EVERYBODY'S JOURNAL,
A weekly periodical the size of the London Journal, and not more attractive in its appearance, nor better printed, began with No. 1, October 1, 1859, and ceased to exist early in the following year; probably before the end of January, since the British Museum copy in monthly parts is inscribed 'discontinued' on the part containing the December issues. That a complete set is not in our great reference library is a matter for regret; for the first published illustration by Fred Walker, which was issued in Everybody's Journal, January 14, must needs have been in the missing numbers. Those which are accessible include drawings by (Sir) John Gilbert, T. Morten, and Harrison Weir, none of peculiar interest. Among the names of the contributors will be found several that have since become widely known.
ENTERTAINING THINGS
This twopenny monthly magazine, which is probably as unfamiliar to those who read this notice as it was to me until a short time since, was published by Virtue and Co., the first number appearing in January 1861. It contains many designs by J. Portch, F. J. Skill, M. S. Morgan, E. Weedar, W. M'Connell, P. Justyne, and W. J. Linton, none being particularly well engraved. But it contains also Walter Crane's first published drawing—a man in the coils of a serpent (p. 327), illustrating one of a series of articles, Among the Mahogany Cutters, which is not very important; another a few pages further on in the volume is even less so. Collectors will also prize A Nocturne by G. Du Maurier, and some designs by T. Morton (sic). The Christmas number contains a delightful design by A. Boyd Houghton, The Maid of the Wool-pack, and another drawing by Du Maurier. The publication ceased, according to a note in the British Museum copy, in May 1862. Among rarities of the sixties this magazine may easily take a high place, for one doubts if there are many copies in existence. Should the mania for collecting grow, it is quite possible this volume, of such slight intrinsic value, will command record prices.
BEETON'S ANNUALS
These were of two sorts, a badly printed shilling annual, which appealed to children of all ages, and a six-shilling variety, which appealed to those of a smaller growth. In the higher-priced volumes for 1866 T. Morten, J. G. Thomson, and J. A. Pasquier appear. In the shilling issue, an independent publication, are more or less execrably engraved blocks, after C. H. Bennett, G. Cruikshank, Jun., and others who would probably dislike to have their misdeeds chronicled. These publications added to the gaiety of nations, but when they ceased no eclipse was reported. Yet a patient collation of their pages renewed a certain boyish, if faded, memory of their pristine charm, which the most cautious prophet may assert can never be imparted anew to any reader. Kingston's Annuals and Peter Parley's Annuals, also revisited, left impressions too sad to be expressed here. Nor need Routledge's Christmas Annuals be noticed in detail. Tom Hood's Comic Annuals, which contained much work typical of the seventies, although it began its long career in 1869, includes so little work by heroes of the 'sixties' that it need not be mentioned.
The mass of penny magazines for children do not repay a close search. Here and there you will find a design by a notable hand, but it is almost invariably ruined by poor engraving; so that it were kinder not to attempt to dispel the obscurity which envelops the juvenile 'goody-goody' literature of thirty years ago.
G. DU MAURIER
'PUNCH.' MARCH 3, 1866