The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [785]
The most popular of all the magazines is that published by Mr. Graham, who is a practical business man and a friend to men of talents of every east. Every article which he prints is liberally paid for, and he has the honor of patronizing a large number of eminent writers in prose and verse, than any other publisher in the country. Can we say more in his favor or in favor of his magazine? But a word or two on the other side. The embellishments of Graham are not quite as good as they might be, because they are too many. It would suit our fancy better, though perhaps not that of the public, to receive one gem of an engraving every month, instead of three or four of an inferior quality. Neither do we like the nominal editor of Graham's Magazine. And why? Because, though a pretty good compiler, he possesses too many of the peculiar characteristics of Mr. Lewis G. Clark. Mr. Rufus W. Griswold is wholly unfit, either by intellect or character, to occupy the editorial chair of Graham's Magazine.
The Lady's Book, edited by Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Sigourney, is upon the whole a clever magazine for the entertainment of ladies. We should like it better if the productions of gentlemen were excluded altogether, for it would then be a unique affair. A lady's book should be supported by ladies alone. Some of the stories published in this periodical are exceedingly good, but the majority of them are "stale, flat and unprofitable." A certain portion of sentimental nonsense is quite indispensable, but it would be well to make this portion as small as possible, and we hope the Editors of the Lady's Book will do all in their power to bring about this state of things. Let fewer stories be written and more essays -- a less quantity of rhyme and more true poetry.
Sargent's Magazine. As yet, we have not made use of that modern but most expressive word humbug, but now we are compelled to do so. Sargent's Magazine is a perfect literary humbug, and for the following reasons. But first as to its origin. A certain aspiring gentleman, having, so we are told, a capital of some $15,000, which he was anxious to invest in a literary enterprize, obtained the name and services of Mr. Epes Sargent, who was then disengaged,! and started a new magazine. Being in receipt from that time of a handsome salary, Mr. Sargent devoted his whole attention to the cause. Having an extensive acquaintance with the literati, he could command any quantity of puffs, and so the work was issued with a grand flourish of trumpets, although wretchedly printed and illustrated. Besides the usual contemptible fashion plates, it was interspersed at the very outset with etchings, copied from English u magazines and books. Now as to the contributors. Among the , distinguished names announced as such were John Q. Adams and Mr. Paulding. How did they become such? why! as follows. Eight lines of