Acadiensis/Volume 1/Number 1/Salutatory
Salutatory.
Probably one of the most difficult problems which confronts the promoters of any periodical is the selection of a suitable name, by which their publication shall be known to the world. Many a carefully launched and creditable undertaking has been hopelessly shipwrecked through the want of a suitable name; many a deserving individual, who might have achieved a fair amount of prominence in the literary world, has lived and died unknown, his lack of fortune due, perhaps, to the fact that his parents, upon his being brought into the world, failed to provide him with a name which was not commonplace.
With individuals this difficulty has sometimes been ameliorated, by hyphenating some imposing name to the more ordinary; the hybrid result being, to the mind of the person by whom the operation was performed, a decided improvement upon the original product.
Be that as it may, an instance where the power of a name will readily be admitted by our readers, is the case of a well-known hostelry in the city of New York. Astor is quite a common name in that city; the Astor House, with its four hundred rooms, and central situation, is well known to many quiet-going individuals, as a nice convenient place in which to spend a day or two. The name Waldorf–Astoria, however, conveys quite a different idea, and one naturally associates with such a name all the pomp and splendor, glitter and circumstance, that unlimited wealth and lavish expenditure can bestow. It is a name, once heard, not readily forgotten, and in this manner the purpose of its originators has been served.
Upon the other hand, many a well-born individual, who might have lived and died a useful member of society, has had his future wellfare hopelessly handicapped at the outset of life's journey, through the ludicrous and inane efforts of his progenitors to bestow upon him a name which might render him conspicuous among his fellows.
But seriously, a suitable name, for an undertaking such as the present, is a very important feature.
Such names as the Maritime Magazine, the Acadian Magazine, or the New Brunswick Quarterly, have been suggested. Ths first gives the impression that it relates to matters of the sea only; the second was objected to for the reason that the Acadian Monthly is already a live issue in Maritime Province literature; while the third was not applicable, owing to the fact that the scope of this magazine was intended to be of a wider range than the name New Brunswick would convey.
To Mr. I. Allen Jack we are indebted for the suggestion which ultimately led to the adoption of our present title. Some years ago he commenced a series of articles, which he designated "Acadienses," in the Week, of Toronto, relating to matters pertaining to that district of North America formerly known as Acadia. A modification of this idea has resulted in the choice of the title, by which, we trust, this periodical may be known to the literary public for some time to come. The name is short, concise, significant and phonetic. Acadia is a title now recognized by the scientific world as applying to the territory embraced within the area of the Maritime Provinces, including a small portion of the Province of Quebec and the State of Maine, immediately adjacent. This is precisely the ground we wish to cover. Any matters relating, in whole or in part, to this extent of territory, its people, its past history or future prospects; any literary, or other productions of the people who live within its borders, dealing with outside matters; or contributions from those residing abroad, and treating upon Acadian matters, will come within the scope of this Magazine.
It is intended to deal largely with matters historical, but descriptive, scientific or philosophical contributions will be welcomed. Contributions in verse, as well as short stories, in which the principal scene is laid in Acadia, or which are the production of Acadian writers, will also be given a place, should they, upon examination, be deemed of a sufficiently high standard of excellence to warrant their insertion.
It had been intended to begin the publication at an earlier date, but there was something attractive in the idea of launching a new undertaking by the light of the dawn of a new century. It is an opportunity which does not occur to everyone; to the same individual, never twice. Accordingly the first number bears the date of January first, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and one.
There has been a dream, and was it only a dream, which has passed through many minds, of a united Acadia, in which the descendant of the Acadian Frenchman, and of the United Empire Loyalist, might join hand in hand, in a political union, embracing what is now known as the Maritime Provinces of the Dominion of Canada.
Some people are of the opinion that the opportunity for the consummation of this ideal passed away forever with the confederation of the several Provinces into the Dominion of Canada.
To us it would appear, that, laying aside all differences of politics, race and religion, the time is now ripe for a still closer amalgamation of the people of Acadia, this land of our fathers, into one great Province, and thus might we be enabled to hold an equal place with the larger Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, in the eyes of our fellow-countrymen, and of the world at large.
It shall be our constant effort, though perhaps in a very humble degree, to endeavor, by the interchange of thoughts and ideas, by the study of the past, and taking thought for the future, to pave the way for such a movement. This, too, may be but a dream, but, like the dream of some of our forefathers, that "ships may come here from England yet," it may, some day, we trust, prove to be a reality.