Howells contrasts Boston's literary environment with New York's more commercial and journalistic atmosphere. While New York has grown as a publishing hub and marketplace for books, it lacks the same cohesive "literary feeling" that once defined Boston's community. According to Howells, New York focuses more on journalism than the pursuit of literature itself, highlighting a practical, business-oriented approach compared to Boston’s former emphasis on intellectual and literary pursuits.The essay also reflects on how the shifting dynamics—from New England's literary roots to New York's industrial dominance—affected the American literary tradition. Despite New York's growing importance as a publishing market, the pride in literary history and intellectual prominence remains linked to the values and traditions established in older hubs like Boston. Howells expresses skepticism about whether New York can ever truly match Boston's former role as the cultural heartbeat of American literature?