelty. In their selections they do not propose to be
limited to any one class of works, but to include such books in each
department, as shall appear to them to be most deserving of a place in
the library of an enlightened christian family.
"It seems to them important, that the attention of our reading
community should be turned to works of more _permanent_ value, than
belongs to most of the periodical literature of the day, or at least
that it should not be confined exclusively to works of only a temporary
interest. The spirit of the times appears also to demand, that the
separation, which has too often been made between elegant literature
and pure christianity, should cease to exist, and that a christian
literature should take the place of that, which has, in many cases,
begun and ended in infidelity. It is the design of the editors of this
publication to promote, so far as shall be in their power, the union of
polite literature, sound learning and christian morals. Beyond this
they do not suppose it necessary that they should pledge themselves to
the public. A sufficient security for their patrons seems to be
provided, in leaving it optional with the purchaser to take only such
part of the series as he may choose.
"It is intended that a volume of nearly uniform size shall be issued
every two or three months, or in such a manner that four or five
volumes shall appear annually."
As a specimen of the work, we select at random the following story of
MY TWO AUNTS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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