The new North-west., 1885-06-26
GEORGE REX GRAHAM.
THE ROMANCE OF A ONCE FAMOUS
PUBLISHER.
New York Herald. |


Among the inmates OF tho ophthalmic
DEPARTMENT Of iLc hospital on the corner OF
Twenty. third street and Third avenue 10 q
man who has an exceedingly interesting
history. Forty years ago his name was
literally a household word In every cult
vateI home In the United States, for it was
attached TO a magazine which Justly takes
rank as tho pioneer publication Of first class
American periodical literature Tns man
10 question Is George Rex Graham. tho
founder OF Graham's Magazine, who wai
once also the chief owner ~ The Phila-
dslphia North American newspaper, who
has twice made and lost handsome fortunes,
and who was often the ho,t OF men who
have occupie exalted places both ut Harris
burg and Washington Blind, helple .,
worn out and SUI sisting on the generosity
Of others, this old man, now more than three
score AMI ten. has for eighteen months past
been waiting In the institution named to
have operations performed on his eyes for
the removal of cataractI
In the room Of the male nurse, attsntively
listening 10 the latter reading an historical
work, sat Mr. Graham when a reporter Of
The Herald called TO see him He Is now In
the I'D year of his age, and considering
what ne has passe1 through In recent eirs,
and his present lad condition, bears himself
with remarkable good nature and evan
cheert alness His hair and whiskers are
white and long, and altogether be pre- ents
a very patriarchal appearance. III one did
not know the contrary he would suppose
that the venerable publisher was fully pos
ssssod Of sight, his eyes look so bright and
natural, but he cannot see anything.
Otherwise his health is moderately good.
To request for some facts about his history
he answered cheerily: "h you think the
public are really interested In one who
might almost say that he Ii like him OF
whom Sam johnson wrote when he said,
'Superfiuous lags the veteran on the stage
one who Ii lost TO the world-I have no OBJ
lection 10 rehearse the story OF my LIE,
which certainly has been eventful"
HIS sELF-ToLD STORY.
He proceeded accordingly, as follows: II
am native Of Philadelphia, having been
born there in 1918. Left an orphan when q
boy / was obliged TO earn my own living. i
: first learned the trade Of a cabinetmaksr,
but next turned my attention to the law
and studied with Judge Armstrong. Isuc-
ceeded very well and saved a snug sum Of
money. Having devoted my nights TO read
ing Burke acquired q taste for literature
and became ambitious TO own o magazine.
contributed sketches TO Atkinson's Casket,
O feeble concern. Subsequently, in COM
pany with Charles J. Peterson. Of Philadel-
phia, who was one OF my earliest friends
and fellow students, and who, In these later
years, has been one Of my benefactors, |
purchased from Atkinson his Casket For q
year Mr.. Peterson and myself ran The
Casket Then he sold out and purchased
The Gentleman's Magazine from William z.
Burton, the comedian, paying him $500,
or 81 for each subscriber. massed the
Subscribers Of the two publications, and
with q list Of about 4.50o. started Graham's
Magazine. This was in 1SiL Edgar Allen
Poe, who had been editor OF The Gentle
mans Magazine, remained with me as edi-
tor of the new venture. / resolved to strike
out boldly from the first and engaged the
best known writer's OF the day.
ARRAY or TALENT.
aMy list Of constant contributors included
James Russell Lowell, recently our minister
10 England; J. T. Headly. the Inflated but
highly gifted William Henry Herbert, Bay
ard Taylor, r. T.. Conrad, George II. Boxer.
T. p Whipple, John @. SAKE. William Cul-
len Bryant, William Devoe, Fenimors
dler, Caroline Chambers, Z. L. Gushing.
Estelle Lewis, and Julia, the very talented
and exceedingly beautiful lady who subso-
quently became the mother Of Edmund
Clarence Stedman, and, still later, the wife
OF the late William Burnet Kinney, the
founder OF The Newark Daily Advertiser.
The consequence was the immediate and
marvellous success of the magazine. Money
,t.a..- has In xuff arv
mail, until was astonished myself en-
gagged the services of John Sartain, and pub
Iished handsome engravings also got the
very latest fashion plates from Para aud in
serted them. These took amazingly. In
two years time my subscription list nearly
touched 1900 had the field OF illustrated
magazines alone to myself I paid for
everythi published. Poor Bayard Tay-
lori How well remember the astonishment
ON his fine open face when handed him SIS
Surely said he, you are not going TO pay
me for thsmi Why, this Is the first money
! ever earnedr
EDGAR ALLAN POE.
"What did pay Poei gave him $500 9
year, which In those days was considered
very liberal He was with me as editor fol
about eighteen months, and for three OF
I four years knew him intimately. Litera
ture with him was religion, and he, its higt
priest, with whip Of scorpions scourged tn,
money changers from the temple. In al
else he had the docility and kindness Of I
child. Sitting near him for over. q year
constantly writing near and conversing will
him, knew all his hopes, his fears and littl,
annoyances Of life, yet he was always th'
pll.sted gentleman, and the quiet. unobtru
sivs, thoughtful scholar, the soul Of homo
In all his transactions This, of course, wa
in his better days He was the first reviews
of his day. He wrs very severe and to
eaustic, fault, which, however, helped tn
magazine. Poe used to write from five Z
seven pages every month. One Of bis serials
FIRST Published In the magazine, was th
weird narrative entitled @Murders In th
Rue Morgue," which created great sensa
tion In Franco Associated with Poe on th
magazine was Mr.. c. ]. Peterson, 70
grossly insulting whom was obliged to dii
charge Poe.
.rfgr 8LuNGFELI0w AND BRYANT.
aTo Fenimore Cooper ! gave $500 fc
his sIsIet OF the Gulf Two OF my best II
vsstments were Longfellow and Bryan
Their writings made subscribers for th
magazine by the thousand Mrs Stephen
Melinda Gray was also q great card. Il,
cept for the Spanish Student never pa;
Longfellow more than $50 for q poem. tbs
being the sum paid him for The villAe
3 Blacksmith which became 30 popular
England that a mass Of Engiishmen believe
II was written by an English poet and fri
published In England. From 1642 TO lSa
my subscription list never ran below IS. 00
and sometimes IL was ~ high as 50,0
Men were astolished ut my success. On
J day friend came In and said: Graham
put your hand on that table What for
asked. why, because everything yc
touch turns 10 gold, was his reply.
spECULATIoN--DIsAsTE
Il was now on the high tide OF prosperit
was rich. in fncs; had fine houss. horse
carriages, and . loving and amiable wit
but no children. Fond Of speculation an
ambition to make mark In Journs
ism, bought The American from Childs
Fay. This was about the year I646. / thin
Tn partnership with tho late Morton M
Michael and Robert M. Bird, l purchass
The United States Gazette from J.
Chandler, giving him $4,000 We fncc
poratsd tho two papers named and start
what is now The North American T,
many irons I'm the fire proved disastrous 4
: me. / was induced TO 60 into some copp
mine speculations gotten up by rogues Al
lost heavily. Neglect Of the rnagaz
caused that 10 fall away, and In lS4s "
obliged TO sell magazine, newspaper, shar
and everything TO satisfy my creditol
fx.zt Suf