Trust without fear, to merit and to You.”
But Hawthorne was not the first to publish a “boys’ paper.” From a pamphlet on “Amateur Journalism,” issued by Will G. Snow of Meriden, Conn., to commemorate “An Association of Amateur Journalists of the Past,” called “The Fossils,” we learn that the earliest known American example is THE JUVENILE PORTFOLIO AND LITERARY MISCELLANY, an eight-page weekly, published from Oct. 17, 1812 to Dec. 7, 1816 by Thomas G. Condie, Jr., at 22 Carter’s Alley, opposite Stephen Girard’s Bank, Philadelphia, as per illustration herewith.
After the demise of Hawthorne’s periodical, amateur journalism seemingly went into a slumber twice as long as the famed sleep of Rip Van Winkle. However, in 1858, came the COOS HERALD of Lancaster, N. H., and by 1872, approximately 200 amateur gazettes were being turned out. At this period the juvenile journal considered as having the largest circulation, was OUR BOYS, started in Chicago in 1871 as a “four-pager,” and which by 1873 had evolved into a 16-page periodical almost as large as HARPER’S WEEKLY. In its prime it is said to have enjoyed a circulation of 10,000 copies per issue. Most of these sheets varied in size from 4 pages of 3 by 4 inch dimensions to 32 pages, measuring 10 by 12, the latter about the width of four ordinary newspaper columns. The average life of an amateur paper was estimated at 8 months, which period was ample to disgust most youthful journalists with the hardships of an editorial career.
In 1869, it was deemed advisable to organize an association for mutual acquaintance, social intercourse and to assist the cause of amateur journalism throughout the United States. A meeting was held in New York at the residence of Charles Scribner, from which evolved the National Amateur Press Association. Nellie Williams, a 13-year miss, is credited as being the first “female of the species.” She issued the PENFIELD EXTRA soon after the commencement of the Civil War. It had been planned to issue an amateur journal at the Centennial Exposition of 1876, and it was said that $5000 could have been raised without difficulty for that purpose, but Director General Goshorn would not allot space, claiming that the word “amateur” savored of infancy of mind.
When approximately half a century ago, George Harrison announced himself as a candidate for the presidency of the Western Amateur Press Association, his ambition did not meet with unanimous endorsement, if we consider the following outburst from a rival sheet:
“We smelt the smell of a dead rat when we received a copy of the WELCOME VISITOR, stating that Harrison is a candidate for the position of President of the Western Amateur Press Association, against Wyn Morris. We can inform the gentleman from Indiana that he is on the hull of a sinking ship, and when he grasps for the exalted position he has in view, it will melt before his eyes, and he will gradually sink into the waters of oblivion. George, dear George, you are left sure.”—AMATEUR IOWAN.
To this not over-delicate prognostication, the Harrison clan replied in kind as set forth below:
“THE IOWAN no doubt smelt its own smell, eh. As for Harrison being left in the race, we beg to inform our IOWA contemporary, in all probability it is entirely mistaken. No other candidate now in the field has a better chance than he.”—The WELCOME VISITOR.
Let us quote one more expression of opinion, as one contempt-orary to another:
“In our estimation nothing is so contemptible as to publish an article against an individual and then refuse to send him a copy of the paper containing the attack. The low-lived editors of the YOUNG DEMOCRAT should paste this in their hats.”—THE ACORN, St. Louis.