McClellan, George Brinton (1826-1885) [Letter to Perry Mason & Co.]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03853 Author/Creator: McClellan, George Brinton (1826-1885) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 December 1882 Pagination: 3 p. ; 17.6 x 11.1 cm. Order a Copy
Discussing possible articles McClellan might write for "The Youth's Companion." McClellan has been asked to write military articles for the magazine, and discusses the style and content of the articles, which he wishes to write about famous historical generals. "The Youth's Companion" was a magazine, intended for the whole family, containing articles on a wide variety of subjects. The magazine was published by Perry Mason & Co., but the name Perry Mason was a fictional one created by the publishers. Daniel Sharp Ford was the real publisher of the magazine. Four holes punched on the top of the letter.
I do not think I could undertake such a series as you suggest if they are to be simply made up of anecdotes; but if it would meet your views that the reminisceses should be [] of the characters, [], & [] of their subjects - [] characteristic anecdotes as will [] illuminate the men in question - written in a plain & easy style - and containing a certain amount of [really] useful information, which shall at least give young readers a sufficient interest in the subject to induce them to pursue the subject in their own way - then I would gladly undertake the task as a useful one.
Unless you wished to go back to ancient days (which I do not suppose to be the case) & take for instance Hannibal, Alexander, [] and Caesar - I should select from such generals as []
But if my ideaof the manner of treating the subject by [] your own, I should have no difficulty in selecting subjects...
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