From a 1903 issue of Appleton’s Magazine:
The Men behind the Magazines
Personality counts in editing more than in any other branch of publishing, and more in these days than it used to in the old days when there was little or no competition in the magazine world. For years Harpers was our only illustrated magazine. As it had the field to itself it took things easily and waxed fat and prosperous. Then Scribners, now The Century, came along. Harpers stood in dumb amaze at its temerity and then it began to “hustle.” It was Scribners that first realized the value of general advertising. It was the late Roswell Smith, one of the founders and business manager of the original Scribners, who turned the tide of advertising toward the monthly magazines. Until that time Harpers had never allowed any advertisements except those of Messrs. Harper’s books to appear in its pages.
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