On the same afternoon in which I saw these notices in the Owl , the Toad , and the Mole I happened to meet with a copy of the Daddy-Long-Legs , a periodical proverbial for the extreme extent of its understanding. And it was the Daddy-Long-Legs which spoke thus:
“The Lollipop !! This gorgeous magazine is already before the public for October. The question of preeminence is forever put to rest, and hereafter it will be excessively preposterous in the Hum-Drum , the Rowdy-Dow , or the Goosetherumfoodle , to make any farther spasmodic attempts at competition. These journals may excel the Lollipop in outcry, but, in all other points, give us the Lollipop ! How this celebrated magazine can sustain its evidently tremendous expenses, is past comprehension. To be sure it has a circulation of precisely half a million, and its subscription-list has increased seventy-five percent, within the last couple of days; but then the sums it disburses, monthly, for contributions, are scarcely credible; we are cognizant of the fact, that Mademoiselle Cribalittle received no less than eighty-seven cents and a half for her late valuable Revolutionary tale, entitled ‘The York-Town Katy-Did, and the Bunker-Hill Katy-Didn’t.’ “The most able papers in the present number, are, of course, those furnished by the editor (the eminent Mr. Crab ), but there are numerous magnificent contributions from such names as Snob , Mademoiselle Cribalittle, Slyass, Mrs. Fibalittle, Mumblethumb, Mrs. Squibalittle, and last, though not least, Fatquack. The world may well be challenged to produce so rich a galaxy of genius.