1750,+The+Ladies+Magazine

**The Ladies magazine: or, The universal entertainer** [[image:http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KaaJV0TmL._SL500_AA300_.jpg align="right"]]
The Ladies magazine: or, The universal entertainer was a bi-weekly British periodical. It was published from November 18, 1749 through November 10, 1753 and had four volumes. The periodical was published in London and edited by Jasper Goodwill. In the January 13, 1750 edition of the magazine is a “To the Publick” article written by Jasper Goodwill himself, in which the price of the magazine, their topics, their intended audience, and other aims are discussed. //The Ladies Magazine// covers an array of topics including, “the Circle of Wit, Gallantry, Love, History, Trade, Science, and News” (49). Their audience was not just limited to the youth in preparing them for the real world, but also for a broader audience, “that they will be so generous as to recommend it to their Neighbours, Friends, and Acquaintances” (49). The periodical really engages with the public by encouraging their readers to be involved with sharing and advertising the magazine, in addition to providing feedback. The Ladies magazine seems to appeal to the common folk by making it, “the cheapest Thing of the Kind” (49). The final aim of the Ladies Magazine is to reach the World audience, “I am obliged to request this last Favour of my good and candid Customers, in order to get it made public in the World” (49); A task, which I feel is commendable in itself.

**The Ladies magazine and the History of England**
The history of England is a theme constant throughout all six months of //The Ladies Magazine//. There are two articles in particular; entitled //Continuation of the History of England, By Question and Answer//, and //EDWARD the Elder, Seventh King of England// from the January 13, 1750 issue that caught my attention. These articles provide the reader with an in-depth view of the history of the British monarchy. The articles take on the form of an interview, with the interviewer asking the question and the interviewee answering it. In the article they are speaking of a war in which the Danes overtook a town in England, and King Alfred was able to force the Danes, “either to leave his Dominion, or to be baptized. (66) The interview is filled with historical information. The person being interviewed also seems to know a significant amount of information about British history. This specific portion of the article was centered on King Alfred of England. The article even lists some of his achievements as the following: he enacted “good Laws for the Security of his Subjects, and in encouraging Arts and Sciences…he founded the University of Oxford” (66). Finally, he rebuilt London, which had been destroyed by past wars. (66) After the discussion of King Alfred, is the discussion of his son, Edward the Elder, the 7th king of England. Edward loved to learn and had valour, piety, zeal, admired justice, and loved his subjects. (66) His achievements during his reign were that: he asked for peace from the King of Scotland, made the Welsh pledge allegiance to England again, after they had revolted. He engaged in a war with Danes-Kingdom of Mercia. He also united the Kingdom of Northumberland and the East-Angles, found the University of Cambridge, and made sure his children were well educated. (66) Following the discussion of King Alfred and Edward the Elder are their successors, Athelstan, Edmund the Pious, and King Edred, the 10th King of England.

**Theater Season: Shakespearean Dominance**
There is truly only one word to describe the theater season of 1750: Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s plays dominated the theater scene and stands out amongst the other plays in the entry for the 1750 theater season in //The London Stage//. In January 1750, nine of Shakespeare’s plays were performed, and oftentimes more than once. These included//, The Tempest, Richard III, Hamlet, Henry IV, Henry V, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, and Macbeth//. In February 1750 seven of Shakespeare’s plays were performed and in March 1750 //Romeo and Juliet// was quite popular on the account that it was performed five times in one week. In every month except May, you were sure to find a Shakespearean play; and for some reason the month of June was not included in this entry.

Three prominent actors/actresses during this time were David Garrick, Catherine Raftor also known as Mrs. George Clive, and Mrs. Margaret “Peg” Woffington. David Garrick was a well-known, “English actor, manager, and dramatist” (1). He became famous from his 1742 portrayal as Richard III. (1) Garrick played heroic characters in his plays, “He was noted for his versatility, [and] playing tragic heroes of contemporary drama as well as Shakespearean roles” (1). He also managed the Drury Lane Theater from 1747-1776 and also wrote plays, two of which included, //Bon// //Ton// and //Miss in Her Teens//. (1) Catherine Raftor, or Mrs. George Clive, was an, “English singer and actress” (1). She worked with the likes of Colley Cibber and David Garrick and was very successful, “in light comedy and farce” (1). She was described as charming, witty, vivacious, and all with a “fine singing voice” (1). Mrs. Margaret “Peg” Woffington was also an “English actress,” and acted in her first play at the young age of ten. (1) Her breakout role was as the character, Ophelia, in 1737. (1) She was especially close to David Garrick and was, “his leading lady in London and Dublin from 1742-1748” (1). She eventually retired in 1757 because of bad health. (1)

**Poem: To Belinda, On her Apron embroider'd with Arms and Flowers by William Broome**
In the poem, //To Belinda, On her Apron embroider’d with Arms and Flowers// by William Broome he seems to address the poem to a girl of his affections. He begins his poem by praising Belinda, “But you express a Pow’r more great, the Flowr’s you draw not, but create” (31). Here, he is talking about the power that she has, and in rather, flowery language; no pun intended. He then comments on her beauty, “And smile beneath your radiant Eyes! ‘Tis beauteous all” (31)! Bloom then goes on to describe the flower/arms design on her apron. He is both attracted to and repelled from the image, and describes it as, “ a dreadful pleasing Sight” (31)! To emphasize this attraction and repulsion, he writes, “The Flow’rs with lively Beauty bloom, The Arms denounce an instant doom” (31). Bloom’s poem covers this dichotomy of attraction and disgust. I could not help but compare this poem to Alexander Pope’s //The Rape of the Lock//, and not only because both authors center their text around a girl named Belinda, but also because of similar themes I see between the two. Pope presents the character of Belinda as “artficializing herself and ornamenting herself” with makeup, which is similar to what poets did during this time, except that they did this through their words.(Class Notes) Poets would add flowery, decorative words to improve their poems, which is similar to what Bloom does in this poem. For example, at the beginning of the poem he uses all this flowery language to simply compliment Belinda, “The listening Trees Amphion drew/ To dance from Hills, where once they grew; But you express a Pow’r more great, the Flowr’s you draw not, but create” (31).

Broome, William. “To Belinda, On her Apron embroider’d with Arms and Flowers.” //Eighteenth Century Collections Online// (1727):31.Web. 10 Dec. 2012. “David Garrick.” //Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition// (2011):1.Web. 10 Dec. 2012 Goodwill, Jasper. “The Ladies magazine: or, The universal entertainer.” British Periodicals (1749-1753). Web. 10 Dec. 2012. “Kitty Clive.” //Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,6th Edition// (2011):1.Web. 10 Dec. 2012. “Peg Woffington.” //Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,6th Edition// (2011):1. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
 * Works Cited**