The New England Magazine, Volume 1, No. 2, February, 1886. / The Bay State Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, February, 1886.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22758

Title

The New England Magazine, Volume 1, No. 2, February, 1886. / The Bay State Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, February, 1886.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This February 1886 issue of The New England Magazine offers a rich historical snapshot of mid-19th-century American intellectual and educational life. Featuring detailed profiles of Tufts College and Abbot Academy, it explores the struggles and triumphs of early higher education institutions, the legacy of benefactors like Charles Tufts and Silvanus Packard, and the evolving role of women's education. With essays on literature, art, history, and science, the volume captures the spirit of a nation grappling with post-Civil War identity, industrial...

Summary up to 500 words

The February 1886 issue of *The New England Magazine* offers a profound glimpse into the cultural and educational landscape of late 19th-century America, highlighting the tension between tradition and progress. The magazine's centerpiece is an extensive account by Rev. E.H. Capen of Tufts College. Capen traces the institution's origins to a 1847 sermon by Hosea Ballou II, who envisioned a permanent college for the Universalist denomination. Despite early financial struggles and the untimely death of its founder, the college secured its future through the generosity of benefactors like Silvanus Packard and Dr. William J. Walker. Capen notes that while the college's proximity to Harvard posed a competitive challenge, it also forced Tufts to maintain high academic standards. By the mid-1880s, the institution had achieved remarkable growth, attracting students from diverse backgrounds regardless of denominational lines. Significant space is also dedicated to Abbot Academy, America's oldest institution dedicated to the higher education of women. Founded by the Moravian Brothers and later led by Sarah Abbot, the academy focused on training women for domestic, missionary, and intellectual roles. The issue features testimonials from graduates and supporters who praise the school's moral and spiritual formation. However, the text also reveals the academy's precarious financial state, noting that without a substantial endowment for new buildings, it risks being overshadowed by wealthier institutions. The magazine argues that the academy's age and history of producing missionaries and educators justify its continued support. Beyond these educational features, the issue includes obituaries for notable figures such as Edwin D. Sanborn, a distinguished scholar at Dartmouth, and Noble H. Hill, a prominent theatre proprietor. It also reviews the history of the magazine itself and provides a broad index to periodical literature covering agriculture, art, science, and politics. The overall tone is reverent yet forward-looking, celebrating the slow, generational work of building enduring institutions while acknowledging the pressures of a rapidly changing nation. The issue reflects an era confident in its ability to balance faith with reason and local service with national ambition.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• New England
• Periodicals