a business with little risks and large profits, and with these profits he embarked upon all sorts of literary ventures, founding newspapers, starting magazines and publishing books in every department of literature. All this brought him into contact with the artists and men of letters of his time, and all agreed with Goldsmith in calling him “the honestest man in creation.” In the midst of all his enterprises and in the zenith of his fame and prosperity, he was overtaken by death in 1767,—in spite of his numerous medicines, which were puffed as cures for all the ills to which flesh is heir.
During the most active years of his active life, Newbery published over two hundred books for children. Not only in mechanical execution were they far superior to anything else that had been offered to this constituency, but in a great many of them there was a distinct originality of style. They were written in an engaging and humorous spirit, and Washington Irving and many others agree that, if there is anything in similarity of style, these elements are due to the informing genius of Goldsmith. We must content ourselves with quoting a few of these, selecting some of them which were made as familiar to New England folk as they were in the country of their origin.
One of the earliest was announced thus in 1744: “According to Act of Parliament (neatly bound and gilt) a little pretty pocket book intended for the instruction and amusement of little Master Tommy and pretty Miss Polly with an agreeable letter from Jack the Giant Killer, the use of which will infallibly make Tommy a good boy and Polly a good girl. Price of this book alone Six Pence or with a Ball and Pincushion Eight Pence. To the whole is prefixed a letter on Education addressed to all parents, guardians and governesses, etc.: wherein rules are laid down for making their children strong, healthy, virtuous, wise and happy.” This advertisement was put forth before Newbery became intimately associated with Goldsmith. About this time he began the publication of “The Circle of the Sciences”; and later on he started “The Lilliputian Magazine,” of which Goldsmith is said to have been both editor and chief contributor.
Here is an announcement made in 1755: “This day was published Nurse Truelove’s new year’s Gift, the book of books for children, adorned with cuts and designed as a present for every little boy who would become a great man and ride upon a fine horse: and for every little girl who would become a great woman and ride in a lord-mayor’s gilt coach. Printed for the author, who has ordered these books to be given gratis to all little boys and girls at the Bible & Sun in St. Paul’s Churchyard, they paying for the binding, which is only two pence each.” Another advertisement runs thus: “The Philosophers, Politicians, Necromancers and the learned in every faculty are desired to observe that on the first of January, being New Year’s day (oh that we may all lead good lives!), Mr. Newbery intends to publish the following important volumes bound and gilt, and hereby invites all his little friends who are good to call for them at the Bible and Sun in St. Paul’s Churchyard; hut those who are naughty to have none.” Here is another: “Mr. Newbery intends to publish the following important volumes bound and gilt, and hereby invites all his little friends who are good or intend to be good to call for them at the Bible & Sun in St. Paul’s Churchyard, but those who are naughty to have none: 1. The Renowned history of Giles Gingerbread, a little boy who lived upon learning. 2. The Easter Gift or the way to be good: a book much wanted. 3. The Whitsuntide Gift: or the way to be happy: a book very necessary in all families. 4. The Valentine Gift: or how to behave with honor, integrity and humanity: very useful with a Trading Nation.
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