, 1872-11-04

De Forest, Rose Terry, and Rebecca Harding
DaVis, though familiar Or recurring names grow
less with every additional volume.
The most industrious author finds little in
ducement to work when he knows only waiting,
instead Of work, will insure him his pay
THE SCRIPTURES.
The GALAXY returns eleven out OF twelve
commonly has on hand, in prose and verse, not
far from 500. It can afford to keep liberal
supply, since it can do SO without the slightest
cost. It's range is not 80 wide as that Of Har
pe1-'s or the atlantic; conhning itself mostly to
stories, poems, and essays, which last are its
character in regard to timely subjects, and prob
ably contains, in the course Of year, more
noticeable and striking articles than any other
monthly.
has just passed its second anniversary, and is,
like Harper's, an illustrated magazine. It was
founded On Hours at Home, and in it we're
merged the Riverside and Putnan's. Its circu-
lation is said to be 10, 900, and its SUCCESS
thus far, to have been great. It's corps Of con-
tributors is very large, including many OF the
writer's for the other monthlies. and some-as
George Macdonald and Hans Christian Ander-
en-especially its own. It pays $40 per page
600 words), its maximum figure; accepts about
one in ten manuscripts; receives nearly 100 q
vicinity Of 150. Dr.. ]. q. Holland is tho editor,
and Watson Glider, who does the sold Cabi-
net,' is his assistant.
Scribner's is decidedly orthodox in tone, and
is, therefore, prime favor1te in theological cir
c1es. Clergymen, church-congre cations, Bible
Societies, and Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions particularly commend it as the only unex-
ceptionahle magazine Of 8 secular sort in the
country. They hare perfect faith in DR.. Hol-
land, as they ought to have, albeit they are un-
charitable enough to declare, sometimes, that
the other monthies are little better than pagan
in their teachings and inculcations. The princi-
pal editor is Of the proprietors and is widely
esteemed for hia social qualities, as well as his
lofty integrity Of character.
The other principal magazines are Old and
Neeo, in Boston; Lippincot's, in Philadelphia,
and the Overland, in San Francisco,-citie
which, to the Metropolitan mind, are merely sub
urbs Of New York. (Of the Lakeside, you know
more than your correspondent
Old and Neeo is rather new than old; is edited
by the Rev. Edward Everett Hale; is broad aud
breezy; but has not Jet proved very profitable
id pecuniary sense.
Lippincotfs is Of recent birth; filed, for the
most part, by good, though ittle-known, writ
ers; and is reported not to be directly rcmunera-
tive as 8 publication.
The 0cerland has lost much Of its prestige by
the departure Of some Of its most renowned
contributors, but it is still very fresh
and entertaining, and has deal Of the flavor Of
AAINNo3I1+A3
though, as an enterprise, it is conducted with
boldness, energy, and Hberality.
THE scRIBBLERs' MARKET.
Magazines are constantly starting and dying
here and elsewhere; their undertakeEs prorin 6
such in g. double sense, from refusing to learn
by the experience of others. Magazine publish
ing rarely results in financial advantage, aud
there are few kinds OF business that return less
interest On an equal amount Of invested capital,
anxiety, and labor.
Magazine-w writing is still less promising; and
they who think of living thereby are either nov
ices or simpletons. Few OF the most valued
contributors earn more than $500 or 5000 8 year !;
and he who earns 81, 900 by this species of liter
ary work is a. phenomenon who would attract at
tention even in Broadway. The chances OF
achieving distinction in the monthlies is e1-
treme1y slender as may be judged from the facts
I have given and the prospects of starving for
the man, credulous enough to believe he can
subsist BY writing for the magazines, are su-
preme1y brilliant. Bear as am in the pen-a n-andink
market, my readers may, feel assured thai: 7
know whereofI speak, and that the discouraging
hymns chant are tuned to the key have often
struck. J. II. B.