The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12
FIRST OF THE BOY EDITQRs
HE WAS THOMAS O.. CONDIE IND
MADE A SUCCESS or m.

James M, BECK. once 66slGtant AtLorReY-
General Of the United States. amused him.
sell when ne was a boy by playing editcr
and running a small amateur magazine,
issued whenever the editor wasn't too busy
at other kinds OF play. He has kept up
has interest in Juvenile editing snu can
generally be found at meetings Of anna
teur journalists Of the past who are not too
busy to remember the enterprises OF their
youth. 1t was this interest that led Mr..
Beck to discover the other day a complete
file OF the first boy editors paper published
In this country.
The finding Of this Ole came by accident
and confirmed a tradition that the first
amateur journal was published in PhiIadel-
phia as early as 1874. Mr.. Beck got the file
at the sale OF the libraFysof Goy4 Penny
packer Of Pe~nnsylvania, andan examination
OF It brought to light many things Of gen
eral interest.
The first boy editor was Thomas q.
Condie, and although he had been referred
to as the father OF amateur journalism.
there was no solid basis for thiS title until
the file Of his journal was found. He wa
born in Philadelphia IN i7e1. and was the
son Of bookbinder Thomas Condie. from
whom he got his literary aspirations.
The elder cohdie printed a. magazine
in 1927 called the philadelphia Monthly Mega
nine. 1t lasted only a year, Tbat il con-
tanned the first extended biographical
sketch OF WaAhington. The he Of the
magazine wa cut abort by the yellow
fever epidemic which visited Phi3Rdelphia
in 17es.
The younger Condie's paper vas called
the juvenile Portfolio. after one Of the
first American literary magazines, The
Port Folio, which was first printed In 1901
and continued until 1872. Young Conole
was 10 when he began to publish his paper.
and had just entered the University OF
Pennsylvania. His magazine. was pub
lished only during the time he was IN the
university, for after be had been graduated
and turned his attention to law. tbe JNVsHds
Portfolio ceased.
The publication Of the magazine began
on October "a. 1912, and continued every
week without a break until November ~.
1915, q record that hasn't been excelled by
boy editors in more prosperous times. The
Literary. MiscelLdnv. 1t was dedicatod TO
the instruction and amusementa ~ youth,
and cost f2H cents a month.
The editor announced in the first number
that at the close Of the year % title page
and index would be published. together with
a full list OF the subsorfherss He carried
out his promise, for the whole four volumes
are indexed, and the subscription list con-
tanned 600 names. Among them was Mat OF
Dallas, then Secretary OF the. Treasury,
The subscription list had nearly doubled
before the last volume was completed, in
dioating that 1t must have been a SUCCESS
financially. Estimating IN a basis OF a
population Of IL. 900 that there we're 1909
families in Philadelphia at the time, .Cohdie
must have had a subscriber in one out OF
n.,or, ax,an hOVnaa in the nitv = E~N~f
The editor had a house to house oanvhss
made for subscribers. n advertised for
IAN active young lad to solicit Subscribers
for the juvenile Port-Foiio.' Philadelphia
magazines Of the present day employ-the
same means for securing subscribers
Young Condie's paper consisted OF four
pages az by 81 inches, with two columne To ,
the page. His opening editorial. addressed
aTo the Juvenile Public told OF his hopes
and intentions in this way:
TIE title to address the public when .
periodical work is first offered for patronage
10 established by custom. and a lewiston
from the general usage would be a breHch Of
decorum. since the public now demands a. q
right what IL formerly granted as a courtesy. ~
and OF late years more labor has been bestowed
ia writing these Repositories OF prumtBeS~
than In vamping up the original w~ork---.ys1
As It seems required. therefore, Of every
candidate that he should publicly declare
his pretensions to favor, the editor. In COM
plianoe with the general custom. deems 10,
briefly to state the intention Of the
present work: and in this. as we'll as tnihe
editorial capacity in general. he respectfully
solicIts from his patrons the indulgencewh which
the inexperience of youth 30 amply requires s
In order. therefore. TO make up for hiaS0Wh
deficiency he respectfully solicits the favor
and assistance OF such of the literary youth"
as may have time and inclination to favor
him with their communications He has
also the promise OF a few gentlemen OF polite :
taste 10 condescend their aid to difuAe,,
and instructive literature, to soothe
trembling merit and to rouse and foster
infant genius" s
Besides the more general subjects Of litefs-
ture, it's pa ges will always be open to such
extracts OF popular interest as may be judi
cious and entertaining also a general selection !
OF rare anecdotes. points OF wit. brilliant
repartee, DC. Our purpose will be to render
this department lively without licentiousness.
without tinsel and elegant without
elaboration, " -"
The index Of Condie's first volume shows
a wide range Of subjects, chiefly referring
10 moral questions and praise OF the faireet 4
OF creation" Beyond a few references 70
and to the naval heroes of
ence TO the political events Of b day. Its
contents closely initiated the Spectator, the
Rambler and other periodicals Of the eiRh-
teenth century n the influence Of -Addi- >
.on and Steele in prose essays. and Pope,
Swift and Dryden In poetry dominated the
taste Of the youthful editor and his con-.
tributors.
In his address. preceding the second
volume. Condie said: :. -.
No work OF the same nature In this luity 3
syer received 90 respectable a patrona &c from /,
liberal and ingenious youth OF both SEXES
deem it their peculiar property and many
take q very great interest In its success.
That this was not a mere editorial boast
indicated by many references to oon-
tributions which were returned for ack OF
His paper seems TO have attracted
more thar local attention. for the subscrip- E,
ton list contained a number OF names In /,
other States as far north az Boston and "a,
far south az Savannah.
In the preface 20 the fourth and last vol
lme Of the Juvenile Port Folio Condie stated
his intention to enlarge his periodical and,
change it's name 10 the Parlour Compoaion.
for more advanced readers. Later.
he recorded his disappointment at the failure
the public 10 respond 20 his call for subs :
20 the more ambitious periodical
and there 10 no record that IL was ever pib-
snst-
CHANGE IN COTTON GROWING.
Fiat Cultivation Gives BETTER Retuita
Thai Hnl TiilHge. - ~ta r