The Granite Monthly. Vol. II. No. 7. Apr., 1879: A New Hampshire Magazine devoted to Literature, History, and State Progress

In Short

This volume is a curated miscellany of late-Victorian New England culture, blending biographical sketches of local statesmen with historical accounts, travelogues, and sentimental poetry. As a periodical publication, it functions as both a record of regional progress and a repository for local heritage, specifically focusing on New Hampshire’s role in the American Revolution and the refinement of its social institutions. It has lasted because it provides a granular, authentic look at the preoccupations of a nineteenth-century American state, preserving the voices of its citizens as they defined their own identity.

The Story

The narrative arc of the volume is not a single linear plot, but rather a thematic progression through the various facets of New Hampshire life in 1879. It opens by grounding the reader in the character of its political elite, profiling influential figures like Col. John Hatch George. This biographical focus establishes the magazine's tone: respectful, industrious, and deeply committed to the idea that individual merit, when aligned with public service and professional integrity, builds a stable society. The text presents Col. George not merely as a politician or lawyer, but as a "gentleman farmer" and a man of charitable spirit, embodying the nineteenth-century ideal of the well-rounded citizen.

From these sketches, the collection shifts to the evocative and often tragic lens of fiction and poetry. The story of "March"—a mysterious, wild-spirited young woman of "dusky" beauty—serves as the volume's central imaginative piece. Her life, marked by an "undulating grace" that defies the "phlegmatic" nature of her Northern neighbors, culminates in an abrupt departure from her adoptive home. Her story is a brief, haunting interlude of romantic melancholy, emphasizing the tension between rigid social expectations and the untamable human spirit. This fictional exploration is mirrored by poetry that speaks of "airy towers" and "ghostly forms," reflecting a cultural penchant for the sublime and the transient.

The volume then pivots toward historical reclamation, specifically in the form of "blowing the horn" for New Hampshire’s role in the American Revolution. The argument here is a vigorous defense of local history against the perceived dominance of Massachusetts writers. By documenting the specific military service of men from Nottingham at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the text asserts that the state's sacrifices have been unfairly obscured by the "illustrious intellects" of other regions. This section transforms the magazine from a local newsletter into a historical record, insisting that the deeds of individuals like Gen. Joseph Cilley and Thomas Bartlett be carved into the national consciousness.

The final arc transitions into domestic history and travel. The examination of "Manners and Customs in Hopkinton" provides a social history of the town, detailing the evolution of religious life from the austere, tax-supported Congregationalism of the eighteenth century to the more diverse, voluntary structures of the nineteenth. This is followed by a journey abroad, as the reader is transported to the vibrant, noisy streets of Malaga, Spain. This concluding shift outward—from the snowy, stoic hills of New Hampshire to the Mediterranean warmth of a Catholic feast day—rounds out the collection, presenting a community that, while deeply rooted in its own soil, remains curious about the wider world.

How It Unfolds

The biographical foundation begins with the life of Col. John Hatch George, framing him as a man of energy, integrity, and deep love for rural pursuits. The text establishes the value of a well-lived life through the lens of public duty, agricultural stewardship, and Masonic fellowship.

The imaginative interlude introduces the enigmatic figure of March, whose wild, impulsive nature serves as a foil to the quiet, orderly expectations of her guardian, Mr. Thorpe. Her sudden disappearance from the town serves as a poignant reminder of the limits of social control and the mysterious quality of the human spirit.

The historical reclamation asserts New Hampshire’s rightful place in the American Revolution. By cataloging the specific regiments and individual deeds of local men, the narrative actively challenges the historical prominence of Massachusetts and demands recognition for the state's contributions.

The social evolution explores the religious and economic shifts in the town of Hopkinton. It documents the transition from a state-mandated minister’s tax to a modern era of voluntary religious association, providing a clear map of how the community modernized its civic structures.

The final perspective broadens the scope through a travelogue set in Malaga, Spain. This brings the volume to a close by contrasting the "dead calm" of northern cities with the animated, sensory richness of Mediterranean life, demonstrating an active curiosity regarding global experiences.

The People

Col. John Hatch George stands as the volume’s archetype of the successful public servant. He is defined by his "unalloyed integrity" and his dual identity as a polished legal professional and a dedicated gentleman farmer. His life is a testament to the idea that a man’s nobility is best proven by his kindness toward his "dumb animals."

March represents the antithesis of the local social order. She is described as a "rare, beautiful creature" with a "dusky" style of beauty that puzzles her neighbors. Her desire for freedom stands in opposition to Mr. Thorpe’s attempt to marry her off into an aristocratic lineage, and her ultimate fate—"peace eternal"—is the only resolution that matches her untethered spirit.

Mr. Thorpe serves as the representative of local respectability. Driven by paternal pride and the desire for social standing, he attempts to steer March toward a "good match" with the wealthy, older Elwyn Reeves. His confusion at her reticence highlights his inability to comprehend a nature that operates outside the boundaries of conventional social advancement.

Gen. Joseph Cilley and the men of Nottingham function as the collective heroes of the text. They are portrayed as "brave men in war and energetic in peace," possessing a natural, rugged capability. These figures, through their roles in the Revolution, move from the status of local citizens to historical actors, tasked with preserving the memory of a pivotal national moment for future generations.

In Its Own Voice

"No better proof of a man’s nobility in the ranks of humanity can be found than in his kindness towards his dumb animals."

This observation, made in the biographical sketch of Col. John Hatch George, encapsulates the Victorian belief in character as a reflection of how one treats the vulnerable.

"A rare, beautiful creature she certainly has become, with a dusky, richly colored style of beauty quite unknown among the passionless, phlegmatic people of our sturdy north."

This description of the character March captures the cultural contrast between the romantic, emotional exoticism attributed to outsiders and the perceived emotional restraint of the New England character.

"Young man, blow your own horn!"

Quoting the humorist Josh Billings, the author uses this phrase to justify the magazine’s mission to assert New Hampshire’s historical importance against the competing claims of Massachusetts.

What It's Really About

This volume is fundamentally a study in the construction of regional identity. It addresses the tension between the local and the national, asking how a community preserves its unique history while participating in the broader cultural currents of the late nineteenth century. The underlying argument is that identity is forged through a combination of civic service, the preservation of ancestral memory, and the constant, careful management of social order. It poses the question: What constitutes a "worthy" life? The answer it provides is rooted in the synthesis of private morality—kindness to animals, religious devotion—and public contribution, be it through the courtroom, the battlefield, or the simple, honest work of building a home.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the slow, deliberate pace of nineteenth-century prose will find this volume deeply rewarding. It offers a candid look at a specific time and place, filled with the earnest, sometimes rigid, and occasionally flowery language of its day. Those interested in local history, genealogy, or the evolution of American civic identity will find the accounts of the Nottingham men and the social shifts in Hopkinton particularly valuable.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period attitudes embedded in the text. The romanticization of the "dusky" outsider and the exclusionary tone regarding "orthodoxy" reflect the biases of the era. The writing can be dense with names and professional titles, which may feel distant to a contemporary audience, and the sentimentality of the poetry—with its focus on lilies and spiritual aspirations—requires a willingness to engage with an older, more earnest mode of expression. Despite these challenges, the book rewards those who read it as a historical artifact, preserving the anxieties, ambitions, and memories of people who were actively trying to define what it meant to be a citizen of New Hampshire in the wake of the Civil War.