This is the November 21, 1868 issue of HARPER’S WEEKLY newspaper.  Harper’s was one of the most successful newspapers of the time.  Other publishers in the late 1800’s included Frank Leslie, in New York, and Gleason’s and Ballou’s Pictorial, and Every Saturday in Boston.  All of these publications were highly illustrated with wood engravings.  This issue is in very good condition, except for a few minor age spots.  The issue is very readable and these do not affect the engravings.  This issue gives good insight into life in the 1800’s, with articles on politics, literature, and art.  Additional pictures are available upon request.  Please include your e-mail address.

ARTICLES:

PETROLEUM V. NASBY – Nasby was the ex-postmaster of Philadelphia, who wrote a historical work entitled “Swingin round the Cirkle”.  The celebrated volume describes his journey through the 1860’s.  An engraved character sketch of Mr. Nasby is presented.

THE SUBMERSION OF ARICA, PERU – The terrible earthquake, which visited the western seaboard of South America, has destroyed eight cities.  The port town, Arica was completely destroyed, and has ceased to exist.  Further description and an engraving of the devastation is presented with the article.

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE – The triumphant election of General Grant is not only the ratification, but it is a final interpretation of the Civil War.  From the moment that General Lee surrendered to General Grant in the field there has been a loud debate as to the real significance of the war, and what was actually settled by it.

MR. JOHN T. HOFFMAN – The elected Governor of New York has been accused of voter fraud.  The accusation is that, fraudulent naturalization papers were used by individuals to vote several times.

OUR CROPS, AND THE FOREIGN DEMAND FOR THEM – At a time when the foreign demand for the crops grown in the U.S. is high some buyers have started to gamble upon the price of grain, thus making the market very unstable.

THE DEMOCRACY OF GENERAL GRANT – General Grant is a Democrat, and the Democratic Party is, and has been for a generation, the instrument of an aristocracy.  But the Democratic Party has upheld the policies of the slave-masters and their interest.

THE FACTS OF THE FRAUDS – Fraudulent voting is a matter of the highest public concern irrespective of party, and it may fairly be assumed that when a great successful party is indifferent to such an investigation, or is hostile to it, it is because of a consciousness that it will appear to owe its success to the frauds themselves.  Therefore the Union League Club has appointed a committee to investigate the frauds.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION – If the New York City election was as serene as the chairman of the Democratic State Committee, whose astute management nominated Mr. Seymour, it was very much due to the public knowledge that the Governor of the State was in the City, and that he had made ample preparations to suppress the disorder which the Mayor’s proclamations tended to incite.

MR. REVERDY JOHNSON – The U.S. Minister to England is very unpopular, and rumors are beginning to be spread that he will be recalled from England.

MURDER OF THE REV. B.F. RANDOLPH – One of the most satisfactory results of General Grant’s accession to the Presidency will be peace in the south, involving protection to life as well as property, and a toleration by each political party of the opinions of others.  Rev. Randolph, Senator of South Carolina, and a Methodist Minister, was assassinated on the 17^th of October, for his political opinions. An engraved portrait of Rev. Randolph is presented.

THE NEW BUILDING OF THE Y. M. C. ASSOCIATION – A large crowd attended the laying of the corner stone of the Young Men’s Christian Association on Fourth Ave., corner of Twenty-third Street, New York City, on the afternoon of October 31.  An engraving of the proceedings is presented.

GRIGNON – A fictional story

WILD HORSES IN TEXAS – Over to the eastward of the Sakatcho Mountains is an uninhabited tract of country, about eighty miles long by forty miles wide, that abounds with wild mustangs.  An engraving depicting these mustangs is presented from a sketch drawn by A.R. Waud.

HARLEM LANE, SUNDAY AFTERNOON – On every fine Sabbath afternoon all the best roads leading out of New York City are thronged with vehicles bound for the pleasant regions that skirt the metropolis.  A full-page engraving from a sketch drawn by Stanley Fox is presented. (See picture)

SKETCHES IN THE ADIRONDACK REGION – Six engravings drawn by Theodore Davis accompany this article: “The Corduroy”; “Balanced Boulder”; “The Deserted Village of Adirondack”; “The Indian Pass From Lake Henderson” (See picture); “Fly Fishing”; and “The Shanty”.

IN SEVILLE – A story

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER GRANT – A full-page satirical engraving drawn by Thomas Nast. (See picture)

THREE WEDDINGS IN A DAY – A fictional story

A DAY IN ANCIENT ROME – An account of the correspondents travels.

UNLOOKED FOR – A fictional story

INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS – A poem

THE SPANISH REVOLUTION – The late Spanish revolution promises to accomplish for Spain what the revolution of 1688 accomplished for England.  It bears scarcely any resemblance to the French revolutions of 1830 and 1848. A scenic engraving depicting the Royal Palace, Madrid in the background is presented.

ULYSSES THE GIANT-KILLER – A satirical engraving drawn by Thomas Nast is presented on the last page with the caption: Columbia, “Throw them on the same heap!” (See picture) 

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