At merrycoz.org,
a hurrah! for years ending in 8
American children’s magazines have an odd beginning, as an English magazine publishes much of the material that will appear in the first American magazine for children. (Well, we had to start somewhere … )
A start is made as the importing of slaves to the U. S. is prohibited. (We had to begin somehow … )
Illinois becomes a state.
A giftbook begins that will publish some unforgettable writers; and Eliza Leslie publishes a cookbook that begins her amazing literary career. (She’ll later edited a giftbook that includes works by Edgar Allan Poe.)
Eliza Leslie remembers the fire that devastated New York City three years earlier.
Beginnings of all kinds, as gold is found Sutter’s Mill, in California; spirits rap out messages via the Fox sisters and start a new religion; Wisconsin becomes a state; John Russell Bartlett publishes the first dictionary of Americanisms; and women’s rights are discussed at Seneca Falls.
Communication comes to the fore, as a second attempt at a transatlantic cable succeeds (for about a month); the U. S. enjoys its first cross-country mail delivery (still going); and Fanny Seward publishes a tiny bit of wishful thinking. Meanwhile, Comet Donati graces the skies; and Minnesota is admitted as a state (hurrah for the University of Minnesota and all who graduate therefrom!).
Louisa May Alcott edits
Robert Merry’s Museum (not her best work); Henry Ward Beecher publishes
Norwood in book form (not
his best work); Winslow Homer contributes engravings to
Our Young Folks (not
his best work); and Gail Hamilton dismantles the ricky logic of John Todd’s
Woman’s Rights and argues for women’s rights (very much some of her best work).
Copyright 2018, Pat Pflieger