The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-12-09
TUE HISTORY or AN IMPORTANT
PUBLI<HING HOUSE.
The Arena Pubiishirg Go. and what 1T
Has Accomplished ia Three Years.

HAS accomplished ia Ihree Years.
About year ago we published a
brief sketch of Mr.. b. o. Flower. the
editor of the ArenG and then took &C
casion to note the phenomenal success of
this popular Boston review in the field
of serious periodical literature.
Since then we have watched with in
terest the rapid strides of this magazine,
and the progress of the Arend Publish
ing Company in developing from mere
" the publishers of great review TO
one OF the most important publishing
houses of New England, OF, for that mat
ter, of this country.
The Arena has from its birth steadily
and rapidly grown in circulation and in
hueuce, long since distancing, with one
exception, all high priced reviews in
point of popularity and circulation.
This is largely due to the courage, bold
ness and the moral convictions which
has ever been one of the distinctive
characteristics of this review. 1t is also
the only American review which appeals
to the tastes of all members of the fami-
ly in which it circulatcs. BY publish
ing each month strong short stor es,
biographical sketches, prose etchings
and interesting pen pictures it has won
its way into the hearts of tens of thou
sands of people who have been through
these features attracted to Its pages.
The admirable portraits of Leading
thinkers and the introduction of fine IL
Illustrations when tho text has called Tor
them, have also contributed to its poPu-
larity, but doubtless the fact that it is in
perfect touch with the most advanced,
progressive and refOrmative thought OF
the age and employs the ablest living
81, g, &c
gives 1t prestige enjoyed by no other
great review. At the present time the
Arena is read each month by more than
100000 people in America, while during
the past six months it's Eur pean circu-
lation has increased more than 1000
copies.
This is due largely to the great inter-
est felt in the Bacon-Shakspeare case
now being presented by the giant think
ers of two worlds, who are combating
the opposite claims of the two most IL
lustrious names in the golden age of
literature in England. When such emil
nent persons in Great Britain as the
Marquis of Lorne, Edmund Gosse, AL
fred Russell Wallace, ID. c. L., Prof j.
Donaldson, Principal of st. Andrews
University, and Henry Irving, consent
to act as Jurors, it is evident that in
England as well as America, the interest
in this discussion is very great. An
other reason for the growing popularity
of the Boston review in Europe lies in
the fact that in England and on the Con-
tinent the thoughtful and progress i've
people are becoming acquainted with
theArend and thus learning that it in a
larger degree than any other magazine
reflects the best progressive and reform
alive thought of both the Old and the
New world.
The phenomenal success of this great
review under the editorial management
of Mr. b. o. Flower, is no more re-
markable than the progress made dur
ing the past year in the business man
agement of the enterprise under the
vigorous and energetic personal direc-
ton of Mr.. II. II. Boyce, who as bust
ness manager, has made the Arena
Publishing Company one of the most
important book publishing concerns in
the New World. This company has re-
Gently published The Rise of the
Swiss Republic" finished and scholar
ly work, being the first elaborate history
of Switzerland published in the English
language. 1t contains a detail of all
the recent Governmental innovation 50
successfully introduced IN the little Re-
public such rs the Referendum and the
Initiative. This book is one of the
handsomest specimens of the printers
art of the year. printed in large type on
heavy paper, wide margin and richly
hound. Another handsome book which
bids fair to be one of the gaeatest sue
cesses of recent times has just been is
sued by this company. We refer to NJ.
French-Shedon' tory of her travels in
the wilds of Africa. entitled Sultan to
sultan 1t is one of the most SUI erbly
illustrated books Of travel ever pub
lished, containing almost four hundred
photographers or text cuts, many full
page pictures made direct from photo
graphs taken by NJ. Reconstruction.
The achievement OF this remarkable
American woman stands without paral-
lei in the history of extraordinary at
tainmeuts by woman even in this day OF
their wonderful achievements. 1t will
be remembered that she penetrated one
thousand miles into the heart of savage
Africa, having a train Of between one
and two hundred native porters and in
tcrpTeters. but with no white person in
the caravan. Her story is of absorbing
interest and rich in information con
tanning in no other work on the Dark
Continent.
In addition to these works the Arena
Publishing Company has, since Mr..
Boyce took control of it, brought out
many other important books, for ex-
ample; Mr.. Savage's popular evolution
airy religious work on THE Irrepressible
Conflict Between Two-World Theories"
Hamin Garland's novels, Jason Ed
wards and "a Spoil of Office" Helen
Gardeners powerful new story, pray
You, Sir, Whose Daughter?' Prof.
Emil Blum's and Alexander's "WhO
Lies?" Mrs. Florence Huntley's 1.-The
Dream Child" Mrs. Celestia Root
Lang's "Son of Man" Rev. DR.. Marion
Shutters wit and Humor of the
Bible" viii y. Barben's "A Mute
Confessor-The Romance of a Southern
Town" Rev. Minot j. Savage's
"Some Ghost Stories" Benjamin
Hathaway's THE Finished Creation"
'Redbank," by NJ. l.. Cowles, and a
beautifully illustrated book of Songs"
by Meth Boyce. The company has also
published five numbers of the "COpley
Square Series" all of which have
achieved an instant success.
In the mean time the sales of Helen
Gardner's SIS This Your Son, My Lord?"
Mr.. Garland's MAIN Travelled Roads, 4"
and Mr. Flowers lessons Learned
From Other Lives" (all published by
this house,, have been exceedingly large.
II is a notable fact which indicates the
sagacity and keen discernment of this