The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-11-15
OUR MAGAZINES.
The Dead and Living Monthlies-Harpcr's,
scribner's, the Alta attic, and others
Their Antecedents and success - The
Manuscript Market-InteresIing Gossip.

-cr'o"efss the Alta attic, and others
Their Antecedents and success The
manuscript Market-Interestins Gossip.
New York Cor. Chicago Tribune.
twenty years ago our monthlies were
In no wise creditable, being tawdry,
nimsy, cheap, a mixture of frontier au-
thorship, diluted sentiment, and weak
imitation. Those were the days when
Graham's, ItterSon'S and Godey'S Lady's
Book purported TO represent the talent
and the taste of the writing and reading
community. They were once found at
all the booksellers ; on every private
hbrary-table and, strange enough,
were thought to have merit. They were
born of Philadelphia, and, saving, Ora
hams, still exist,-even flourish In a
mildly-inane way. Their reputation,
however, is extinct, except among
schoolgirls and rustic milliners, who
enjoy the feeble pages as children enjoy
molasses ana water.
The one magazine in this city and
country deserving of esteem was the
haickerJocker. 1t had merit equal to its
fame, and, though we should not regard
II highly now, its literary qualities and
tone were in advance of its time.
Begun in 1882, by Charles Fenno Hotf
man, who subsequently became insane,
and is still, | think, an inmate of a
lunatic asylum, Is passed into the hands
Of the Rev. Timothy Flint, and, soon
after into those Of Louis Gaylord Clark,
almost forgotten now, though still sur.
viving in one of the dreary de partments
OF the Custom House.
Another monthly, deceased, revived,
al Tod hot for
fate was Putnam'S. In the first stage OF
its existence, 1t was remarkably able !;
Parke Goodwin, George William Curtis,
and Charles f. Briggs being its editors,
and many of the very best writer's OF
the day among its contributors. Com
menced in 1852, the magazine virtually
expired in sc, and, some twelve years
after, reappeared, only to continue, IN a
feebler life than it had formerly known,
until 1870.
The oldest Of the established and
prosperous monthlies is Harper'S, now
in its twenty.third year, and, for that
reason, perhaps called New by its pub
fishers. 1t was hazardous experiment
after the failure of so many magazines
that had set out with much promise
and high expectations but the capital,
facilities, and connections of Harper *
Brothers were so ample that they had
faith in its success. Their confidence
was justified. The monthly paid almost
from the start, and its circulation has
steadily increased, until it is at present
nearly 10000, giving it not far from
100000 readers.
Henry j Raymond was its first editor,
and continued to be for some years after
founding the New York Times. The
early issues were largely made up OF
selections from English sources, and the
illustrations altogether inferior 10 what
they have since become. The improve
ment in literary and artistic tone has
been marked and regular, and 1t has
long been recognized as the model of a
popular magazine. OF late years its
contributions have been either original
or from the advauce.sheets of British
authors while its illustrations have
been carefully, correctly and conscien-
tiously made by a corps Of artists and
engravers connected with the house.
The Harpers expend $4,000 or $4,000
year in procuring literary and artistic
matter for their monthly, and usually
have on hand some $4,000 worth OF
manuscripts and illustrations. They
pay for these on acceptance, being the
first house in the country which estab'
lished this rule,-the only just one to
authors and artists. The rate generally
allowed to writers is $40 per page ,OOC
words, though it is sometimes more
and not infrequently less; while tol
drawings the figure varies from $40 to
500, according to subject and quality
The regular artists are engaged at week
ly salaries, and few sketches from out
slders can, from the nature of the cir
cumstances. be furnished TO the maya
zine.
The number of manuscripts accepted
and awaiting publication averages, In
dependent of serials, about 20O-enougf
to support the magazine for nearly two
years in advance. The proportion o
accepted TO rejected manuscripts, az
have learned by careful inquiry, is a
one TO thirteen, which certainly Is no
encouraging TO novices in ink, or Il
those ambitious OF earning fame anC
fortune by their pen. The articles re
ceived average from % to 30 day
generally about $50 per week-fron
every part of the country, and from dit
.ferent cities of Europe.
One person is actively employed il
merely taking charge of the manuscript
offered--entering them, with title, name
of author, date of receipt, return, o.
acceptance, in volume kept for tn
purpose, and corresponding with th'
numerous approved and rejected con
tributors. One has only to run over In,
pages of this volume to be convinced o
the uncertainty and precariousness o
the literary profession.
Harper's is the sole monthly in tn,
Republic, except the Overland that doe
not print names of authors with thei
articles. Some names it prints, anC
others-the great majority, indeed
oniits; the publishers exercising tn
right to follow their inclination in TIN
regard.
The Atlantic, nearly fifteen years oil
now, stands at the head of rlonthlies il
respect to pure literature and the stand
ing Of its contributors.
The circulation Of the magazine