Shapings $2.00 PRESERVATION MASTER District of Massachusetts.....to wit: District Clerk's Office. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the eighteenth day of January, A. D. 1828, in the fifty third year of the independence of the United States of America, PUTNAM & HUNT of the said district, have deposited in this Office the title of a Book the right whereof they claim as proprietors in the words following, to wit: "The LADIES' MAGAZINE, conducted by Mrs. Sarah J. Hale." In Conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned:" and also to an Act entitled "An Act supplementary to An Act, entitled, An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints." JOHN W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. LADIES' MAGAZINE. VOL. I. JANUARY. No. I. INTRODUCTION. To prove the advantages of a general diffusion of literature, among all classes and both sexes, happily for me, no arguments are necessary. Throughout our country the truth of the proposition is felt, its utility acknowledged; and the result of the experiment of universal instruction is considered as involving within its practicability and influence the perfection of our social happiness, and the perpetuity of our dearest privileges. It is this public enthusiasm in the cause of education which encourages the numerous aspirants for fame, or profit, to send forth their periodicals in every form that fancy can devise to attract, and under every name ingenuity can discover to allure. These publications, depending, as they necessarily must, on the patronage of individuals for support, cannot always succeed, even when meriting success; they doubtless sometimes fail in consequence of the indolence or inability of those who conduct them. But if the motives, which prompted the undertaking, be pure and praise-worthy, a failure should not be considered as disgraceful. In this age of innovation, perhaps no experiment will have an influence more important on the character and happiness of our society, than the granting to feinales the advantages of a systematic and thorough education. The honor of this triumph, in favor of intellect over lone established prejudices, belongs to the men of America. They appear willing to risk the hazard of proving, experimentally, whether that degree of literature, which only can qualify woman to become a rational companion, an instructive as well as agreeable friend, be compatible with the cheerful discharge of her domestic duties, and that delicacy of feeling, and love of retirement, which nature so obviously imposes on the sex. To make the plan as completely successful as its most sanguine advocates can desire, it is only necessary that the ladies should be fully sensible of the importance of the privileges now accorded them; not that they may usurp the station, or encroach on the prerogative of the man; but that each individual may lend her aid to perfect the moral and intellectual character of those within her sphere. It is that mothers may be competent to the task of instructing their children, training them from infancy to the contemplation and love of all that is great and good, and the practice of piety and virtue. Then the sons of the republic will become polished pillars in the temple of our national glory, and the daughters bright gems to adorn it. Every effort, therefore, to accelerate the progress of mental improvement, is certainly deserving of attention from a people who acknowledge no honorary distinctions, save those acquired by superior personal merit, or talent, or virtue. And while offering the Ladies' Magazine to public notice, and soliciting patronage, the editor flatters herself she shall, at least, receive the good wishes of the community in her behalf. This Magazine, although ostensibly designed for the lalies, is not intended to be exclusively devoted to female literature. The gentlemen are respectfully invited to examine its contents. If they find nothing which promises advantage to their own minds, yet they will not surely withhold their support, if convinced of the utility of the plan, and that it is calculated to please and instruct those nearest and dearest to them. Will not the husband, while compelled by the duties of his vocation to leave the partner of his fortunes in a solitary home, rejoice that he has it in his power to afford her the means of agreeably beguiling the interval of his absence? He may rest assured, that nothing found on the pages of this publication, shall cause her to be less assiduoùs in preparing for his reception, or less sincere in welcoming his return. The father, wishing to bestow on his children a memento of his affection, which shall be a source of improvement to Introduction. 3 the objects of his fond solicitude-will not he give his name as a patron of this work? where nothing shall be found to weaken parental authority, or foster that fervor of the imagination, which, when undisciplined by reading and reflection, often hurries youth, of either sex, into those follies and extravagancies that disturb family concord, and destroy domestic felicity. The brother, about to "set out on his stormy career," will not he gladly embrace the opportunity to offer the Magazine to those dear and tender relatives, whose hearts are anxious for his prosperity? He may, though far separated from the household band, feel confident, that the ties of kindred affection will be sacredly cherished, by the examples exhibited in this work. The lover, aye, the favored lover-on him we confidently depend for support. He will no longer, when bidding adieu to the "lady of his love," request her to gaze on that inconstant thing, the moon, so often obscured by clouds, and then remember her vows. scription for the Ladies' Magazine; and the sweet smile with He will present her his subwhich the gift is received, will recur, like a dream of light, to his memory, while reflecting that the soft eyes of his charmer are, for his sake, often employed on its pure pages, while her fancy, and taste, and mind, are improving by its scenes, characters, and sentiments. The Editor does not ask this patronage, nor offer these pledges, depending on her own resources to merit the one, or redeem the other. But she is confident, those friends, who have so generously interested themselves in her favor, will continue their assistance; and their names, were she at liberty to reveal them, would at once satisfy the public, that the work will be deserving the rank it has assumed; that of a miscellany, which, although devoted to general literature, is more expressly designed to mark the progress of female improvement, and cherish the effusions of female intellect. The present number will better exhibit the plan intended to be followed in the choice and arrangement of the matter, than a labored paragraph on the subject. However, it may not be amiss to observe, that the work will be national-be | American; and well written communications, whether poems, letters, sketches, tales, or essays, descriptive of American scenery, character, and manners, will be most welcome to its pages. 4 The Fatal Promise. [Jan. Perhaps it may be thought quite unnecessary to add, that competition, even were it possible, with any established literary journal, is neither wished nor intended. The conductors of those publications which have already acquired a repu tation, and are enjoying the reward of their labors, will not surely, frown on this attempt because it is unprecedented, or endeavor to perplex the task of one already trembling for the issue of an enterprise in which she has reluctantly engaged. She would now hardly dare proceed, did not hope sometimes whisper "Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, THE FATAL PROMISE. "Yes, we must part-'tis heaven's decree- Nay, plead not, love, it must be so; My mother, should I wed thee, She doom'd me to a life of wo! And 'tis for that I've fled thee- Her cold cheek's clayey whiteness; And then the dying smile that wreathed For she was ripe for heaven. |