The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-04

only I12 pages tor oO cents, against the
336 of the Earnest Workeri
The other periodicals 1 have at hand
differ so much in size and feature that
comparison of page for page would not
give fair criterion of value so in regard
to them | may be allowed to adopt an
other method; and have endeavored to
make calculation of how much of printed
surface these give for SO cents. Thus,
we find that of printed surface
The Earnest Worker gives III so. feet.
The Christian Observer 1856 %
The Scientific American 1876
The Illustrated Christian Weekly, 165
The Central Presbyterian, 142 a
Scribners, l2O
st. Nicholas 80
The Living Age 81
The Catholic Presbyterian, rs
1. K. Funks cheap standard reprints, 66 "
There may be other periodicals that
give more but it will be found that these
are not circumscribed by UNCONVENTIONAL
limits, and we think that the above list of
those that are well known and of &C
knowledged cheapness, proves that the
Earnest Worker, standing at the head of
the list, must already be remarkably
cheap; and keeping in view that it can
not enter for support outside of our own
denomination, that there is no room for
further cheapening. 1t may be objected
to the above comparison that several of
the periodicals are illustrated and there
fore more expensive This is true but if
we put against this the wide field they
occupy, and the marvellous circulation
they are thereby enabled to secure, it
may be accepted as an ample set-off. In
the case of the other papers circulating
in our denomination this feature goes the
other way for while the Earnest Worker,
as shown above gives a larger printed
space for its price than any Of them, be-
ing issued in pamphlet form, it has to be
folded, stitched, covered, and trimmed,
and is therefore more expensive to the
publishers.
End. AS to the probability of securing
such an extension of circulation as would
justify its being enlarged SO as to unite
the missionary without increased price,
the matter is SO extremely problematical,
and has to be accepted as so much guess
work, that there is wide room for dis
agreement of opinion. We would there
fore put our own very humbly thus-that
If the influence of our eleven hundred
ministers upon their people, backed by
that of the General Assembly our Synods
and Presbyteries, besides the many other
influences, such as advertising, etc.,
brought to bear upon the Church has
been able to gain for the Earnest Worker
only 5000 subscribers, and for the Ms
S1o7'osy only 5000, there seems very lit
tie room for hope of great success. We
hardly think that if any cannot spare 50
cents for a magazine so low priced, SO
cheap, and so needful for the work of our
Church, that the enlarged penny-worth
offered in the proposed united magazine
would form such an inducement to sub
scribe as to accomplish greatly increased
circulation.
1t should also be remembered that both
papers circulate in the same field. and in
| all likelihood are taken in the same
households, and by the same persons, so
that very little increase, if any, can be
expected for the proposed united maya
zine beyond that already attained by the
Earnest Worker. While any increase of
price over the so cents now charged
would just as likely not only counterfeit
any increase that might be expected be-
cause of the enlarged size, but have
prejudicial and lessening effect while the
hazard Of loss in publishing would be un-
reasonably increased
These reasons I hope will be sufficient
to show that the General Assembly. in
their deliberations and action in this
matter, had better act with great caution
In listening to impracticable theories Of
change under the specious guise of "re-
trenchment and reform" and that it may
be better to "let well alone"
] ROBERT WH1TTET.