PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME. THIS most eventful year is at its close, and many human designs are doomed to disappear with it: ours is one. We began our labours amidst the flowers of May, and the busy hum of the Great Exhibition, and have gone on, week by week, with our pleasant task, until Old Christmas, with his coronal of snow and holly, has brought us to the end of this our Second and last Volume. We had originally intended to have terminated our labours with that Great Idea-the World's Exhibition-which first suggested our project; but finding at that time that we had not fulfilled our comprehensive title, the "Literature of all Nations," we proceeded to its fulfilment. Even now we fear our task is but imperfectly performed, yet we venture to hope interesting specimens will be found in these pages of the most distinguished of the Literature of all Nations. To the Authors of France, America, and other Nations, we take this opportunity of returning our grateful thanks for the aid they have afforded us in carrying out our design. To the two former countries, from whom we have transplanted so many imperishable flowers, we are very largely indebted. This was necessary, owing to the great number of distinguished writers of which these countries boast. To the London and Provincial Press, for the encouraging manner in which they have noticed our monthly issue, we feel more gratitude than we can express. We have no doubt that the two volumes of the PARLOUR MAGAZINE will be treasured by many future generations. People flocked to the Crystal Palace after its close, and eagerly bought up, at enormous prices, articles that had been exhibited there, that they might possess some memento of the Exhibition. We supply not only a work exhibited therein, but one actually produced by machinery within its crystal halls, and in the view of millions of spectators. The value of our book will therefore increase with the advance of years, until it will be regarded as a curiosity and a treasure. Only one duty remains now to be fulfilled-the nomination of a worthy successor. As such we name the HOME COMPANION, a Weekly Magazine, at half our price, containing an equal amount of matter, with excellent illustrations. This Magazine has, within a few weeks, obtained the enormous circulation of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND COPIES WEEKLY, its success is therefore certain. (iv) Of the First Number, Five Hundred Thousand Copies have been distributed gratuitously. The following record of its establishment will be found highly interesting: "For the first time in the World's history, that leviathan in the work of human progress, the "Press," has been called upon to supply 500,000 copies of a new Magazine. But a few years ago, it would have been impossible to produce such an enormous number with sufficient rapidity. Instead of a simultaneous issue of half a million of copies, printed and distributed throughout the kingdom within the space of about three weeks, nearly seven months would have been consumed in the printing alone. Even now, with the aid of steam-which has increased our power of production from 250 to 800 copies per hour-one machine, working 10 hours per day, would be occupied 621 days in throwing off our first impression. However, by stereotyping the forms, and keeping two machines working night and day, without intermission, we have been able to produce the 500,000 copies in 16 days and nights. "To supply this number, we required 1,000 reams of paper, of 500 sheets each. These reams being placed on the top of each other, would form a pile nearly equal to the height of St. Paul's! The weight of this pile would be about 20,000 lbs. The sheets, separately laid out, would cover 61 square acres of land, leaving a large overplus; or, laid lengthways, end to end, they would extend above one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six miles! "It is an adopted estimate, that every printed paper finds, on the average, five readers. Upon this basis, it is calculated that the present publication will be read by 2,500,000 persons. It is a problem how many of this great multitude will adopt it as their Home Companion. OUR FAITH IN THE RESULT IS SUFFICIENTLY EVIDENCED BY THE BOLD NESS OF OUR EXPERIMENT, THE GRATUITOUS DISTRIBUTION OF OUR FIRST NUMBER HAVING COST US UPWARDS OF TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS." London, December 20, 1851. |
