The Washington times., 1901-07-21
OLD AMERICAN MAGAZINES
The First Successful One Published
by Benjamin Franklin.


The first magazine to appeal to the
reading public of this country was ed
tied and published by Benjamin Frank
lin. The title page of this curious and
remarkably periodical. the first num-
ber of which may be seen at the Lii
brary of Congress, reads thus:
The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle
for all the British Plantations in America. Go
be continued monthly January, l74l. Phiia-
delphia: Printed and Sold BY b. Franklin.
The frontispiece shows the coronet of
the Prince of Wales. with the motto:
Itch diem"
A synopsis of current history. abroad
and at home, the proceedings of the
British Parliament on all questions af-
fecting the American Colonies. and the
action of the Assemblies in the several
Plantations, occupies more than half
the space. Accounts of, and extracts
from, new books published in the Col
onies are followed by essays culled from
American newspapers, and original
mathematical problems. with their an
swers A small space is devoted to
what are styled, ''Poetical Essays" and
the final article is a condensation of
news items, with the price of bills of
exchange, and prices current in Phil
adelphia. The only advertisement con-
tanned in the publication closes the
last page, and is as follows:
There is a ferry kept over Potomack (by the
subscriber). being the Post Road. and much the
highest way from Annapolis TO Williamsburg,
where all Gentlemen may depend a ready
Passage in good new Boat and able Hands. b.
Richard Brett Deputy Master at Potomack.
The first number OF the second
American magazine, intended as rival
of Franklin s, was issued during the
same year by Andrew Bradford. Only
two numbers were issued. Two years
later the American Magazine and
Historical Chronicle" was commenced
in Boston, and was continued for three
years and a few months. In Philadel-
phia, in 1857. THE American Maga-
zine, or Monthly Chronicle for the Brit
ish Colonies. by a Society of Gentle
men," completed a volume, and was
then discontinued. The same title.
The American Magazine" was chosen
by Lewis Nichola for a publication
maintained through the year 1769; and
in 1771, the Royal Spiritual Magazine,
or the Christians Grand Treasury"
survived a few months.
Seven attempts, five of them in Phil
adelphia, had been made to establish
an American magazine, when success
was at length achieved in 1775, in pc
riodical, which. in general arrange
ment, style, and method, bore a re-
markable resemblance to those of the
present day The title page of this
periodical reads as follows:
The Pennsylvania Magazine; or American
Monthly Museum. Philadelphia. Printed and sold
by X. Aitken. Printer and Bookseller. opposite
the London Coffee House, Front Street.
An engraved frontispiece represents
Liberty, surrounded by the symbols of
the arts and sciences, with cannon
and a ship in the background, while
the supporter on one side is the tree
of liberty. with weapons of war rest
ing against il, and on the other a NOR
tar labeled Congress- with flags
above it, and the motto: "Juvat in syl-
Wis habitare" Every number contained
a full-page illustration, which in the
first issue displayed a variety of new
inventions in machinery, and an en-
graYed sheet of original music upon the
death of Wolfe, but in June the illustra-
ton has another significance-the lar
Dor and town of Boston, and parts ad-
jacent; and thenceforward the imple
ments of peace are wholly usurped by
those of war.
The American Museum" published
by Mathew Carey in Philadelphia from
1857 to 1892, forms valuable record of
zines were attempted in Philadelphia,
Boston. and New York about the be-
ginning of the last century, but were
all short-lived, the Portfolio Of Phil
adelphia.' being the most successful,
continuing from 1891 to 1925. The La
dies Magazine" was established in
Philadelphia in 1893. and was the first
of the order in the country. Godey's
'Lady's Book" established in 1880, is
sufficiently well-known to present-day
readers. The first magazine devoted to
children appeared in Brooklyn in 1906,
and was followed by "Merrys Muse
um.' "Parley's Magazine and many
others. the number having increased
rapidly during late years.
1t may be noted that the magazine,
which may, perhaps, be properly re-
garded as the most popular form of
reading with the masses at the present
day, was first attempted in England
in 1870, in the Memoirs of the Society
of Grub Street" a series of satires
upon some of the popular
authors of the time. The sue
cess of this publication induced Ed
ward Cave to begin the issue of a
pamphlet in lT3l. called the Gentle
mans Magazine TO be continued
monthly. This magazine is still in ex-
istence, and is. of course, the oldest in
point of establishment The periodi-
Gals previously had been confined to
politics, or to foreign and do
mestic news, and the miscellane-
Gus literary character of the
Gentleman's Magazine" made II ex-
ceedingly popular. The London Mag
azine" was established the following
@at ny d parry VI DpOhStlieIs, anu
SCOTS Magazine" in 1879. These were
closely followed by number of others,
three being started in the year 1861.
1t is scarcely necessary TO say that
at the present time almost every de-
partment of knowledge. and every art.
science, and industry, has magazines
devoted to its special branch, with Of
ten articles Of general interest inter-
spersed 10 enliyen the periodical and
sI,.
er.
The nrecursors of modern fashion