372 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



hints on lounging, which I will try to follow. In regard to 

 the reception of the articles on Political Institutions, it has 

 of course been far from what we could wish, but has been 

 much as we might have expected. I am not aware that 

 they have elicited intelligent discussion or criticism in any 

 quarter. They have been noticed, with other articles by 

 the newspapers that is, simply referred to and generally 

 with undiscriminating praise. 



There have been a few bursts of impatience, and one 

 unhappy man in Pennsylvania wrote as follows : u I sent 

 you five dollars for the Monthly some months ago ; either 

 stop those stupid articles of Spencer or stop my subscrip- 

 tion." This afforded me exactly the opportunity I wanted 

 for a discussion, but I had not strength for it. I have, 

 however, been perfectly satisfied to go on with the series, 

 because I know the papers are extensively read. They 

 come before the public in a form that cannot fail to secure 

 some attention, and there are many men to whom it is im- 

 portant that they should be furnished. Our circulation is 

 not large, but the magazine is much read. It is the most 

 worn of all in the clubs and libraries. If we depended upon 

 what the press says of the Monthly we should stop it to- 

 morrow. It gets the least critical attention of all the 

 magazines. There is the same commendatory mention of 

 it every month where it is referred to at all. But there is a 

 sort of dread of it, partly from incapacity to understand it, 

 partly from religious prejudice, and very much because of 

 its contrast to the light and lively journals that cater so 

 skilfully to popular ignorance. I think our patronage is 

 quite independent of anything the papers may or may not 

 say. ... 



I think we could run the Monthly solely on the contri- 

 butions that are sent us pro and con in relation to your 

 ideas and works. 



So I am delighted that your experiences at length 



