Text: Anonymous, “[Review of Graham's Magazine for May 1841],” Democratic Press (York, PA), vol. III, no. 46, whole no. 150, May 15, 1841, p. 2, col. 3

[page 2, column 3, continued:]

Graham's Magazine.

We have received the May number of this excellent and beautiful periodical. It is an engaging number — ethereal prose and sparkling poetry, presented to me in a casket, whose outward beauty if worthy of its contents. We know of nothing that would more completely grace the choice selection of a lady's book table.

“The Mother's Pride,” a poem by Mrs. C. H. W. Esling, is the subject of the Mezzotinto engraving, which adorns the number — and both are beautiful. Among the other embellishments, are a Fashion plate, representing the Ladies of Queen Victoria's Court, and two pages of Music. The contributions are from the pens of the most gifted writers in the country, and where all are excellent, it is difficult to select the best. We have been struck, however, with a sweet little poem, to the “Blue-eyed Lassie,” by the late J. G. Brooks — one of the most delicate little gems that genius ever offered upon the shrine of the Muse. We have inserted it in another column. Among the prose articles, “A Descent into the Maelstrom,” by Edgar A. Poe, we admire much. It is different from the hackneyed materials, on which writers for periodicals fritter away their talents — and is a thrilling specimen of the wild imaginery [[imagery]] peculiar to the German school.

The Reviewing or “Critical” department, conducted by the same writer, is characterized with a degree of judgement and ability, equalled only by one or two of the old standard periodicals of the country. The “Old Curiosity Shop,” by Charles Dickens, is reviewed at some length — and the criticisms are the results of a chaste and liberal taste — enthusiastic in praise of its beauties and lenient to its faults.