That Civilized Minority
In 1916, book publisher Henry Holt blamed the decline of American literature on magazines, especially those which published writers' bylines. By 1924, he was interviewed in New York Times Magazine — a magazine article with a byline.
Holt's original 1916 interview appeared in the "regular" New York Times newspaper, not the magazine section. Although it did feature a byline: Joyce Kilmer.
"As we sat in his comfortable office on Thirty-third Street, he [Holt] traced the history of the recent development of the magazine with particular reference to its corrupting effect on literature. The custom of placing great emphasis on the names of contributors is, he believes, one of the most pernicious features of the modern American periodical, and he would welcome a return to the days when all magazine contributions were unsigned."
Holt didn't just talk the talk, he also walked the walk.
"Two years ago he began publishing a quarterly which contained only unsigned articles. Its success has been so great that it has made questionable its name, which is The Unpopular Review."
Ultimately, though, its title proved apt, as the publication went under in 1920.
In 1924, R. Le Clerc Phillips interviewed Holt for New York Times Magazine, where he again railed against the decline of American culture. This time, though — perhaps sensing his audience — he didn't once cite magazines as a culprit. Instead, he cited several other culprits including money and colleges:
Commercialism:
"Commercialism has had a disastrous effect on culture... Consequently, wealth, and wealth only, is pursued. I know of many fathers who have some claim to be considered men of culture, who have had all the difficulty in the world to dissuade their sons from entering Wall Street."
Universities:
"They no longer civilize. They are too much devoted to athletics. In my time, the best college societies took men for their intellectual attainments and qualities; today the same societies vie with one another to get the captains of all the athletic teams."
Today, the book publishing imprint he founded, Henry Holt & Company, publishes such towering works of literature and high culture as Robert Frost's poetry, Toni Morrison's novels, and... um... Mariah Carey's memoir.
That Civilized Minority
Published: Sunday, January 27, 1924