LOVE AND BE LOVED - AN AGE OLD ADAGE IN MAGAZINES OF THE PAST

I'm currently researching the world of magazines, specifically linked to women readers in bygone times.  For writers who enjoy studying the past, one 'magazine' which is considered the very first, was THE LADIES' MERCURY published by John Dunton in 1693.  His first issue was published in London and was a spin-off of the Athenian Mercury which had been the very first periodical published and specifically designed for women in mind.

Dunton's magazine  was designed to appeal to both sexes, but of course, received tremendous interest from male readers, too.   His  Mercury dealt with all kinds of topics and ideas, such as religion, science, marriage and sex, and lastly 'love' which particularly endeared him and his magazine to females.Marriage was at the forefront of probably every young person's mind in centuries' past and Dunton used this theme continually, knowing this would particularly attract the female of our species.  He began devoting the first Tuesday of each month to this topic only. It would be a few more years before other journals of this nature would appear in London.