Children’s Magazine as an Interactive Project, or the Mailbox in Mauritius Wolff’s “Zadushevnoye Slovo”

Abstract

The article provides a thematic, structural and comparative analysis of the section “Mailbox” of the children’s magazine “Zadushevnoye slovo” (Sincere Word) (1876—1918, publisher M. Wolff). The texts reviewed represent an important and informative source on the history of everyday life and the history of childhood. The paper identifies the following forms of interaction between the editorial board and its readers: publication of letters with stories about family, favorite toys, travels, etc.; children’s questions and answers addressed to each other; entertaining tasks and their solutions; “prize” competitions (drawings, opinion essays), followed by sending out prize books and publication of winners’ names; questionnaires; personal appeals. The editorial board declared “developing the ability of children to express their thoughts and feelings correctly and coherently” as the aim of the column. The “answers and advice” section helped children to improve their writing skills; the framework provided a certain canon for communication. Being interactive, “Mailbox” stimulated interest in the magazine, attracted readers and increased the number of regular subscribers. However, its evaluation by literary critics and educators was and often remains negative.