The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-11-25

or THE THIRD VOLUME or
ARTHUR'S LADIES' MAGAZINE.
Pace ONLY ~ PER ANNuM.
as Pages Reading Matter, besides taoo Ell
egam Steel Plates, in Each Number!
TIiE Publishers, in sending forth their Pros
u pectus for the third volume of their Maya
zine, which Is exclusively and permanently under
the editorial control Of T. S. ARTHUR, believe
hat they offer 10 the public most substantial
| claims TO patronage. Tie first and second volumes
have been acknowledged all hands to be equal and,
In many respects superior in character strength inter
est and atracveness TO any of the magazines issued.
The aim OF the Editor Is high one. lie repudales
the long prevalent system Of basing his work upon
the reputation of contributors whose articles mat,
ter what they hare done, are, in too many instances,
below mediocnty.
Nothing gains admission into the pages of this Ma
gazine which Is not excellent IN itself The source
from which an article comes is secondary-its merits
always primary. Such a rule, strictly carried out
must give character TO any work. 1t has given "Ar-
thurs Magazine" character already acknowledged
In all respectable quarters where IL has been received
Among the mex haustibe that open up TO the
hands OF literary caterer, German and French Lite
nature offer wide field for selection. Into this region
with admirable corps of Translators are steadily
penetrating astonshed at every step by the riches
meet Especially Is this the case in Liter allure. Al
ready We have given splendid articles from the
German, brm full of pure rdths and forcibe Illus
tratons of the power of goodness ''Silent Love-"
"The Governor and his Successors" "The Unkn
Patient, +" "The Russian Prince, "The Privy Coun-
sellor," &c. &c., all who have read will remember
with delight.
From the French have also given many first
rate articles. "The Perplexed Lovers" from Mad
anne de Gens, also, "The Lesson of Misfortune"
and "The Error of Good Father" from Marmontel,
with fne tales from Dumas, Lacrox, Nodier Balzac,
and other authors of celebrity
In seleating from the French, our translators are
guided by strict regard to purity and excellence.
None know better than they do how much that is
Objectionable abounds in the light literature of this
people But flowing along by the side of this impure
current is another, as lucid and clear as crystal
From this they dip up the bright waters and present
them to our lips.
AT this fountain we shall continue to let our read.
ers drink But, in doing SO, we shall neglect
the excelencles OF our own native literature.
This would be the worst of folly. Yet in doing
this, we shall make parade of names. The public
are getting to understand pretty clearly how much
this Is WORTH and 10 discover that excellence is not
always to be found in the fugitive productions of
writers who have done well in books. Our country
IS teemlng with young genius, too often overshadow-
ed and hidden by the successful, who possess not
half their intrinsic worth, and whose writings exert
not half so healthy influence. They are crowded
from the path in which they are fitted to walk, and
their merits kept out of sight by a few who have
gained the public ear and eye, and who are kept be-
fore the public, not much account of the supe-
ror excellence of what they are giving forth, as on
account of irhat they haze done.
To merit wherever We find it, we will give the
right hand Of fellowship We would not accept
poor article from the most celebrated writer in the
country; but good one, let 1t come from where it
will, shall find welcome.
In all sources, at home and abroad, we shall seek
the good, the and the beautiful For some time
ain N tha oil
Magazines have been charged with being too light
and trashy. This fault have from the first s,ead.
ly avoided. "ARTHUR'S MAGAZINE" will
continue to sustain high character for excellence in
all It's departments Something more than mere love
tales will be given. Its stories, while full of deep
and absorbing interest," Or sparkling with wit and hap
py feeliogs, will have in them soul-a living soul of
goodness and truth. Reviews, essays and sketches
with poetry that shall be truly called such, will be
blended with them in just proportion.
Thus much in regard TO the literary department of
our Magazine Another matter claims our attention
that OF Pictorial Embellishments. Custom md taste
have rendered them Indispensable in literary work
like ours We shall not stand to argue the matter
with custom and TASTE but proceed open up our in
tentions this head. First, then, we have deter
mined to present the subscribers to "ARTHUR'S
MAGAZINE" during the year, with novelty,
Of highly attractive character. No less than a
series Of Six Female Characters from Shakespeare!
engraved steel IN highly finished style. This
Shakespeare Gallery of Beauty will present imbodied
to the eye, some Of the noble bard's most beautiful
creations of the mind, well or two celebra-
ted characters in history, around whom his magic
pen has thrown a new charm. What lover of the
Poets immortal creations will not be eager secure
this Splendid SERIES OF ENG
Not one, surely Every possessor ofa copy of Shaks-
peare and whose library does contain his works
will have at nominal cost six exquisite illustra-
TONS not tn be Obtained In any other way This is
certainly great desideratum. But besides these beau
ties from Shakespeare, we are making arrangements
TO procure series Of female figures far suIpassing in
loneliness of form and face, and exquisite finish any
thing that has yet appeared in any American Maya
zine Celebrated Views, in this and other countries will
also he leading feature in our work. For the Janu-
airy number We shall give highly wrought view of
the Bridge of Doom, over which Tam O'Shanter fed
in such hot haste from the kirk md the witches This
splendid steel plate will accompany the first of our
Shakespeare beauties and will make that number of
our work highly attractive one. No less so will be
that for February Nor shall there he any falling of
IN the style of establishment, OF in the character of
the literary contents of the work. From the first
we have aimed at gradual improvement. We do
not issue one or two good numbers, and then after
our list of subscribers is filed up, fall OF. But we
endeavor to make every number better than the one
that precededH Excellence as we have b, FIRE said
is our aim.
But besides our Shakespeare Gallery our Gallery of
Female Beauty, our Celebrated Views, we shall in
troduce from time to time other attractions in the way
of embellishments.
In addition to the foregoing, there is yet another
feature, no less than American Novel from
the pen of the Editor, which will be commenced in
the January number, and continued until completed.
This will be within the year, so that all who sub
scribe for the Magazine during ~ 10, will receive
this new work. Those who have read "Bell Mar.
un," Fanny Dale" Characterization, "Si1 Nights
with the Washnrtonans," "Sweetheans and
Wives, &c &c. from the pen of Mr. Arthur, need
not be told that this feature will be a leading one.
In addition TO this, Mr.. Arthur will also continue
to furnish for it's pages, his shorter stories, those
pointed moral essays, told with much skill, beauty
and power. The attractions of the Editors pen
will, In fact, form feature of peculiar interest TO
our work which other magazine can possess
While to one or two other periodicals he furnishes