New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22

Young People, the first number of which APP
peared in November, $40, and during It's ten
wears of life il has made a record IN ITS sphere
which compares favorably with the older pub
locations. 80 -.
would be almost an endless task The firm is
constantly sending out new books In new forms
TO the reading public. and it Is doubtful II any
publishing house Is so well known IN TO 20 many many
tory covered by them considered, therefore; ana
the wide diversity OF their productions belnS
taken into account Harper u Brothers now, as
for many years past, unquestionaby stand in the
front rank of publishers
THE FOUR BROTHERS.
A sketch of this publishing house would scarcely
be complete without few words Of the four men
who founded it, built il up, with it to an
unexceled height, and left it monument TO the
brains energy, devotion and determination of the
four Harper brothers who for nearly half a
century joined their powers partners. James
Harper their grandfather, came TO this country
about the middle of the hast century. He was
merchant in New-York, and his son Joseph had
six children, of whom James, John, Joseph wesley
and Fletcher survived. They were all born within
the years 1869 and 1877 The two younger
brothers served apprentceships under James ana
john so that they had worked side by SIDE pc
fore they formed their partnership. For thirty
years no balance was struck in the lndlVldual
accounts of these brothers. Fletcher was by nature
a manager. 1t was he who led the firm TO- hn men
Weekly" and " The Bazar," and II was his per
sonal supervision of his new undertakings whlch
sprang them into popular favor almost instantly
John was in particular the financicr OF the esc
tablishment Fletcher began as the foreman OF
the composing.room: he became in the end the
organizer and general James in the early DAYS
was the pressman, and Wesley the proolreader,
At the time of Fletchers death IL is likely lhaI
the aggregate circulation of his peH0ulcaI peiS
was not far from 500, 600
The Tribune on May 80. 1877, speaking OF 'He
death of Fletcher Harper, the last or the Iou I
brothers said: 1t is almost impossible 10 Inlllh
of one of the Harpers without recalling an =; te
brothers. and their lives were so blended thau !. Is
impossible 10 tell of the career OF any SihGle
member without drifting into history Oh .e
whole firm Each was foil 10 SCI OH 'nc
characteristics of the others. James, the SENIOR
was the bland and broad humOrist OF the concern,
ALWAYS gOod-natured. and as dignbed as ms IoVe
of a dry Joke and funny story would permit MN MN
70 be- Wesley was the embodiment OF gentle
ness: the Nyell-beloved, he was called. John
was probably the most austere OF the Jour anu anu
shrewdest in money ventures; lie was 1 iIe
fnancipr and the baancc-wheel OF the estao,ish-
ment his single recognized weakness beng IoIe
for fine horses and fast driving. A candId cfllc
of the immensely successful career OF the llarIS'
if familiar with the later enterprises OF lhe hIr'
must give TO Fletcher Harper, aS compared VIII
his brothers mere than an equal snare OF cTcuiU
for the development of the greatest puDhshih9
house of the world. In later years Fletcher ne
came i'm fact the dictator of the concern but
the mildeSt sort Of tyrant that ever llVed'