The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-24

OWN Wc, MI. everett cOuiu uOt nc tempted To
undertake the exhausng labor of regularly con-
tiihnting to any weekly journal. As a practical
man of letters Mr. Everett knew very well that the
drain npcn the mind, for a weekly article, equal to
what The public expect, from his high reputation,
must be as perpetual as exhaustive, and that he
would have many disagreeable contingencies to
contend with. AS popular and widely circulated
journal the LEDGER must have not few illwishers,
not few rivals who would rejoice over the
failure Of any one Of its distinguishing fea-
lures lie might expect, even among his
own friends to be met with doubts upon the
prudence--nay, even the propriety of becoming
a newspaper contributor, on The evening of his day
of life. He might-for pure merit is always
modest-havc had some little distrust Of himself,
however needlessly. He doubtless mcditated Sc
riousy upon these and other contingencies, ere he
decided to accept Mr. Bonners liberal ONer--an ,
offer, we frankly say, which, although made with
the undoubted intention of enhancing the repnta-
ton of his Journal seems to have been also prompt
ed, under God, by desire to aid the noble and
national purpose which is the basis Of the Mount
Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union.
After some months adysement with his own
heart, and with the judgment Of his friends Mr..
Everett strongly felt il his duty to accept the ofar
and on intimatng this acquesceuce to MIR. Bonner,
that gentleman forwarded the full amount of ten
thousand dollars, which Mr.. Everett immediately
paid over to the Mount Vernon Association.
The contributions under the title Of Mount YER
non Papers" will be commenced in the first mum
Der of the New York LEDGER for the new year.
Anything more patriotic and dsinterested than
Mr.. Everetts conduct in this matter, cannot be
imagined. Few can fully estimate the labor which .
must be bestowed upon the " Mount Vernon Pa
pers;" fewer still, we presume, have contemplated
the whole extent of the probable results from Mr..
Everett thus enrolling himself among the weekly
journalists The moral character of the LEDGER Is
good and therefore it cannot he any derogation for
such scholar as Mr. Everett to write forit We have
heard it said, thoughtlessy that Mr.. Everett would
find it difficult to write down to the readers Of the
LEDGER This is an unfair suggestion. Take the
average readers of each single copy at six, and we
N w mi
week. Will any one contend that such a mighty
mass of the intelligence of this nation require to be
written down to THAT Mrs. Sigourney, or George
ID. Prentice, or Alice Carey, or John G. SAKE, when
contributing to the LEDGER, will have to curb their
imagination and clip the wings of their soaring
fancy, and vulgarize their pathos and lower their
sentiment and blunt the shafts of their wit in order
to write down to two millions sentient fellow be-
ings who are able to read and comprehend them? 4
Assuredly not. On the contrary, the natural and
legitimate tendency of such writing as Mr..
Everett's must produce, will he to elevate the
readers to raise them into loftier atmosphere of
thought, to Undue them with deeper element of
WISDOM to adapt them for the habitua contem-
plation Of purer degree of patriotism than they
have yet been able to enter into. And it may be
added, without the shadow Of reflection upon the
present corps of contributors to the LEDGER, that
the association which they will have with the
their own Tone Henceforth, too, in consequence
of the extended circulation which the LEDGER is
certain to obtain from the Mount Vernon Papers,,
Iney Will duulcsS II greatly increased number and
higher class of readers.
Independent of the actual immediate accession of
such large sum as $4,000 to the "Mount Vernon
Fund.-, it can readily be imagined that Mr.. Everett,
in complying with Mr.. Bonners request had in his
mind the vast collateral advantages which will pro-
baby be derived from the increased publicity to
be given to the noble views and objects of the
mount Vernon Ladies' Association" 1t will make
those views and objects familiar to all the LEDGER
readers all over the country, and carry this know
ledge into places where it may prove the germ of
much patriotic hberality. Here then, is a large
sum added to the "tundr at the onset and the
prospect of far extended interest arising from the
tangible evidence supplied by Mr.. Everetts weekly
contributions.
1t is enrolling to feel that the cause which we
advocate receives the warmest support and coope-
ration OF such man Edward Everett. We
anxously hope that such an example may not be
lost upon other eminent citizens all through the
land. They have it in their power to greatly aid
the cause-not so largely as Providence permits
Mr.. Everett to do, but yet in various practicable
ways. which their own good sense and warm hearts
will point out. That ladies Association has
initiated, organized and worked the present move
ment is precisely the reason why the other sex
should earnestly assist it.
What this association has done already, stands
orth as strengthening the promise of their future
efforts. in another column will be found an official
tatcment that, anticipating the payment due in
February next the Association has Just paid
$1,000 with interest, towards the purchase of the
"Mount Vernon Home and Tomb" This is in ad-
dition to the sum Of SIS 900 paid down when the
agreement Of purchase was executed. Who will
say, after this, that woman cannot act as well as
influence! that when she applies herself, she can
not accomplish the greatest possible good to ma
ion or to the worldl
from the Greenport IN. W watchmanl
NEW YORK LEDGEI--It is doubtless known to
onr readers that for this series Of weekly articles
to be furnished throughout the year, Mr.. Bonner
gives to the Mount Vernon Association his check
for $1,000. Prodiga as this expenditure may
holt f1,ntsv A
of view, it will turn out to be "Capita invest
ment,,' while it is clear that step in all the
remarkable career OF its proprietor will have
done INC more to bring this popular weekly
now, it is stated, ten steam presses are !,
yainly laboring, night and day, to supply
the immense increase, of orders over and
above its ordinary edition of 100000 copies
and upwards. In order to make sure of commenc-
ing the year with the first one of these interesting
illusions of patriotic sensblity and cultivated TASTE
safe to say that the irreproachable morality of ALL
and the really great merit of most of its matter,
deserves it receives, the hearty audatons of the
press the most enthusiastic reception by the peo-
pie. Hurrah for Bonner!
from the Boston LEDGER
500 000.-Half million copies. Only to think of
it, Try and count as much, if you can. How far
would you get before you would be too tired to go
onl How long do you think it would take you to
accomplish such q feat? And yet there were half q
million copies of Bonners New York LEDGER
printed for the New Year, containing the second
paper of the Mount Vernon series from the pen of
Edward Everett, all of which were sold just as fast
as they could be called for We have never before
had, in this country, anything of the weekly publ
cation kind that pretended to reach the circulation
and position of the New York LEDGER. Having
first secured such an unparalleled, not to call
1t an enormous circulation, a basis of ope-
rations, Mr.. Bonner is now prepared to avail
himself of all these suggestions of his liberal
and prolific mind, which to add still
more and more to the attractiveness and solid value
OF his literary enterprise. 1t takes rank at once
with the famous penny Magazines of English
popular literature, and becomes channel through
which an incaculable amount of good may be done
for the elevation Of the popular taste. 1t is some
thing for the press of the country atlarge to rejoice
OF, that one of its body has reached the zenith
of popularity like that attained by the New York
LEDGER. 1t only goes to establish the fact that
people are great reading people, and that they
will buy the best publications, provided only they