Page:The Story of the House of Cassell (book).djvu/158

 radical change there came an end to its vicissitudes, and before long it had firmly re-established its old position as one of the first favourites of the magazine public.

The inception of the Quiver was John Cassell's, and its name came to him in a flash of inspiration. During his American tour he conceived the idea of a periodical which should supply Sunday reading for the family, and straightway entered into the multifarious details of character, contents, and production. On his return he was ready and eager to realize his purpose. Previous to his departure, in 1859, he had himself conducted the editorial columns of the Family Paper, but during his absence this task was entrusted to Mr. Petter, and the senior partner was glad that the arrangement should continue now that his mind was full of the new project. Miile travelling through the States he had noticed in almost every household a semi-religious magazine for Sunday reading, containing much religious matter of a reflective kind, leavened with attractive stories. That there was ample room in England for such a magazine he was instinctively convinced. "If it prospers," he said to a friend, "I shall have done some good."

The first vital point was to discover a title. "Cassell's Sunday Readings" was suggested, but was excluded because it suggested 'clippings' rather than original matter. "The Sunday Friend" and many others were written down, but none satisfied him. One morning, however, as he came into the office, he exclaimed: "I have got the title, the Quiver—a case for arrows, and we can have long arrows and short arrows—arrows, however, which shall wing their flight and tell their tale, all coming from this quiver of ours." Thus the new periodical was baptized, and as the Quiver it went forth.

The first number appeared on September 7, 1861. It was a twenty-four-page penny magazine, set in small type and without illustrations. No word of introduction accompanied the first issue, but an advertisement of the