One of our correspondents in the present number, remarks on the advantages which would be derived from a newspaper devoted to schools, and used as a weekly reader. One publication of this kind has been attempted; but as far as we have seen its numbers, it seems to us to be very imperfectly adapted to the object. A gentleman of experience in teaching, who contemplated and proposed a work of this kind many years since, has prepared a specimen number, just issued by the publishers of the American Annals of Education. The character of this number satisfies us, that we were not mistaken in believing the editor peculiarly qualified for the task; and we cannot but anticipate much good from his labors. In order to bring it if possible within the reach of all; the work is offered on terms so low, that the publishers cannot be remunerated, or the work continued, without a large subscription. We hope the attempt will succeed.

Juvenile Rambler, or Family and School Journal—is the name of a paper recently published for children. The plan we highly approve; we have long thought there should be news-papers as well as books, expressly prepared for the young. That portion of our common news-papers read by inquisitive children is not profitable for them, and if they had a paper of their own, they would have little inclination to read others. The “Juvenile Rambler” is under the care of a gentleman, distinguished for the zeal with which he labors in the cause of education, and the three first numbers evince the care he is exerting to make the paper useful. The subjects treated of are various, such as will both amuse and improve.

A gentleman, much interested in education, and very judicious in his ideas, has begun to publish a paper for children, to be used in schools and families, called The Juvenile Rambler. The first three numbers, which are all I have seen, please me extremely. It contains anecdotes, information of all kinds likely to interest children, and descriptions of Natural History, with pictures.

Since commencing our little work, we have become acquainted with two periodicals of a design very similar to our own. The first is a small monthly magazine, printed in New-York, and entitled The Youth’s Temperance Lecturer. The leading object of the Editor seems to be, to fortify his readers against acquiring habits of intemperance. But his design embraces other kindred

-----
p. 27

objects, and presents a very pleasing Miscellany of original matter, and choice extracts. The other work is entitled, The Juvenile Rambler, and is printed in Boston. We saw this paper for the first time last week, although it has reached the 37th number. It is remarkable that two persons entirely unconnected with each other should undertake plans so nearly alike, as the Rambler’s and our own. The Rambler, like the Rose Bud, is printed on a small quarto sheet, with three columns on a page, and is issued weekly. Its price is One Dollar perannum; that of the Lecturer seventy five cents. Both were commenced during the present season. Acknowledging these points of sympathy, and regarding the coincidences to which we have alluded as justifying our common objects, we tender to the respective Editors our sincere good will.

Juvenile Rambler.—We have made a brief extract on our last page, respecting Vesuvius, from this valuable weekly publication. Its character is literary, and designed to improve and instruct the young. It is published by Messrs. Allen & Ticknor, and is edited by the able and intelligent Mr. Woodbridge.

The “Sabbath School Instructor,” from Portland, Maine, has appeared in a new and improved form, and is graced by communications from Mrs. Sigourney.

“The Youth’s Literary Gazette” in Philadelphia, “The Juvenile Rambler” and “Parley’s Magazine” in Boston, are all conducted with great spirit, and form a new and interesting era in Juvenile Literature.

“The terms of each are one dollar per annum.

None of the above publications, however, can excel the "Juvenile Miscellany,” which still maintains its just claims to the patronage of parents and children. It has been regularly published for seven years.

Dear Mrs. Editur,

i am subskriber to a nice papur in Bostun called the Jewwenile Ramblurr,* and it has had the discernment October 2d to publish my fust letter to you, now i am shure the young peeple in Charlestun, have been makkin a laffin stock of me ever sence i writ it, for wen i go along the streets i heer them giggling and snikkuring and saying well Miss Sally, i hop you mak out now? A parcel of rewd boys tother day, tuk of there hats as i passed the citty square, and made as if they wur going to bow very respecful, and said, howd’ye Miss Humdrum?

wat i want of you is, to let the Charlestun folks kno about the extrac, in the Jewwenile Ramblurr, and then they will see i ant considurd so insignifekant, in Bostun as what i am in my native city, i guess them Bostun folks has some gumption. Yours,

P. S. if the gurls and boys dont trete me better, i am deturmind to amigrate.

-----

*Juvenile Rambler, we presume.—Ed.

We have formerly mentioned the Juvenile Rambler, and its usefulness in schools. We did all in our power to secure it such a character as we approved; but its price and subscription list did not authorise a sufficient amount of illustrations. The Parley Magazine, with its splendid illustrations, only needed a change in its character, and the Rambler has been united with it, to accomplish the great object more effectually. The plan proposed for the future volumes will render it a valuable publication to every family; and the engagement of the late Editor of the Rambler to assist in it, will, we trust, secure its execution.

The able Editor of this little paper has transferred his talents to “Parley’s Magazine,” which will lend that excellent work an additional value. …

The Youth’s Penny Paper.

This little paper is published weekly at New York, by E. French, No. 146 Nassau Street. The price is fifty cents a year, twentyfive cents for

-----
p. 336

six months, twelve and half cents for three months, in advance; or one cent a week. The paper consists of four pages about the size of large octavo pages, and is edited by Theodore Dwight, Jr.

The Youth’s Penny Paper, says the prospectus, is designed to afford entertainment and instruction for the young; to aid them in their studies; to acquaint them with important passing events, as well as the events of science; to inculcate religious and moral principles, to cultivate taste, and to prepare them for happiness and usefulness as members of society;—also, to assist parents and teachers in training the young. Each number, continues the prospectus, will contain one or more engravings; true tales or anecdotes, designed to improve the mind or character; sketches of real travel at home or abroad; a hymn or song, often with music; or short lessons on various departments of knowledge appropriate to different ages; with brief familiar notices of the news of the day.

We are glad to see such a paper, and from such a source; for what the tact, talent, and perseverance of anybody can do towards sustaining such a paper, we are sure will be done by its untiring editor and zealous publisher. And if they can find men of like spirit with themselves—men we mean who care for something besides money, and who labor, in part at least, for a higher and nobler reward—to act as agents, all over the country, we doubt not their labors will do much good. We do not say—we dare not hope it—that their paper will be popular; for what paper or journal whose main object was to do good, has ever been popular, in this country or in any other? What does not touch our consciences or invade our liberty—our liberty to do as we please with our time faculties and money, without regard to God—may be popular; at least if it espouses some party or sect.

We speak rather discouragingly on this subject, because we have had some experience in these matters. We were employed by the philanthropic proprietor of the ‘Juvenile Rambler,’ to edit that paper for him about two years, till it was merged in Parley’s Magazine. Subsequently we edited Parley’s Magazine four years—we will not say with what success—we leave that to others. We will only say that had we sailed under the flag of a sect or party, and had other people been as willing as ourselves to ‘work for nothing and keep themselves,’ we have no doubt both works would have been better supported than they were; and we might have been willing longer to bear the burden of editing the latter.

We ought, perhaps, to say, that Parley’s Magazine is published by Messrs Joseph S. Francis, of this city, and Charles H. Francis of New York; but who the editor is, we are not informed.