The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-04-06
BOOKS AND WRITERS.

Within the last year two periodicals have
gradually taken possession of two new
fields in the United States, and each has
occupied the ground so well as to attract
general attention and admiration and to be
come successful In business way. Each
has won by sheer merit and originality.
These two publications are "America" and
"Current Literature" The first Is the
weekly magazine published In Chicago, the
second the monthly reprint magazine pub
lished In New York.
OF "Americs" It may be said that the pnb-
licationis rightly named. Added TO Its quail
ties in general literary way--and its list OF
contributors will compare favorably with
that Of any other periodicals. is con
Quoted with regard to the propagation Of
the American idea, and IL is as able in this
respect as It is daring. It Is just, but fear
less, and has thus, as the exponent of an
idea, acquired curious feature OF political
strength not often appcrtaining to literary
publication. In the hands Of some OF the
ablest Of writers, practical men, with abun-
dant capital, "Amerlca," at first novelty,
looked upon with more curiosity than hope
by the literary world, has become power
and q success. The magazine, by the way,
has just changed its form and added some
new features, one of which is weekly car
toon by Thomas Mast, who has been In
duced TO come from hls retirement and dis
play again those powers which, in one class
OF work, made him famous.
In "Current Literature'' the newspaper
men Of the country have found magazine
they have long counted as among the pos
abilities, though not among the probabili-
ties. The literary people generally have
doubtless thought and felt the same, though
not realizing as much as journalists the
| difficulties in the way Of making the publi-
cation what 1t should be. "Current Liter
ature" is an illustration Of editing Of the
highest class. It entered field open to
all, one often entered bunglingly, and the
spell of ill-luck which followed such ven
| lures In the past has been removed. Taste,
tact, the gift of ingenuity of arrangement
and invention Of attractive special features
have combined to make the publication one
| which has become to thousands almost a
necessity. 1t is the best monthly periodical
| Of its kinda collection Of the best things
lever printed In any country. 1t is al.
ways interesting, meriting, by common con
sent, even this superlative praise. The
name of the individual who is responsible
| for the general character Of the editing OF
"Current Literature should be more
| widely known.
From Lee & Shepard, Publishers, Boston
| AN HouR WITH DELsARTE, Study o.
Expression. BY Anna Morgan. Illus
trated by Rose Muellersprague aud
Marian Reynolds. Handsomely bound
in CLOTH with embossed cover.
The purpose of this interesting volume is
to topopularize the study of the possibility OF
adding strength and expression to our
movements as well as grace and ease, and
the author, aided by the very complet,
full-page plates Of the artists, has done
much toward accomplishing that purpose
| A technical subject has been made simple
and It's reading is q pleasure, not an effort
Mrs. Morgan herself has achieved wide
reputation as teacher Of the art she here
explains, and is, both East and West, ar
accepted authority.
From the Minerva Publishing Co., New
| York:
JUDAS IsoARoT, An Old Type in a New
Form. Paper, price, 80 pieces of copper
This is No. q Of the Minerva Library, ani
is a continuation Of the attacks on the Jews
Issued by this company. To those who dt
not love the jew, this work will be inter
esting, but the fact that 1t is written In tn,
cowardly manner Of the anonymous autho
| iisarms it.