The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-27

ury, the lscri5nsr interest Dclpg purchased
at the Same time.
In addition 10 the general magazirists,
Henry James, Frank r. St3ckton, George
w. Cable. Marx Twain. Il :; 6cyesen
Brand II Mathews, Charles De Kay, Mau,
rice Thompson, Edith NJ Thomas, Joel
Chandler Harris, Constance F. Woolson,
Henry e. B1nner, Edward Eggleston, Jul
ian Hawthorne, James Whitcomb Riley,
Bret Harte. Margaret J. Preston and Fran
ces Hodgson Burnett are frequent contrib
utors. Richard Watson Glider is the
editor. and an excellent one. The Century's
figures are as generous as those of Harper's,
and as variable. The rivalry of the two
periodicals has increased prices and ele-
waited the quality of magazine work, both
illustrations and letterpress. They cover
a field that ordinarily dozen or more
monthlies would, and by this fact would
seem to discourage similar enterprises.
But really they do not. So many stories
are told of the extraordinary profits of
these two that new ventures of the same
kind are stimulated. More than half
dozen magazines have been undertaken
most of them have failed-in consequence
of their extraordinary success. Scribner's Is
one of the new magazines. The feeling of
the young men in the firm of Charles Serb
ner's Sons was that they had been unjust
" crowded out of the older publication.
Consequently they resolved to enter into
competition with the older magazine as
soon as the five years specified in the terms
of the sale should pass. They tried to keep
their purpose secret, bat they could not,
as their preparations were actively going
on, and at the end of the sixth year, be-
ing all ready, they issued their magazine
under favorable auspices. 1t is now three
years old, and has circulation, it is said,
in excess of 100000.
1t is cheaper than The Century or Har-
per's, Seing sold at twenty-five cents copy,
and is illustrated, though less deliberately
than they. 1t has not interfered at all, L
am told, with the success of The Century,
nor does the extraordinary success of The
Century interfere with it. The remarka-
BILE prosperity of one periodical seems to
create a demand for more periodicals by
increasing the public interest in them and
the taste for reading chem. Scribner's has
introduced several attractions-a fresh lot
of Thackeray's letters was one ot these
legidence. Edward L. Burlingame, the
editor, appears to be highly qualified for
his place, which he fills and fits exactly.
Scribner's figures for manuscript vary very
little, if any, from those of the older city
magazines, though they spend less on spe-
cial features. A great many persons have
thought that its entering the field against
SO formidable rivals was very rash; but its
publishers say that they have far exceeded
their anticipations. There has been no
quarrel between The Century and Scrib-
ner's; but it is altogether probable that
under the circumstances their love for one
another is not illimitable.
The Cosmopolitan is another illustrated
twenty five cent monthly, which now claims
circulation of from 10000 to 5000, and to
be steadily gaining. 1t was started at
Rochester, in this state, five years ago, and
removed hither, the publishers afterward
failing. Since then it mas passed through
several hands, and is now owned and
edited by John Brisben Walker, Teputed to
be wealthy, having made much money at
Denver, Colo, in real estate. 1t publishes
in each issue a complete novel, which oc-
cupies most of its space, and is said to be
taking feature Its usual rate for contri-
buttons is $40 to SIS per thousand words.
A still newer magazine, not illustrated,
is Belford's s, three years old. Robert Belford,
editor, having circulation, it is said, of
%, 900, largely in the south. Many of its
writers are new to the public, but they
choose readable subjects and treat them
well. A long story appears in each num-
Der, and is supposed to constitute its chief
attraction.
Lippincott's, published by the J. B. Lip
pincott company Philadelphia, originated
the complete novel feature four or five
years since, and it's success has induced
other monthlies to adopt it, Its contrib
utors are many of them New Workers, with
a considerable local representation, and
they are paid literally, as prices for litera-
ture go. The magazine, not illustrated, is
twenty-five years old, and it's actual cir
culation is set down at 81, 900 to 10000. Its
present editor and manager is j. NJ. Stod-
dart, to whom its recent large increase is
ascribed. Most of its novels are by Julian
Edgar Fawcett, Edgar Saltus,
Amelie Rives, Maud Howe, William Henry
Bishop, II. II. Boyesen, John Habberton,
Charles Barnard, Sidney IIuska, and other
New Workers.
These are the principal mature maya
zines of national fame, though there are
five times as many of local repute, num-
Der of them firmly established. 1 do not
mention The North American, The Forum
and the new Arena, of Boston, for they, be-
ing reviews, have nothing in common with
the magazines, nearly every one of which
is issued by publishing firm. While these
pay better than books do, no one can begin
to live by writing for them, or, indeed, by
doing any kind of pure literary work.
JUNIUS HENRI BROWNE.