THE LITERARY INTERESTS OF CHICAGO 791
last preceding ephemeral periodicals of merit published in Chicago.
While the Graphic was a general newspaper, containing editorial reviews of independent Republican leaning, literary ma- terial of interest because of its form made up a considerable share of its contents. There was serial and briefer fiction, also some poetry, in every week's issue. Mary Hartwell Cather- wood, whose romances have received general recognition, con- tributed a continued story of Canadian life entitled "The Children of Ha Ha Bay." The first ambitious work of Vance Thompson whose character sketches have made his name well known to magazine readers, was done for the Graphic. Florence Wilkin- son, who writes verses for the leading magazines, had her first experience in writing for a periodical while serving as one of its editors. Thus, like other short-lived literary journals in Chi- cago, the Graphic was a training-ground for some of those enter- ing the literary lists.
This bringing-out of local talent was even more marked in reference to illustrators. The illustrations of the Graphic were not confined, like those of the avowedly World's Fair journals, to reproductions of photographs. Every piece of fiction was en- livened with original illustrations. Decorative borders illumi- nated the pages. T. Dart Walker and Henry Reuterdahl, illus- trators now in New York, did some of their initial magazine work for the Graphic. Will Bradley, an artist also now of New York, did borders and headpieces for it. Others who later went from Chicago to "Gotham" were discovered by this Chicago illustrated periodical.
For the reproductions of photographs which were a stable feature of the Graphic, at first zinc etchings, showing only lines, were used. But in 1893 the new half-tones, capable of making shadings show in printer's ink by means of etching the dotted surfaces of copper plates were adopted. They were especially good for picturing the white buildings and dark crowds of the fair. But the process was then expensive. Mr. Engelhard had to pay 40 cents a square inch for half-tones a high price compared with the i2 l / 2 cents charged today.
