History of the Starting of John F. Sprague's Journal of Maine History A FRANK TALK BY THE PUBLISHER Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. 8 November 1920 No. 3 page 133-135 To the Patrons of the Journal: A FRANK TALK BY THE PUBLISHER. For many years prior to 1913 the writer had been pos- sessed with a strong desire or an inspiration, whatever that word may really mean-to furnish Maine people with a publication of modest ambition devoted entirely to topics relating to the history of Maine, and especially to inter- esting side-lights on it colonial period. During the win- ter of that year I was at Augusta some of the time, and talked about it with certain friends whom I knew to be interested in such matters, and the result was that upon returning to my home, I arranged with a printer to pro- duce what was the first number of Vol. I of the Journal. Taking a sample copy of this with me, I returned to Augusta and called the attention of members of the Legis- lature and other public men of the state whom I met there to it. They approved of the project to such an extent that I secured two hundred or more subscribers. Immediately this frail literary bark, laden with fragmentary bits, facts and scraps, many of them on the border of oblivion, yet all pertaining to ancient and venerable things in Maine, was set adrift upon the uncertain sea of Maine Journalism. These first subscribers would make a roster of many of Maine's brightest and most distinguished men. The fact that, with the exception of those who have dropped from the list through death and changed conditions, nearly all of them yet honor the Journal's mailing list with their names is indeed gratifying. I never had any delusions about this rather slenderly equipped enterprise. I fully realized that so far as remuneration was concerned it must necessarily ever be largely a labor of love. Yet under adverse circumstances it has kept on a safe track until the enormous rise in print paper during the first part of the present year. Now, in its eighth volume, this publication has arrived at the part- ing of the ways, and must choose one of three courses to pursue. These are: To maintain it at a considerable financial loss, to discontinue it, or to raise its price. The first I am not financially able to do. The second grieves me to contemplate. While in the end it may involve some personal loss, I feel that it is a duty to myself and to the loyal friends of the Journal to undertake, for one volume at least, the third way out of the dilemma. If this be so, it only remains to fix the price. I have careful estimates of several printers and an exact account of the expenses and receipts of the previous volumes. I have studied it all with care, and my conclusion is that to con- tinue it with the same quality of paper as is now used, the number to average 50-60 pages of text, the price must be two dollars per volume in order to avoid such a slump as would put it entirely out of existence. It is very desirable to change the issuance of these quar- terly numbers so that the first part of each volume will begin with January-February-March of each year instead of May-June-July as has formerly been the practice. To readjust this the fourth and last number of the current volume will be issued in December. Volume IX will begin with the January-February-March number at two dollars per year. Now, friends, the future life of the Journal is up to you. It is only with your hearty cooperation that its existence can be made safe. In this connection we quote from a letter just received from General Henry L. Mitchell of Bangor, a lawyer and for many years a leader in the social and industrial life of that city: " I read your card on 'reinforcement' in your last issue of the SPRAGUE JOURNAL, and have asked several of my friends to subscribe for same. " I hope to get you several new members, shall do my best to do so, not for the fee you offer but to help you in your good work. I read the Journal with much interest and want it to go on. I hope others will take an interest and help you get new subscribers." This letter in its expression of appreciation for the work that the Journal is doing for Maine is typical. Many of a similar tone have been received, some of which have appeared on our pages under the title of "Sayings of Subscribers." Recently there are indications that some of the public schools of Maine desire to use the Journal as a work of reference. Dr. Thomas, the State Superintendent, and other leading educators are urging this. Hence the Jour- nal will make every effort to co-operate with them in this regard. Commencing with the first number of the next volume (IX) several pages will be devoted to a depart- ment along these lines if superintendents and teachers will aid in furnishing suggestions, data, etc., appropriate for it. ******** (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. 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