Amateur Journalists Who Became Famous
In “The Career and Reminiscences of an Amateur Journalist,” Thos. G. Harrison states that Nathaniel Hawthorne was really a pioneer member of the clan, having gotten out six weekly issues of a periodical of this description, called THE SPECTATOR, the first number appearing Aug. 21, 1820. Thus it predates by three years what many have heretofore accepted as his first literary effort, in the SALEM GAZETTE, in 1823.
Prior to its appearance, Hawthorne, at that time a youth of 16, got out a preliminary prospectus, stating that THE SPECTATOR would be issued on Wednesdays, at 12c per annum, payment to be made at the end of the year. In an early issue, Hawthorne advertised that he proposed to publish by subscription, a new edition of “The Miseries of Authors,” to which he promised to add a sequel containing facts and remarks drawn from his own experience.
Truman J. Spencer, for many years a historian on amateur journalism, questions whether a copy of either THE SPECTATOR or Hawthorne’s prospectus, is in existence today. Here, then, is an opportunity for ambitious bibliophiles and rare book speculators to ransack the garrets of their ancestors, and “see what they can see.” Harrison states that THE SPECTATOR was neatly written by the hand of Hawthorne. It was probably manifolded by some crude reproducing process of that period.
(Courtesy Franklin Memorial Institute)
THE JUVENILE PORT-FOLIO,
AND
LITERARY MISCELLANY,
DEVOTED TO THE INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT OF YOUTH.
A lasting wreath of various hue.—deck’d with each fragrant flower.
Vol. I.] [No. 1.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1812.
CONDITIONS.
A No. will be published every Saturday.
The price is only Twelve and a half Cents per month, payable in advance.
No subscription will be received for less than three months. At the close of each year, a title page and index, for the volume; also, a list of the names of the subscribers will be given.