Rodgers also published the Medico-Chirurgical Review, about 1838. Its life, however, was short.
Peterson's Ladies' National Magazine.—It was George R. Graham who first suggested to his friend, Charles J. Peterson, then editor of the Saturday Evening Post, the publication of a fashion journal, patterned upon the popular French periodicals. Peterson's Magazine is now (1891) in its fiftieth year, and is still the best and most popular publication of its class. Its circulation has been as high as one hundred and sixty-five thousand. It is to-day a stock company, of which Mrs. C. J. Peterson is President. The same glittering row of writers who contributed to Graham's helped also in the making of Peterson's.
Frances Hodgson Burnett published her first story, "Ethel's Sir Lancelot," in Peterson's for November, 1868. The story filled five pages. Mrs. Frank Leslie thinks that Mrs. Burnett's first literary work was for Frank Leslie in 1867 or 1868, and that she received her first check in payment for an article in Frank Leslie's Magazine. Mrs. Leslie says that Mrs. Burnett was then living in Knoxville with her brother who was a civil engineer.
Mr. Peterson died March 4, 1887. The following editorial note appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer of Monday, March 7, 1887:
CHARLES J. PETERSON.
"No man was ever more beloved by his friends—and among them were those who were great and good in all that constitutes intellectual greatness and moral goodness—than Charles J. Peterson, whose death occurred on Friday night last. He was one of that group of men who half a century ago began to make Philadelphia famous as the literary centre of the country. Liberally educated, trained to the law, he turned naturally to literature, to which his brilliant mind, his ripe scholarship, his fervid imagination, his refined taste directed and impelled him. He survived nearly all of those who had but a brief while before or after him entered upon the world of letters in this city. At that time the best literary thought of the nation was expressed through the medium of Graham's Magazine, of which Mr. Peterson was the editor. Among his learned and brilliant associates were James Russell Lowell, Edgar Allan Poe, Dr. Rufus Griswold, Dr. Bird, Richard Penn Smith, Professor J. K. Mitchell, Judge Conrad, Morton McMichael and Louis A. Godey. Of all these men with whom Mr. Peterson worked and lived upon the most intimate terms of literary companionship Mr. Lowell now alone survives. Fifty years ago they were the names which gave to American literature distinction, and made Philadelphia the most prominent centre of genius and talent. Among his contemporaries Mr. Peterson held distinguished rank, and had he continued his literary career there can be no doubt that he would have continued to hold it even in the army of writers who in recent years have become so famous.
"But Mr. Peterson put aside writing to become a publisher, in which he achieved remarkable and deserved success, and subsequently he wrote but infrequently, and then only brief brochures intended solely for private circulation among his friends, but which showed the fertility of his mind, his rare fancy, fine taste and ripe judgment.
"But while Mr. Peterson was commonly known as an author, editor and publisher, he was best known by those who enjoyed the happiness and privilege of his acquaintanceship, friendship or more affectionate relations, as a man of the noblest character, the tenderest sensibilities, the most refined and gentle qualities. Advancing age, a great and sorrowful loss, that of an only son by sudden death, induced him to withdraw from the society that had always welcomed his presence, but in his seclusion he did not grow misanthropical or morbid. His faith in God and men seemed to grow stronger and greater the nearer he approached the end, and in dying he was close to both. His nature was most generous and affectionate; and age, which so often dulls and hardens the finest characters, left his brilliant and gentle to the end. He was a man of large benevolence, giving largely to those who in his wise judgment were worthy, and his bounty to authors and old associates who had struggled and fallen by the way was measured only by their needs. He was a good citizen and a good man; those who knew him best loved him best. We can speak of him only as he was in that part of his daily life with which all who happily knew him were familiar. His life within his own home, which was his own, and into which we would not intrude, was noblest of all, full of refinement, love and chivalric devotion. His loss will most be felt there, though there is no friend who shared his friendship upon whom it will not fall heavily and sorrowfully."
The Botanic Medical Reformer and Home Physician was published monthly by H. Hollemback and Co., and edited by Dr. Thomas Cooke. It was begun May 7, 1840.
The Philadelphia Repository (1840-1852) was begun by William Henry Gilder (1812-1864) father of Richard Watson Gilder, editor of the Century Magazine. The first William Henry, grandfather of Richard Watson, laid the corner-stone of Girard College. William Henry the second continued to edit the Repository about one year; he subsequently published in Philadelphia the Literary Register, a quarterly review.