NEW DEBATE MATERIAL Civil Liberty Edited by Edith M. PHELPS. (Reference Shelf. Vol. IV. No. 9.) 194 pages, $1.25 This volume contains the essential material on the freedom of expression of opinion from the viewpoint of the arguments for and against restrictions upon it. The factual material has been omitted as too voluminous for satisfactory selections but it has been covered in the rather extensive bibliography which is a feature of the volume. The reprinted material has been arranged as follows: Historical and Philosophical A. The Constitutional Guarantees B. Laws Restricting Freedom of Opinion The Attitude of the Courts A. Decisions B. Injunctions Briefs have also been included and there is an Introduction by Professor Zechariah Chafee, Jr., Professor of Law of Harvard University. Questions of the Hour 56 Pages, 90c. This study outline contains eighteen programs, based on sixty-six volumes in the Handbook Series and the Reference Shelf. Altho there have been two previous editions of this outline, both now out of print, the many new titles that have been added to the Series, and those that have gone out of print, have made necessary its complete reconstruction. The subjects covered include the following: Labor Problems, Liberalism, Race Problems, Education, Women, Children and the Family, Prohibition, Crime and Criminals, Political and Civil Reforms, Internationalism, National Defense, Industrial Relations, Taxation, Social Insurance, and many others. A list of the volumes on which the outline is based is appended. New Subscription Plan–Important Announcement Reference Shelf, Volume V “Civil Liberty" and "Questions of the Hour”complete Volume IV of the Reference Shelf, which consisted of ten numbers and for which subscriptions were taken at $6 (although the price of single numbers, sold separately, is goc each, and in the case of two of the numbers of unusual size, $1.25 each.) This saving in price is possible because of the saving in overhead expense, in having but one transaction to make instead of ten. Subscriptions will be accepted now for Volume V which will likewise consist often numbers, and will be $6. Three numbers of Volume V are already in preparation, “Prohibition: Supplement to the Handbook," "Religious Teaching in the Public Schools,” and "Independence for the Philippines.” Future numbers will be announced as decided upon. Handbook Series, Series II The subscription plan will from now on be extended to the volumes in the Handbook Series also. Subscriptions will be taken for Series of six volumes each, at $12 for the Series, and will cover about a year in time. (As the average price per volume of the Handbooks, sold separately, is $2.40, this amounts to an average saving of 40c per volume). Volumes already in press in Series II, with which the subscription plan will begin, are "Old Age Pensions," by Lamar T. Beman, and "China, Yesterday and Today,” by Julia E. Johnsen. "National Defense,” by Julia E. Johnsen, is also in preparation. 5 3#6 THE WILSON BULLETIN Published by The H. W. WILSON COMPANY Volume 3 SEPTEMBER, 1927 Number 6 Publications of The H. W. Wilson Company are handled abroad by BISDICALS DE PARERENT The Building Owned and Occupied by The Wilson Company. Two plots of ground on the right have been purchased on which it is hoped to erect a modern office building as an addition to the plant W. & R. HOLMES, 3-11 Dunlop St., Glasgow C. 1; distributors in Great Britain of Handbooks and Business Books. GRAFTON & CO., 51 Great Russell St., London, W. C.; agents in Great Britain for the librarian's professional books. G. HEDELER, Buchhandlung, Gutenbergstrasse 3, Leipzig; agents for Germany for all the publications Wilson Company Notes-Continued (Cont. from page 113) Fifth Prize : $10. Miss Ivae Walker, Senior The judges were Miss Carolyn F. Ulrich of the Periodical Division of the New York Public Library; Miss Agnes Cowing, Librarian of the James Monroe High School, New York City; and Miss Alice Dougan, editor of the Readers' Guide who received cooperation from several others in the offices of the Company. It is proposed to print some of the sixtynine essays received, in full, and selections from others, in a special number of The Bulletin which will then be sent to present and prospective subscribers to the Readers' Guide. OUR PERIODICALS DEPARTMENT has some early volumes of the Library Journal and Library Notes to offer f.o.b New York City. The following are available: Library Journal Lot A: Vols. 1-5, $45 (3 sets only) Lot B: Vols. 1-5 lacking Vol. 2. No. I. $40 (12 sets) Vol. 2. No. 1, $35 (7 sets) and Vol. 2. No. 1, $30 (6 sets) Duplicates of Vols. 3, 4 and 5 complete, $5 each Library Notes (8 sets) The new (twelfth) edition of the “Decimal Classification and Relativ Index” by Melvil Dewey is now being delivered. It has been considerably revised and enlarged, and can be had, two volumes in one, for $11. A circular has been issued describing the amount of revision made, in detail, and will be sent to anyone interested on request. The Wilson Company still has a supply of the “Don't Be a Goop” posters, designed to teach children the care of books. Handcolored. Size 12+2 x 18 inches for bulletin board or framing, cach mailed in tube, 25C. Contents Page Wright. The Evolution of the Periodical.. 