Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-12
GEORGE REX GRAHAM.
THE ROMANCE OF A ONCE FAMOUS
PUBLISHER.
Rise and Fall of IA Patron of Genius
Prices Paid Lone fellow, Poe, bryant
and Cooper Elind, Helpless
ard fenniiess.

Among the inmates OF the ophthalmic
department of the hospital or the corner OF
Twenty third street and Third avenue Is
man who has an exceedingly interesting
history. Forty years ago MS name was
literally a household word in every cult
waited home in the United States. for it was
attached to a magazine which justly takes
ran; "a the pioneer publication Of first class
American periodical literature. The man
in question Is George Rex Graham, the
founder of Graham's Magazine, who was
once also the chief owner Of The phiia-
delpha North American newspaper, who
has twice made and LOST handsome fortunes,
and who was often the ho-t of men who
have occupied exalted places both at Harris
burg and Washington Blind helpless,
worn out and sutSjsting on the generosity
of others. TIN, old man. now more than three
score and ten. has for eighteen months past
been waiting in the institution named to
have operations performed On hi, eyes for
the removal Of cataract.
In the room If the male nurse, Gttentively
listening t. TIE latter reading an historical
work, sat Mr. Graham when reporter OF
The Herald called to sec HIM He Is now in
the 73i year Of his age, and considering
what ne has passed through In recent years,
with remarkable good nature AMI even
cheeriuln His hair and whiskerS are
white and long. and altogether he pro -cnts
"A very latriarchal appearance II one did
not know the contrary be would suppose
that the venerable publisher was fully pos
sessed Of sight, his ewes look 50 bright and
natural but he cannot see anything
Otherwise his health Is moderately good
To request for some facts abogt hi- history
he answered cheerily: If you think the
public ara really interested IN one who
might almost say that he s like him of
whom Sam johnson wrote when he said,
'Supcrt!uous laSs the veteran on the stage
one who : lost to the world have no OBJ
lection TO fehearse the story o. my life,
which certainly has been cvrntful'
Ills SELF-ToLD STORY.
lie proceeded accordingly, as follows: Il
am native of Philadelphia. having been
born there in ISIS. Left AN orphan when a
boy | was obliged - earn my own living l
first learned the trade 81 cabinet maker
but next turned my attention tc the law
and studied with Judge Armstrong ste
ceetiej very well AMI saved a SING sum Of
money Having devoted NV nights & read
Ing Burke acquired taste fr literature
and became ambitious to own a magazine
| coniributeI sketches to AtkinsonS CaSSet,
"A feeble concern. Subsequently. IN COM
pany with Charles J. Peterson. OF Ph;laiel-
phia who was one Of my earliest friends
ami fellow students. aud who, IN these later
years has been one # INV bnneflctors. |
purchased from Atkinson his Ca>kat For a
year Mr.. Peterson ami myself ran The
Casket Then he sold out and purchased
The t;entleman's Magazine from William +.
Burton, the comedian, paying him IS 800,
or 81 for each subscriber. / massei the
subscribers u the two publications, and
with list Of abost 400. started Graham's
Magazine This was IN 1871 figar Allen
Poe, who hal been editor Of The Gentle
mans Masaz,ne, remained with me as eii-
tor Of the new venture | resolved 70 strike
out boldly from the first and engaged the
best known writers Of the day.
ARRAY or TALENT.
My list Of constant contributors included
James Russell Lowell. recently our minister
10 England. J. 7 Heaily. the Inflated but
highly sif-ei William Henry Herbert, Ray
ard Taylor. L 7. Corral, George Il Boxer.
+ z Nhipp.e. john &. Sixe, William Gull
len Bryant. William Devoe Feaimore
Cooper, Mr.. Am stephens, Louise Caan-
der. Caroline Chambers. Z l. Cushing
Estelle Lewis. and Julia, the very talented
AMI exceedingly beautiful lady who sulss-
qGenily became the mother Of Edmund
Clarnca Siedman, and. still later, tue wife
II the late William Burnet Kinney, the
fcun Ter o. The Newark Daily Advertiser.
The consequence WAS the ImmeiIat= AMI
MARI eiogs success Of the maSaz.na Money
ana subscribers rolled in On me with every
mail, until | was astonishsd myself en-
gagged the services Of John Ssrtain. AM pub.
lshed handsome engraving also got the
very latest fashion plates from Paris and III
serted them These took amazingly. In
two years time my subscription list nearly
touched ~ CO.. had tee field # illustrated
magazines alone to myself / paid for
everything published Poor Bayard lay
lor, How well remember tbs sstariss.----