Harper's Round Table, September 22, 1896

A portal to 1896, this single issue of Harper's legendary weekly for young readers offers a charming time capsule of late Victorian childhood. Within these pages, young readers would have found exactly what turn-of-the-century American families treasured: illustrated adventure tales, curious scientific tidbits, and the kind of gentle whimsy that defined an era's understanding of childhood wonder. The collection features Evelyn Sharp's delightful "Wymps," which introduces readers to Lady Daffany and her mischievous magical companion, a story that has outlasted its century with remarkable grace. Other pieces blend instruction and entertainment, reflecting the period's belief that learning should be joyful. For collectors of children's literature, historians of childhood, or anyone curious about what occupied young minds before cinema, this issue serves as both artifact and entertainment. It captures a moment when magazines spoke directly to children with respect and affection, offering stories that move at the unhurried pace of gaslight evenings.