The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-30
IN THB FIELD OF MAGAZINES
n. a. JOHNSON TALKS or 30
YEARS o. THE CENTURY.

CROWN ~ the magazines ana Guan8e'
N aethods-A nsanG fUg lnsilV tiuaiiiy
me Present and the Future nrtghi
Ths liner ease IN Magazine Readers
/ Robert Underwood johnson vas chat.
ung yesterday with an inquirer wis
wanted to g.. &C some Of Mr.. johnson Z
observations of the changes in the maya
zine field since Mr.. Johnson has been
q worker in n. and the Century edito'
while declining to voice any criticisms
gave . rapid survey oI the part % the field
nearest him ant: emphasized some points
&C interest.
Ia may be necessary To remind acme
that the CsnturV was formerly Scrtbpsr's
MOHiAJv. The magazine. which was
founded in 1870. has been continuous. only
the name changing some years after itS
establishment. IL was several years
after this change of name that the present
ScvfbnerS Magazine was started, in lss5
n ca entirely new periodical.
1T will very soon he thirty-seven years
since I Came 90 work here in the editorial
once. and for twenty-eight ! was the as
sociats editor under the lats Richard Wat
son Glider. = MIR johnson said thouGhtfully
The conditions in the magazine world
we're quite different from tho-H of to-day
There were four magazines which might
be considered in the same field, although
the AiiGRtie vas not and - not nov ill.'--
tFaied: Harper's. which was establisasN Vi
in Isso: the Atlantic. established In 1881;
the 6diaTp. now long dehinct. and Scrtt-
Rer's. a. the Century was then called.
There were a great many writer. AMI
hines 20 get the writers. but among the
writers for recognition by and In the
magazines. The magazines were pre-
pondernntly literary.
People had time Ia read and the serial
story was a large asset % the monthly
publications. In my opinion the serial
story. meaning a novel published In in
stzIments. IL not 50 useful To a magazine
~ formerly I do not wish Ia he dogmatic.
but that Is what think. People have not
90 much time ana are not so much inclined
ca read IN that way now
Then wood engraving gave us many
opportunities IN illustration. and Alex
ander W. Drake undertook the develop
ment Of illustration IN this medium for
US. IL had been the custom To draw on
the block Under new methods the maya
I
zines endeavored to reproduce through
the means Of wood engraving pictures
in pencil. in water color and in oils, and
To preserve something nj inc ehects
and the qualities Of the originals in the
illustrations published. Theee Illus
tratIons xere appreciated by thu public
Later. in the late 'S-ie. the halttone proc
ess was introduced and the whole face
of the business was changed ~ far a.
concerns the illustrations.
The magazines. think while In com
petition. were inclined each Ia develop
/ it's own field Zach relied. naturally and
/ Of necessity. on it, own features for IL,
own progress The Ccnfury's distinction
/ IN that line came With its war articles
| followed by the life Of Lincoln Ths
var articles increased the Co RiHrB',
circulation IOo con.
The CsnrsrH's rosition has AWAY :
been. and I have always believed. that
the-way Of progress was not competition
in the aan-a oG securing th.. same writers
and the same features Though to a c-r-
tain EXTENT IL 10 Of course necessary "a
have some OF the same writer-I bui
Individuality and Ar endeavor TO keep
Of another magazines ground whiie
kaap,ns fully up with the accomplish
nc1,s Of others Our motto to-day u
prozre.uiys, conservatism or conservative
progre--. a. YOU please
People scarcely look to the CsHiHrB
for INSTANCE to go into UNDERTAKING
We should hardly think Of doing a. No,
tina, I wish TO ds.nounce IL fo- while il
n not pleaaant Il has Enthusiastically
accommodated much good And. by the
waV has IL ever occurred TO YOU that the
6rut undertaking article was written by
Charles Francis Adams A. any rate
thai !. the first know Of
III was entitled A Chanter of Rri.'
ana wen, into the Fisk Gould operations
in connection with the Erie Railroad aud
the bribery Of LEGISLATOR And the second
undertaking article thar know anything
about was written by Clarence ClCuEh
| B,,el ASSOCIATE editor oG the Csa,urg-
Ne Glider sent Mr. Buei down to I,ouis
ana 20 20 into the conditors Of the LOUIS o.
ana lottery aud his article was entitled
/ The Degradation of a State
1T vas published Just a. the Lottery
wa. moving for a renewal 81 its hcenss
I or charter Members OF the Morris fam
/ av hrouaht pressure TO bear on its head
-. ,...s the business. and We were told
-, - ,..-.,,..-. ~ ,ha ant, -Io,,.r,, ,.,,,,.