The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-21
BLIND, HELPLESS, PENNILESS
The Romantic Career of George Rex Gra-
ham, a Once Famous Publisher.
A Generous Patron of Genius-The Prices
lie Paid LOngfellow, Poe, Bryant, Cooper,
Bayard Taylor, and Others.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
Among the inmates of the ophthalmic depart
ment of the hospital on the corner of Twenty
third street and Third avenue is a man who has
an exceedingly interesting history. Forty years
ago his name was literally household word in
every cultivated home in the United States, for
it was attached to magazine which justly takes
rank as the pioneer publication of frst-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 Philadelphia North American news
paper, who has twice made and lost handsome
fortunes, and who was often the host of men
who have occupied exalted places, both at Har-
rlsburg and Washington. Blind, helpless, worn
out, and subsisting on the generosity of others,
this poor 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 his eyes for
the removal of cataracts. Although writer of
grace and force, Mr.. Graham has never made
any pretense to be, strictly speaking, literary
man, but he was generous employer. and in
many instances was also the discoverer OF our
bestknown and greatest writer's He was the
first American publisher to pay respectable
prices for literary wares. Bayard Taylor,
whose earliest poems he published, was amazed
when Graham rendered him $25 check for two
poorly priced poetic illusions. For his Spanish
Student" Longfelow received $3.50 from Mr..
Graham and for ''The Village Blacksmith, $50.
Fennimore Cooper once called on him in answer
to note; Graham wanted him to write ten
naval stories.
81 can't write for you, said Cooper, rather
contemptuously, adding, ''You can't pay me
enough"
asked Graham
Zone hundred dollars-in advance" was
Cooper's reply, pausing before uttering the two
last words, as if he thought they would end the
matter. Without moments hesitation Ora
ham wrote out and handed Cooper check for
ST.. 600 The stories were written and published,
but Mr. Graham believes they did his magazine
no special good His fame as large-handed
publisher spread, however, and did him great
service. His friends told him his liberality
would ruin him. On the contrary, it won him a
fortune IN few years, as he confidently ex-
pected it would
In the room Of the male nurse, attentively
listening to the latter reading historical work
sat Mr.. Graham yesterday when a reporter of
the Herald called to see him. He is now in the
seventy third year of his age, and considering
what he has passed through in recent years, and
his present sad condition, bears himself with re-
markable good nature and even cheerfulneSs.
His hair and whskers are white and long and
altogether he presents a very patriarchal ap-
pearance. If one did not know the contrary he
would suppose that the venerable publisher was
fully possessed of sight, his eyes look SO bright
and natural, buth cannot see anything. Other
wise his health is moderately good. To request
for some facts about his history he answered
cheerily: IF you think the public are really in
terested in one who might almost say that he is
like him of whom Sam johnson wrote
when he said, 'Superfuous lags the veteran on
the stage'-one who is lost to the world
have no objection to rehearse the story of my
life, which certainly has been eventful." He
proceeded, accordingly, follows: II am
native of Philadelphia having been born there
in 1913. Left orphan when boy, was
obliged to earn my own living. first learned
the trade of cabinet-maker, but next turned
my attention to the law, and studied with
Judge Armstrong. l succeeded very we'll, and
saved snug sum of money. Having devoted
my nights to reading Burke, acquired taste
for literature, and became ambitious to own
| magazine. / contributed sketches to Atknson's
Casket feeble concern. Subsequently, in
company with Charles j. Peterson, of Phiadel-
phia. who was one of my earliest friends and
felowstpdens Saaa and who in these later
tors, purchased from Atkinson his Casket
For year Mr.. Peterson and myself ran
the Casket. Then he sold out and / purchased
the Gentleman's Magazine from William E.
Burton, the comedian, paying him So, 500, or ST
for each subscriber. | massed the subscribers
of the two publications, and, and with list of
about 4500 started Grahams Magazine. This
was in 1881 Edgar Allen Poe, who had been
editor of the Gentleman's Magazine, remained
with me as editor of the new venture. / re-
solved to strike out boldly from the first and en-
gagged the best-known writer's of the day.
my list of constant contributors included
James Russell Lowell, recently our minister to
Il. So bod l. Ill
gifted William Henry Herbert, Bayard Taylor,
r. T. Conrad, George Ell. Boxer, E. E. Whpple,
John G. SAKE. William Cullen Bryant, William
Devoe Fenimore Cooper, Mrs. Ann Stephens,
Louise Chandler Caroline Chambers, E. L.
Cushing Estelle Lewis, and Julia, the very tai
ented and exceedingly beautiful lady who
subsequently became the mother of Edmund
G. Stedman, and, still later, the wife
of the late William Burnett Kinney the founder
of the Newark Daily Advertiser. The conse-
quence was the immediate and marvellous sue
cess of the magazine Money and subscribers
rolled in on me with every mail until was as
tonished myself. I engaged the services of John
Sartain and published handsome engravings.
also got the very latest fashion plates from Paris
and inserted them These took amazingly. In
two years time my subscription list nearly
touched 40, 900. l had the field of illustrated
magazines alone to myself. / paid for every
thing published Poor Bayard Taylor How
we'll remember the establishment on his fne
open face when handed him $25 for the two
first poems he ever wrote. Surely. said he,
YOU are not going to pay me for them2 Why,
| this is the first money / ever earned
'.Wha1 did pay Poeq gave him $500 year,
| which in those days was considered very liberal
| He was with me as editor about eighteen months,
| and for three or four years knew him intimate
| w. Literature with him was religion, and he,
| its high priest, with whip of scorpions,
| scourged the money-changers from the temple.
| In all else he had the doclity and kindness OF
child Sitting near him for over year, constantly
writing near and conversing with him, knew
| all his hopes, his fears and little annoyances OF
/ life, yet he was always the polished gentleman,
| and the quiet. unobtrusive, thoughtful scholar.
| the soul of honor in ali his transaction This,
| of course was in his better days. He was the
| first reviewer of his day. He was very severe,
and too caustic, faults which, however, helped
| the magazine. Poe used to write from i've to
first published in the magazine was the