Godey's Lady's Book

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, April 1850

TO OUR OLD FRIENDS.—The unprecedented rapidity with which our subscription list has lately increased is a very gratifying circumstance, and one which we notice with the warmest acknowledgment to our numerous new friends. At the same time, it cannot but remind us that we owe also most cordial thanks to our OLD FRIENDS, to those who have stood by us in all kinds of weather and cheered us with their steady support and constant approbation. A recent investigation confirmed the opinion we always have entertained that the Lady's Book has, without any intermission, been the leading periodical of the country, not only in improvement and novelty, but in the number of its subscribers. This is not at all surprising, because it is the periodical of the peculiar class uniting literature, art, utility, and fashion, which has been longest in existence. Having early won the regard of certain intelligent and determined supporters of our excellent design, we have been so fortunate as, by dint of consistency and perseverance, to retain their support to the present hour; and this has given us the victory. They were the reserve, the old guard, always true to their standard, and determined never to surrender. When the late flood of trashy and immoral novels, for a short season, diverted public attention from the modest merit and moral value of chaste magazine literature, the old guard remained true to their first love; and still remain on the field, to welcome the hosts of new recruits who are every day flocking to our standard. Long life to the old guard! Many and fervent thanks, not only to our new, but to our OLD FRIENDS.

WE know of nothing, excepting it be the President's Message, that has gone the rounds of the newspaper press equal to the story of "Miss Bremer's Visit to Cooper's Landing."

WE commend to the lovers of the Fine Arts two very superior portraits of a gentleman (well known in this city) and his wife. They are from the pencil of Mr. Marchant, and may be seen at Earle's, in Chestnut Street above Eighth. They are the best specimens of portrait painting we have seen for a long time.

WE have received the eighth and ninth numbers of the beautiful edition of "Shakespeare's Dramatic Works, with Introductory Remarks," &c., now in the course of publication, by Phillips, Sampson, & Co., Boston. The eighth number contains "Midsummer Night's Dream," with a representation of Titania, queen of the fairies. The ninth number has a beautifully engraved portrait of the "Princess of France," and is equal in all respects to the numbers preceding. Price twenty-five cents.

WE frequently receive letters without the name of the State, and the postmaster is equally forgetful. We have two now before us—one from Mannsville, written by the postmaster; and one from Narrows. Now, in what State either of these places is, passes our knowledge.

OUR subscribers need be under no apprehension about receiving the January number, as the work is stereotyped. There has been some delay, but it has arisen solely from the appreciation of the work—subscribers would send in their orders so fast. Never has the Lady's Book been so successful. It will look incredible—but we are not in the habit of tasking the credulity of our subscribers—yet we state it as a fact, that we have already printed of the January number SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED COPIES! and the cry is "Still they come."

WE return our thanks to our brethren of the press for the very handsome manner in which they have received the portrait of "the publisher of the Lady's Book." It is gratifying to one who has labored so long and so arduously in the service of the public.

OUR EMBELLISHMENTS.—We give in this number the opposition of the arts of engraving—a very superior line engraving, entitled "Smiles and Tears," and a beautiful mezzotinet, "Sing me that sweet air again," each beautiful in its own style. The fashion plate is engraved in the style termed aqua tint, which is considered preferable for coloring. "The Surprise Party" is a peculiarity of Philadelphia.

WE again repeat the offer of any eight pieces of Mr. Ferrett's music, advertised on the March cover, to any person remitting us $3 in advance for one year's subscription to the Lady's Book.

THE following amusing direction of a letter we received some time since:—

I have but little cash, 'tis true, and that is got with: sorrowing;
But my dear daughter sha'n't disgrace her father's: name by borrowing—
Therefore I send the cash enclosed to L. A. Godey: straight,
Who lives in Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania State,
Requesting him to forward me, without an hour's delay,
The Lady's Book for one whole year, beginning New: Year's Day.

WE sometimes receive a complaint, saying that a number "has not come to hand," or "we do not get the Book until after the first of the month." It often happens that those who complain are supplied by some dealer in periodicals. Every number leaves this office in time to be received at the remotest post-office in the United States before the first of the month. We serve those who subscribe directly to us before we send to any dealers—and always will.

OUR WORK.—We have printed four different editions of the January number, three of the February, and the same of the March. The reason, therefore, why some of our subscribers have not got their early numbers so soon as they were expected, is thus made evident. Printers will understand us when we say that we keep three of Adams' fast presses constantly employed. Our edition is now sixty-two thousand five hundred. We think this is nearly double that of any other magazine published in the world.

OUR FASHION PLATES.—The fashions published in our February and March numbers have never been surpassed by any ever published in France. Generally, their artists are superior in works of this kind. For beauty of engraving and elegant coloring, they may be called embellishments. In addition to our regular colored plates, we give everything new in the matter of dress that is useful, always being careful not to engrave anything that would not really be of use, as it would only take up space that can be better used for reading matter.

SOMETHING NEW FOR THE LADIES.—In our next number, we will publish a new style of work that is really beautiful, and at present all the rage here.

"THE SCHOOLFELLOW." We have received from Messrs. Richards & Walton, of Charleston, S. C., the first number of the second annual volume of "The Schoolfellow," a work which has been pronounced one of the best juvenile magazines in the United States. The articles are chiefly original, and are from the pens of the most amiable female writers of our country, among whom we are pleased to recognize the names of Mrs. Joseph C. Neal, Mrs. W. C. Richards, and several other ladies of taste and sound judgment. This work is published monthly, and will make a volume of about four hundred pages, embellished with one hundred engravings. Five copies will be sent to one address for $4; eleven copies for $8; twenty-three copies for $15, and thirty-two copies for $20.

While referring to the "Schoolfellow," we take pleasure in noticing also the very great improvement that has been made in the appearance and in the general contents of "Richards's Weekly Gazette," since its removal from Athens to Charleston, S. C. We may say, without prejudice, that the "Weekly Gazette" is now one of the most interesting literary journals that we receive. Success to its worthy proprietor.

COMPLIMENTARY, BUT NOT PROPER.—One of the foreign correspondents of the New York Commercial Advertiser—so says the Charleston Christian Advocate—observes that "it is no uncommon thing to find one of Godey's or Graham's articles, with some trifling change of name and the like, transferred into French periodicals without ceremony or acknowledgment."

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