The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-14

4
first Of every month in every town and city, in
railroad cars ant on the steamboats,, and at every
place where the travelling public resort. of variety
of periodicals., some Of small and some OF consid-
cradle importance, shows that very great change
has taken place in the character OF this branch OF
the publishing trade. Fifteen or twenty years ago,
the periodical works of Philadelphia, designed tor
ladies and the family circle, and made up, as they
now are, of original contributions, were highly
successful; and or two enterprises in this city,
also, for a number of years, had fair share OF
success. Some of these publications have pershed
entirely, and others still exist, some fourishing
passably well, while the remainder drag from
| month to month, without much of their original
| spirit vitality.
Various causes have tended to make many OF
these works exert less influence, and to be less ex
tensiveIy circulated than formerly. Generally,
those of Philadelphia, Boston and New York have
lasted longest; though the Boston magazines of a
general character, and not supported by sects,
have ceased TO exist altogether. Even the Boston
reviews are very badly supported. though written
entirely by authors who have gained considerable
credit for intellect, scholarship, and accomplish
ments. In this city, the best class of original ma
gaines have met with very limited circulation,
the succe ssful being those devoted to merely
imaginative writing, such as tales, sketches, poe
Try, and the like In Philadelphia, all the maya
zines Of large circulation have been Of similar
character, and the monthly history of these enter
prises has shown, that each enterprise has
required grea. activity m The way of embellish-
Isents and engravngs, to make the works palatable
10 the readers, well profitable to the publish
ers Several years ago, one engraving in each
number was sufficient to keep up the pictorial ex-
element from month to month but now, with the
increase of competition, from six to ten engravngs
are Introduced into single number, to sustain the
works, besides list of contributors of fearful
length, the sums paid to whom cannot be very
small, their names, if not the quality of their ar
ticles, being essential. The progress of publishing,
however, has affected, and must continue to affect,
the circulation of some of these works very ma
terially. The improved character of the daily jour
nals-the rapid publication of lowpriced books,
both of American and European origin, and some
other causes, are constantly at work to affect all
such periodicals, and the general consequence has
been that the old magazines are now declining in
circulation, while new one, made known and cir
culated by the best means of reaching the public,
swelling their editions beyond all precedent, and
are found in every hamlet throughout the country
have been started in this city, ia the midst of an
abundance of literary works of all kinds, two or
three magazines, which in a short time have met
with an unexampled prosperity with the public
Harprs' Monthly Magazine, and Sringer and
Townsepd's International Magazine, and The
Dollar Magazine, published by the Brothers
Duyckink, have been running rapidly into favor
The circulation of the former is about forty thou
Of
TOWNSEND over twenty five thousand, and rapidly
advancing, while the latter, since its removal
from Philadelphia, where it was originally is
sued, has gained several thousands by the new
and improved means adopted of making its
merits known in every part of the country. These
me gaines are not better than many Others but
they are directed well towards popular taste, and
are ade known everywhere. Two OF these
are made up chiefly of articles, selected with care
from European periodicals and books, and are
edited with considerable tact, the literary, scienti
fic, political, and domestic intelligence of the
month being condensed and presented to the read
er in a very acceptable shape Harper's Magazine
has the advantage over that Of Strnger and Towns
end, in the ability Of the publishers to draw from
their large stock of book materials. embellishments,
and other features of interest, while The Inter-
national Magazine has the benefit OF close editor
ship, and of a more direct purpose in all that per-
tains 10 taste. Both works are excellent in their
way--aad equal each other; but they are wholly
different. Taken together they cover very wide
field. The Dollar Mdgd-ine is sold for one shil-
ling at re,a and is made up Of good selections and
well written original articles, with brief review OF
the events of the month; and is well suited TO meet
the taste of those who are disposed to have good
monthly vsiter for small a tax dollar a
year. Thus, II may be seen tina. New York has
begun 10 show itself as the centre from which will
emanate nearly all Of the successful periodical
literature Of the country, it is, also, the nucleus
Of all that is important in science, in politics. in
philosophy, in religion, commerce and civilization.
The growth Of these comparatively small publish
ing enterprises is almost incredible and shows thai
shrewd intellecs are taking the place of the old
ignorance that has sunk so much money in the
light literature of the last generation.
The rquisitve reader may well inquire why
such extraordinary results should take place in so
short space Of time. II certainly is pertinent
que stion; but the close observer Of events will
easily fnd the answer. All business depends upon
publicity. This is well known to all truly shrewd
men, who look beyond their prejudices into hon
orabe me ans Of adding TO their success. Hence
we find, the English publishers, Tails 4 Co, and
Balliere, Of Oxford street, Loadon, who have no
prejudices or predictions, making their works
known throughout the country in those public
journals which reach the homes aRd tiresides, as
well as the counting houses Of the land. They
place their works before the country, the same
principle as the pretty and industrious Irish cham
bermaid, with an eye to the strictest economy and
the least " aste Of time, makes her wants kno an.
The results are the same in both cases. The want
reaches the source whence springs the demand.
II ia cow only few months since these two Eng.
lsh houses established branches Of their London
houses here, and by judciously making themselves
known through journals Of general and compre-
hensive circulation, have overturned the old preiu-
dices in favor of scre.lke stupidity and slow cir