The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-26
SOME EARLY WRITER'S.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THE OLD
WEEKLY STORY PAPERS.
Ned Buntline," sylvanus Cobb, Jr.,
Fanny Fern" S. L. Aiken, Horatio
Alger, oliver Optic" and Others.

A4kSLs O4INSE OpJ4C dLN ONAANA -
From the Boston advertiser.
"Boston is the home of so-called yellow
covered literature said an old publisher
recently. This lurid literature started in
the weekly story papers, though OF late
years it has gradually withdrawn to the
broader fields of New York and Philadel-
phia.
"One of the first weekly story papers
published here was called The Yankee, and
was under the charge of a man named VIII
lams Another of the early papers was the
Oiice Branch, one half of which was de-
voted to stories and the other half to the
championship of Protestant Methodism.
Rather a curious mixture, you will say,
and so it was. but the paper succe ded adj
mirably.
Then there was the Flag of Our Union,
published bv Gleason and edited by NJ. NJ.
| Ballou Ballou afterward bought out Glea-
sons's interest and published the paper alone
| for several years, afterward establishing
and devoting his attention to BnHOu'S
! Ndgdzine which still exists. Balou sold
out the Flag to Thomas & Talbot Thomas
| is the man who wrote the Gold Hunters
I series and Talbot, who is now President OF
| the Mechanics Charitable Association, was
street commissioner for MANY years Then
! the True Fiug was started in 1851 The
others originated in the forties. These
papers were the pioneers OF weekly story
! literature.
you wish to know who some of the early
writers werel
"WelI. there was Ned Buntline' His
real life name was E. c. q. JudsOn, and he
was in the navy for many years With his va
! ried experiences he was able to write stories
Of startling adventure, partly founded upon
facts, but mostly the creations of vivid
| imagination. He wrote many stories under
his ON de pLttrne that were published in the
weekly papers and afterward appeared IN
! book form
''Then there was Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. He
was an easy and prolific writer and turned
out column after column of stories of love
and adventure. Ballou also did considerable
writing in those days under the name OF
! Lieut.. Murray
IF. A. Durivage and G. P. Burnham were
two custom house officers who did consider
able writing. Durivage was a very bright
| fellow and very useful man in the custom
! house. He was an accomplished lingulst
| and was especially valuable as an interpre
| ter when one was needed Durham was
keen little fellow, who had poultry for his
hobby, and understand still pursues it at
his home in Melrose. Both men were great
| friends of Gen. Banks. By the way,
ought to mention that Durivages mother
was sister of Edward Everett, and from
her he inherited his keen perception.
| Both these men wrote novelties that
used to run about six weeks. They were
| usually published afterward in pamphlet
| form.
u K. F Kelly was another editor and
writer He.published The BostOnidn and
wrote articles over the signature of Falcon
bridge 1t was whispered about at the
| time that he used to write too much for
his own paper, and that was one of the
| causes Of its non-success. The paper was
| afterward bought out by the Flag of Otr
! Union.
Fanny Fern made her debut as a writer
in Boston in 1851. She used to write ex-
clusively for the Olire Branch and the
| True Fydg She did not write stories while
in Boston, but contributed short, breezy
sketches, either pathetic or humorous, ac-
cording to the demand. Her style was
quaint and original. Her first book, Fern
Leaves from Fanny's Portfolio was pub
lshed in Boston. Bonner afterward Sc
cured her services and her writings in the
Ledger are too well-known to need comment
from me.
&C L. Aiken was a quaint, pleasant and
delightful fellow whom 1t wasa pleasure to
see in a printing office. At this time he was
q light comedian in the old National Thea
tre and used to write stories aud sketches
for the True Flag. He played in minor
parts with every actor of note, inclu ling
Forrest He afterward went to Brooklyn
and became dramatist. His dramatiza-
ton of Uncle Toms Cabin has been played
more than another stage portrayal of Mrs.
Stoves great work. He.came from a family
of actors.
"Horatio Alger was another man who
contributed to that columns of the True
Flag. He used Carl Cantab as his nom de
plume. He wrote for the paper while he
was a divinity student at Cambridge,
after his graduation from Harvard Col
lege. His speciality was boys stories and
he scored a great success in that particular
line
"'Oliver Optic Nv. T. Adams,) received
his first compensation for writing from the
True Fidg. He did not then write as Oil
yer Optic, but over other signatures, as he
did not care to have his name known. At
the time he was a sub master in one of the
public schools, and afterward became mas
ter. | think ne is in Minneapolis at the pres
ent time.
y. T. Trowbridge also wrote a great
deal for the weekly papers in those early
days. He has not contributed to the weekly
press for many years.
Mrs. NJ. A. Dennison wrote extensively
for theOtire Branch, and was at one time,
believe, its editor. She also contributed
occasionally for the True Flag, and does so
out of THAT Husband of Mine to build
a costly home in Washington.
Mrs. c. F Gerry, whose husband was
in the Senate of 1868, wrote great deal for
the weekly papers. She first attracted
notice by writing a prize story and later
wrote novellettes for the Flag of Our Union
and short stories for the True FYdg
Another prolific writer was G. S
Raymond. Ha has been to sea for many
years and turned out columns of nautical
illusions.
Harry Hazel was one of the sensational
writer's of the early days. He is now living
in one of the surburbs, but forbear to give
his true name Republication as am afraid
it would not please him now
Amanda NJ. Douglass was another of
the writers in the tifties. She wrote many
stories and oftentimes received large remun-
Grafton.
Both Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., and Ned Bunt-
line were men of varied gifts who could
write any thing to SUIT the tastes of public !
and publisher. Buntline wrote series of
articles in tAe True FloJ that would be a
credit to any magazine writer. He used to
write sporting articles in the Forest and
Stream, and only few weeks ago there |
L