Quality Compromise

Among the U. S. monthly magazines once included in the "quality group," only Harper's and Atlantic Monthly--* retain the form and flavor of the old literary magazine. For their adherence to tradition, their circulations have stagnated while others in the group gained new readers by compromise. Scribner's, now published by Harlan Logan, has become bigger in form, brighter in tone. The American Mercury, never a group member in good standing, has achieved new fame as a pocket-size mouthpiece of reaction.

Last week, it appeared that Harper's was about to yield an inch. Beginning with the October issue, its deep orange cover is to be replaced with covers of varying hues. At the same time, it will begin a new department to be known as "One Man's Meat," to be written by a melancholy meat-eater, Elwyn Brooks White, famed among U. S. journalists as E. B. W. of The New Yorker. A year ago, "Andy" White retired as the chief author of The New Yorker's gently philosophical "Notes and Comment," left his Manhattan haunts to investigate the possibilities of a quiet and reflective life in Maine. From this vantage point, E. B. W. will now cast his doleful eye on the U. S. as a whole, write about it as he writes about Manhattan. For succeeding issues, Harper's promised more changes.

--*Other "quality group" magazines: Scribner's Magazine, Current History, Forum (including Century), Review of Rcvieivs (combined with the Literary Digest, later incorporated in TIME).

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