107 111 112 Teaching the Use of Books and Libraries. 112 Wilson Company Notes 113 114 .116-117 The Issued Monthly, except July and August Vol. 3 September, 1927 No. 6 The Evolution of the Periodical' By C. Hagberg Wright of the London Library The beginning of the periodical dates back few years after it was followed by the Unito the seventeenth century, when catalogues versal Historical Bibliothèque (1686), which of books (1646) were first issued. The bare announced its intention of printing reviews titles of books, however, did not seem suffi- of the most important books and the "qualciently attractive, catalogues being in the ity of the author if known.” This seems to opinion of many, “dry things scarce able to be the first attempt at periodical criticism, and raise in men that gust and appetite to learn- the first time that it is recorded that an ediing.” Short notices were added by the book- tor asked for contributions from the learned. seller or by his hack. The amalgamation of The innovation was welcome. Periodicals the titles and the commentaries brought the began at once to increase. An interesting “notices” into greater prominence until they attempt, on account of its novelty and origbecame the leading features. A further inality, was the Athenian Gazette (1690), the strong impetus was given to this new de forerunner of Notes and Queries and Answers parture by the Journal des Scavans which be in which undertaking Samuel Wesley was a gan to be printed in France in 1665, and by partner with John Dunton, the editor. It inour own Acta Philosophica (1665) from both vited its readers to ask questions, and rashly of which editors drew material. A little later promised to answer them. A staff of four, they also made abstracts from the Acta including the editor, all men of considerable Eruditorum, issued in Germany in 1682. The ability and wide knowledge, resolved to deal French Journal was entirely devoted to give with whatever queries were handed or sent ing its readers summaries of books. The in. The task, however, soon proved beyond work was so well done that it won the their power. They had not realised the depths especial praise of Gibbon. “I can hardly ex- of curiosity in their fellow-men. Cunning press” he wrote, “how delighted I am with and obscure questions came pouring in and this Journal; its characteristics are erudition, overwhelmed both the editor and his assistprecision and taste.” Its publication has con- ants. Often at their wits' end how to reply, tinued up to the present time, with only one their answers became vague and unsatisfacshort break at the end of the eighteenth cen- tory. When a riddle was too difficult to solve tury. The Philosophical Transactions of the they took refuge by referring readers to some Royal Society (1665) followed in imitation passage in the Bible. Defoe appears as one of, and with a similar scope to, the French of the contributors to this magazine when Journal. The aim was stated to be “to give it was issued under the name of the Athenian some account of the present undertakings, Mercury. In 1692 Dunton issued supplements studies and labours of the Ingenious in many in which natural history and natural pheconsiderable parts of the world." These two journals were, in reality, the parents of the were dealt with, thus still further periodical. In the Weekly Memorials for the widening the scope of the periodical. The Ingenious (1682) a further development may Compleat Library (1691-2, also printed for be registered, when an original contribution John Dunton) came next in order of time made its appearance for the first time. A and importance with a definite plan allotting a nomena * Reprinted from The Nineteenth Century, March, 1927. (London: Constable and Company, Ltd.) a given space to original contributors and to the review of books. This magazine contained the elements of criticism as understood today. Side by side with these attempts at giving the public serious