The Arkansas banner., 1845-05-21
PROSPECTUS
ARTHUR'S LADIES' MAGAZINE
PRICE ONLY S2 PER ANNUM. oe Doa,I;,o, dT,Jyo,. bossJo. b. fTy.-.-..I sti

| IS Pages Reading Matier, besides tco Elegant Siee PiGteS iR each nunber!
 FEYIIE Publishers in sending forth their prospectus B for the third volume of their magazine. whicl is exclusively and permanently under the editoria control of T. S. Arthur believe that they can ofIeI to the pubic most substantial claims to patronage The first and second volumes have been aclnowl edged on all hands to be equal and, in many respects superior in character, strength, interest, and arac tiveness, to any of the magazines issued. The ain of the editor is high one. He repudiates the long prevalent system of basing his work upon the repu tation of contributors, whose articles matter wha they have done, are, in so many instances, below mediocrity.
 Nothing gains admission into the pages of this magazine, which is not excellent in itself. The source from which an article comes is secondary it's merits always primary. Such a rule, strictly carried ont, must give character to any work Il has given 'sArthur's Magazine" character aeknowl- edged in all respectable quarters Where it has been received.
 Among the inexhaustible sources that open to the hands of literary caterer, German and French lte- rature offer wide field for selection Into this re- zion, with admirable corps of transators, we are steadily penetrating astonshed at every step by the riches we meet. Especially is this the case in lite rature. Already we have given some splendid afti- eles from the German, brm full of pure truths and forcibe illustrations of the power of goodness 'tSilent Love-, sThe Governor and his Successors ''The Unknown Patient,'' 'The Russian Prince' 5 ssThe PriYy Counsellor,' Sc., all who have read will remember with delight
 From the French we have also given many first rate articles s'The Perpexed Lovers, :" from Mad ame de Genlis; also, s.The Lesson of Misfortune" /" and 'sThe Error of Good Father, from Marmontel, with fine tales from Dumas, LacroiX Nader, Balzac and other authors of celebrity.
 In selecting from the French our translators are guided by strict regard to purity and excellence.
 | q T, E,,r, objectionable abounds in the light literature of this people. But, flowing along by the side of thisimpure current is another, as lucid and as pure as crystal. From this they dip up the bright waters and present them to our lips.
 Al this fountain, we shall continue to etour lead CTS drink But, in doing so, we shall not neglect the eXcellencies of our own literature.
 This would be the worst of folly Yet, in doing this, we shall make no 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 teeming with young genius, too often oYershad- owed and hidden by the successful, who possess not half their intrinsic worh and whose writings exert not half so healthy an influence. They are crowded from the path in which they are fitted to walk, and their merits kept out of sight by q few who have gained the public ear and eye, and who are kept before the public, not so much on account of what they have done.
 To merit, wherever we find it, we will give the right hand of fellowship. We would not accept a 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 true and the beautiful For some time, and with too much Iusthess in the allegation our magazines have been charged with being too light and trashy. This aultwe have from the first steadily avoided. Arthurs Magazine will continue to sus- tain high character for excellence in al it's depart ments. Something more than mere love tales will be given. It's stores while lull of deep and absorbing interest, or, sparkling with wit and happy feelings, will have in them a 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 proposition.
 Thus much in regard to the literary department of our magazine. Another matter claims our aten- tion-that of pictorial embellishments. Custom and taste have rendered them indispensable in literary work like ours. We shall not stand to argue the matter with custom and taste, but proceed to open up our intentions on this head First, then, we have determined to present the subscribers to Arthur's Magazine, during the year, with anoyelty ol a highly attractive character. No less than a sefies oi SIX female characters from Shaspaarel engraved on steel in highly finished style This Shakespeare Gallery of Beauty will present imboded 10 the eye, some of the noble bards most beautiful creations ot the mind, as well as one or two celebrated characters in history, around whom his magic pen has thrown new charm. What lover of the Poets immortal creations, will not be eager to secure this splendid series oi engraV ings? Not one, surely. Every possessor of copy of Shakespeare, and whose library does not contain his works, will haye at mere nominal cost, six eX- quise illustrations, not to be obtained in any other way This is certainly great desideratum. But, besides these beauties from Shakespeare, we are mak ing arrangements to procure series oi female figures, far surpassing in loveliness of form and face, and 4I hac vol in any American magazine. Celebrated views, Tn this and other countries will also be leading feature in our work For the Janury number we shall give a highly wrourht view of the Bridge of Doon, over which Tam O'Shanter fled in such hot haste from the kirk and the witches This splendid steel plate will accompany the first of our Shakespeare beauties, and will make that number of our work a highly attractive one No less so will be that of February. Nor shall there be any falling off in the style of en- bellishment or in the character of the literary con- tents of the work. From the inst we have aimed at a gradual improvement. We do not issue one or two good numbers, and then, after our list of sub scrbers is filled up, fall off. But We endeavor to make every number better than the that preceded it.. Excellence as we before sald IS our aim.
 But besides our Shakespeare Gallery our Gallery of Female Beauty, our Celebrated Views, we shall introduce from time to time other attractions in the way of embellishments.
 In addition to the foregoing, there is yet another ''oAii 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 ls49, Will receive this new work Those who have read Bell Martin Fanny Dale, Insubordinaton, Six nights with the Washingtonians, Sweet-hearts and Wives, &c. &c, from the pen of Mir. Arthur, need not be told that this feature will be leading one.
 In addition to this, MT. Arthur will also continue to furnish for it's pages his shorter stories, those pointed moral essays told with so much skill beauty, and power. The attractions of the Editors own own pen will in fact form feature of peculiar interest to our work, which no other Magazine can possess, While to one or two other periodicals, each number of his Magazine will contain many pages oi h ms impress of his pure taste and sound judgment
 The style in which eArthqr's Magazine inc ,,b IS to be issued, will be as beautiful as clear new Vpe' fine white paper, and highly illuminated coYer' (pronounced the chastest design that has yet appear ed) can make it. that in regard fo the quality of literary matter, style of embellishments, appearance, and mechanical exc,