Youth's Instructor by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 27, 1855

Youth's Instructor.

By James White

WHEN we commenced the publication of the YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR, we expected to obtain at least 1000 paying subscribers. With this number of subscribers, the INSTRUCTOR can be published monthly for 25 cts. a year, if all would pay.

But we have now only between seven and eight hundred subscribers, and not more than three-fourths of them pay anything. This, however, is made up in part by a few who pay more than their subscription.

The receipts for Vol. I, were $155,30, which was less than $13 for each No., which paid only for printing at a low rate, leaving nothing for editing &c. But the sales of extra copies of that Volume about made up this lack.

The receipts for Vol. II, were $167. The cost for type-setting, press-work, paper, mailing, and small wages for time in editing, amount to $20 a No., or $240 for 12 Nos. This left $73 behind on Vol. II. Of this sum, $13,87 has been donated and receipted in Vol. III, to pay arrears on Vol. II. Deducting this sum, and what has been received for a few copies of Vol. II bound, it leaves $50 behind on Vol. II.

The receipts for Vol. III amount to $158,76. If we should complete this Vol. with two more Nos., the cost of the Vol. would exceed receipts, $81,24. Then the arrears on Vols. II and III, would amount to $131,24. Now add to this $50, which we pay for writing fifty-two Sabbath-School Lessons, and the sum of actual cost on three Vols. of INSTRUCTOR exceeds receipts $181,24.

Our circumstances are such, that we should not lose one dollar of the above. We therefore propose,

1. That those who have not paid for past Vols. of the INSTRUCTOR, do so without delay.

2. That those who wish to share this loss with us, send their donations to the INSTRUCTOR.

3. That those who can make good use of them, order the remaining bound copies of the three Vols.

4. That with the forbearance of our subscribers, we commence the New Year with Vol. IV, leaving Vol. III, two Nos. short.

5. That the future terms of the INSTRUCTOR, be— Ten copies to one address, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00. Six " " " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.00. Single copy, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.50.

Our only motive in trying to continue the INSTRUCTOR, is, Youth and Children need such a paper. Parents and guardians, Shall the paper stop? or shall it continue to visit your children, and be supported?

Please respond to the above propositions. If you do not the INSTRUCTOR must go down. But we shall commence another Volume with the expectation of success, and go as far as we have means. J. W.