While, in such instances, the authors are to be commiserated, it would
be folly to blame the publishers, who, were they to accept for
publication every unremunerative manuscript offered to them, would soon
cease to be publishers and instead be forced into the alms-houses. It
has been suggested that wealthy men can do themselves honor and assist
creditably in building up literature by providing the means wherewith
deserving, but poor, authors may print their books. Were the suggestion
to be carefully weighed, and then, to be adopted, American literature
would be made the richer. A great many rich men of the day seem to take
great satisfaction in patronizing artists, athletes, actors, and
colleges. Why is it not possible to derive as much pleasure in
patronizing authors?

While writing on this theme, we are remained that one of the most
unsaleable books of the present day is a Town History: and, yet, however
crude or dry it may seem to be, it is in reality an exceedingly valuable
contribution to our national annals. Such books are as a rule declined
by regular publishing houses, and, if published at all, the author is
usually out of pocket by reason of his investment. There ought to be
public spirit enough in every community to make the opposite of this the
rule.

* * * * *

It remains to be seen whether the Hartford _Courant_ and other
newspapers of the same proclivities, will ever again wave the "bloody
shirt" in the field of politics. This paper, viewing the events of the
past month, has repeatedly thanked God (in print) that, "now we have
neither North nor South, but one united country." Few events in
ceremonial history, we confess, have been more significant than the
presence of two Confederate generals as pall-bearers at the funeral of
GENERAL GRANT. This ought, if indeed it does not, to mark the close of
the Civil War and of all the divisions and combinations which have had
their roots and their justifications in it. The "bloody shirt" can be
waved no more, except as an insult to the memory of the late first
citizen of the Republic. On what basis, then, are political parties
henceforth to rest? What, in the future, will give a meaning to the
names Republican and Democrat, or make it national and patriotic for an
American citizen to enlist in one of the two organizations and wage
political war against the other?

We can detect only three great questions now before the American people