reading were also many periodicals which have been termed "periodicals of amusement." Though vulgar and obscene, they reflect the manners of the day. Many were short-lived. A new phase in the history of periodical literature is heralded in when the eighteenth century begins. The chief representatives are the Tatler (1709), which established the essay periodical as a type, the Spectator (1711), the Guardian (1712), and the Examiner (1710). Politics now became blended with literature. All the great writers then were politicians. Swift and Bolingbroke wrote diatribes for the Examiner and filled its pages with personal attacks against the leading men and women of the day; Addison and Steele used their pens in the Spectator and Guardian to defend Whig principles. The former attained such popularity for its outspoken articles that its sale rose to 4000. These journals were the only medium then existing of telling men what was happening in politics, and the only guide available for those who desired a lead. Addison and Steele owed their position as public men to the brilliant essays they wrote. The pen was their only weapon, for neither was an orator. The success they achieved, however, was checked by the Stamp Act, passed to curb the licence of the press and to restrain frank criticism. Owing to its restriction, several periodicals were compelled to cease printing. They had gone a step further than their predecessors in giving current news, social and legal, and in criticising books on literature, history and travel. Perhaps the two most interesting of the century are the North Briton and Gentleman's Magazine (1731). The former was (1762) edited by John Wilkes. For the unheard-of au dacity of describing a statement in the King's Speech as untrue a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was sent to the Tower and expelled from Parliament; his paper was condemned to be burnt by the common hangman, and the printer was pilloried. Great excitement followed. The people gathered round the pillory and subscribed money to aid the Martyr for the liberty of the press, while Junius, among many others, wrote his virulent letters against the violation of constitutional law. They are a good example of the political articles of the day, which not only kept the public alive by their venom, but also pleased the reader like a violent bout of fisticuffs. This note of irony and pungent satire, so common in bygone days, is now almost non-existent, and the world is duller for its absence. The latter, the Gentleman's Magazine, though not then the leading monthly, is better known to us than any other of the older periodicals. It contained summaries of events at home and abroad, scraps of art and antiquity, and short and accurate obituary notices now so often consulted by the genealogist. The short articles on country houses and on topography contain details of importance to which the historian and antiquarian of today constantly refer, while the reviews of current literature and travel are indispensable. If the Gentleman's Magasine has no other merit, it yet deserves our gratitude for restoring, in 1796, Herrick again to English literature after he had lain forgotten for one hundred and fifty years, and for stimulating Dr. Nott, of Bristol, to issue an edition of his poems in 1810. The careful indexes prepared in recent years have doubled its value and saved the searcher untold labour. The modern periodical burst upon the world with a singular glory at the very beginning of the nineteenth century. The three outstanding monthlies were the Edinburgh (1802), the Quarterly (1809) and Blackwood (1817) all of them now grown old, yet full of vigour and ever rejuvenated by a succession of life-giving editors. They were fortunate in the men who controlled their destinies; many of their names now written large in the history of English literature had enterprise, boldness, and originality. They gave the periodical its present form and standing and gathered together a circle of brilliant contributors. Though in some respects a change, 110t always welcome, has taken place in the character and scope of the magazine, it still continued to shed its lustre around and to be read by a large number of the reading public. The story of the founding of the Edinburgh is recorded in full in Cockburn's "Life of Lord Jeffry," 1852. A group of young men, among whom were Sydney Smith, Henry Brougham, and Francis Jeffrey, resolved, after some consultation together, to start a new magazine to be called the Edinburgh Review. The credit of mooting the idea is generally accorded to Sydney Smith. The aim of the |