[Editor: This inaugural editorial was published in The Lone Hand (Sydney, NSW), May 1907 (the first issue of the magazine).]
The Lone Hand
The Editor’s uneasy chair.
As an essay in a new path The Lone Hand does not propose to devote precious pages to glowing announcements of what it is going to do in the future. But this much may be said. This, the initial number, will be the poorest, and each following number will show an improvement. All that enterprise can do will be done to retain the interest of our readers. To get new features, not to “puff” them, will engage our energies.
In the advertising sections at the beginning and end of this volume — the proper place for such announcements — will be found many interesting notices to readers and contributors. To neglect to read them will be to neglect many chances of profit: for various prizes are offered. There is a chance of £10 for you if you are a good reader; of £25 if you are a good writer; and many others. See the advertisements for particulars. Also see the other advertisements for their excellence; a serious effort has been made to keep from The Lone Hand columns all objectionable and doubtful business notices.
Alfred Vincent, the distinguished Australian artist, well known to all Bulletin readers, has been commissioned by The Lone Hand to travel through Asia on its behalf and picture its humorous features. Asia hasn’t yet been approached from the comedy standpoint by any artist of standing. Vincent’s pictures should make some interesting pages. Miss Eugenia Stone (“Tryphena” of the Bulletin) is also going abroad (to Europe) seeking impressions for The Lone Hand.
The Lone Hand wishes to be a helping hand to its readers. The Editor invites inquiries on all subjects, literary, dramatic, musical, artistic. If you want to know anything that is of public interest, The Lone Hand will do its best to investigate and inform. Ask about anything and everything.
Correspondence is particularly invited in regard to frauds, or supposed frauds, on the public health. The Lone Hand has for its political platform an Honest, Clean, White Australia.
The June number will continue the vitally interesting memoirs of J. F. Archibald. These memoirs, without question, form the most remarkable human document yet published in Australia.
A sensational series of stories, “The Secrets of a Prime Minister,” will be opened. The author, whose identity cannot be disclosed, using incidents partly fictional, partly true, discloses much of the back-stair intrigues of Australian politics. Short stories by Ethel Turner, G. B. Lancaster, Albert Dorrington, Howard Ashton and others, may be also announced.
All the “stock” features will be kept to their present standard of strength. The Lone Hand is happy in having the exclusive services of two of the best Parisian journalists to keep it informed of literary and art movements on the European Continent.
The Editor hopes that this number will meet with the approval of its readers. He assures them of a better issue next month, and begs that they will send to the office their frank opinions on The Lone Hand. Criticisms, suggestions, praise, blame, from all sources invited.
Source:
The Lone Hand (Sydney, NSW), May 1907, p. xxi
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