The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-03
THE TIMEs--R1C nMoND VA. SUNDAY. NOVEMBER D. 1875

utile preponderatei over dulce: Literature
could not he given the recognition IL &c
served. Yet Or. Bagby perscveren-
BR CHI uSpsh Df -cUL.IIs
Poe had received a salary OF $50. This
had been reduced in the struee'es OF ~
magazine to $500 before the war p'ohe
out But the s., 20 given - Or basDy ~
10 make a living by writing LOT o,ne'
journals be nevertheless Impaired "vn,
derful brightness TO the masdzine am
issued double numbers IN ~ , lilas, ac Oh
that year three volumes OF t's pages each
one volume spread over the next year.
The cash system OF subscriptions han
been organized. but the proprietors Wste
losing money and depending upon the
profits OF their Job Office TO make up the
deficiency. Notwithstanding an increase
OF the price of daily papers 10 ~ yeae'
the subscription to the Mess niger re-
mainef 50, adopted in thompson uihe,
until JuIv' 1863. Then It was stated that
81 would added to the price. An advance
was made to s. In September ana 70 siV
I'm October Very reluctantly the puDisn-
ers were led to leave the Held that inc
had occlInied for ten or fifteen years, but
between the last issue or 1888 anu t.ie
first for 1854 the property was traislsrrvu
10 Weiderburn & Alfriend, ana FRANK r.
AIfriend became editor. They were nope
fuI hut circumstances were against them.
For several months they made n manly
effort. contending against the ouus on
constantly narrowing neiu ior GU SuithNtoi
and against the all-absorbing OF every
Sody i'm the progress OF events on the
battle-ground. Local alarms became more
frequent as the lines were drawn more
closely about the doomed capltdl VI .ns
Confederacy The statement OF the editor
In The June number of the Messenger Is
n sufficient indication OF the immedlate
causes Of its death. our readers, ne
wrote. Eve are assured, viii pardon tne
necessary absence OF portion OF ous
Il IA nj ma
time during the excitement lnclu.n' ~
the late summons or the mili'a a. W
field almost desp3ircd or our apiIitS ~, ~
issue the Messenger within anything hne
orr usual time. however great might ne
our editorial industry, we phllcsopniSai
Welded our recognition or the eAi9ttIs
state Of affairs, and with cominehuasau,i'e.
cOnrplaisance acquiesced IN tle PLVVtrl.,S
OF the conduct OF many excellent clllzens,
who like ourselves. devoted tnelr lctsul'
to find out the newss AS a c9nSs{{ 49, a,,j
when our employees were SUI 'sniS tai
without promoniuon reIurii,ea ,,,,ch in
the condition OF a party surprises am
Enthusiastically unprepareu lVr SUCH
an unexpected event. ~ T.
Ten months later ficnmohu Ivi,. ~ IN
,hot any sets Of the Messenger snouil
have been preserved TO be perpetual
record OF the striyings Tor NOR s .lata,, !"
quarter OF a century or earnest, collsCieiii,-
"a. ,,..,.,. ,,fs+or,, ~
the country from 1885 TO 1860 the megazlhe
l. useful IL kept close eye upon tIe
general feld, and was promP1 TO NOTICE
fhe merits or the dement's OF Hew "orns
issued on both sides of the Atlantic. but
II is most valuable in presentin, the va
rious phases OF letters In its OWN secslon,
NOT only reviewing the works or southern
authors. but also publishing az nrst na ar.
writings OF nearly every one VINO nH9 any
fame and OF many others who did not
seek IL. o,,,,,al
Editors and publishers were occasional
~ prone to take gloomy view Oh tne ~
immediate surroundings, and thereby 10
leave the hasty reader in doubt ABOUT ,he
real condition of southern letters put tne
magazine, II carefully read and STUDIED
is an impeachable witness OF the acseve-
ments OF southerners In the field OF iltera-
tire. IL demonstrates that mat South
VAS by no means lacking IN intelieoet u va
vigor, and explains many OF tne diihcui-
ties Surrounding readers and writers. IL
is not a complete history OF tne ooE.H'
but that history cannot be written WIFI
out considerable regard for the Importance
of the Messenger.