It offers many dividends:
The opportunity to meet
And chat with old and new-found friends;
The amiable atmosphere;
The comfortable cushioned seat;
The promise of two hours clear
Of irritating chores, restraints,
Dilemmas, quarrels, and complaints;
The vespertine impressive hall
That grants equality to all
And cover for a nap to some;
The stirring burst of warm applause
When the conductor comes in view
And talkers instantly grow dumb;
The pleasantly suspenseful pause
As the ensemble waits its cue.
Of course, it offers music, too.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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