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By Root 16188 0

bad influence is exerted by our magazine literature? Thousands of articles are written, prompted by nothing but a petty ambition, and, when published to the world, do a great deal more injury than good. Instead of instructing the youthful mind, they "please with a rattle, tickle with a straw" -- instead of instilling a sound morality, they inculcate a neglect of everything that is valuable -- instead of making the poor contented with their condition, they descant upon the luxury of fashion and wealth, causing a thousand hearts bitterly to ache for an imaginary want. Is not, then, this kind of literature a nuisance? Ought not its influence to be checked? True -- but how can this be one? Let every candid and upright man, who believes that the tendency of this literature is bad, refrain, carefully and continually, refrain, from purchasing the magazines which publish it. People may talk and talk, but all in vain -- nothing will have the desired effect but the keeping back of the necessary funds. As to those who tax their brains to produce this literature, let them enjoy, (if they are satisfied with it,) their only legitimate reward, viz: the flattery of fools -- foolish young men and foolish young women. Let every person who acknowledges such men as Ingraham and Willis, (Willis, we mean, as he is now -- not as he was formerly,) and such women as Helen Berkley, and all their followers, (for their name is legion,) let such people, we say, be laughed at for their taste, and see what will be the effects of the ridicule. The conclusion of the whole matter is this the light literature of the present day, particularly as disseminated in our fashionable magazines, is almost without a single redeeming quality.

L...

COMMENTS BY THE E DITOR. -- We have consented to publish the foregoing, not because we agree with it, but because we do not. We like occasionally to differ with our correspondents, by way of allowing their independence -- reserving to ourselves, however, the high privilege of expressing our disagreement with their views, opinions, prejudices, predilections and decisions. Now the writer of the above is, of course, altogether in the wrong; the magazines of our country are the most admirable affairs imaginable -- polished corners of the temple -- caned cariatides on the portico of literature. The generous commendations in the newspapers which always herald their monthly appearance are perfectly disinterested and just, and if we are to believe them, nor heaven nor earth nor the waters under the earth ever contained anything so beautiful, so exquisite, so superb, so splendid, so entrancing and soul-subduing. What makes it very wonderful is, that though every number never can be surpassed, the next is better still, and thus "the agony of praise is piled up," till Pelion towers over Ossa, and the acme of superlative is overflown by the wings of mounting exaggeration. Nevertheless, our fat friend the public -- good, easy, old gentleman -- sits in his elbow-chair and laughs at the attempts made to gull him into believing that silly stories are "grand and thrilling," and that revamped engravings -- than which he can buy a hundred better for a few shillings in any print shop -- are elaborate and magnificent specimens of art. He sits quietly, letting his boys and girls, if they will, take in the pretty books while he, sensible person! continues to read the New World, an wonder how anybody can possibly be so stupid as to find entertainment in any other periodical whatsoever.

Now there was one peculiarly forcible reason, why we liked no to print the foregoing comments. They are too severe, and, as toute le monde et sa,femme knows, we cannot bear to be severe; it is not our way. We praise everything; it encourages American literature and makes "Young genius. plume his eagle flight,

Rich, dew-drops shaking from his plumes of light" Where a critic is so savage and ferocious and cruel and hard-hearted and brutal, as not to praise to the utmost the pap and porridge of literature, hour the deuce does he expect to have any jellies and