The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-05-18
BOOKS AND WRITER'S.
Washington Critic.

More and more come to the desk of the reviewer
books having the Chicago imprint. They are, q
rule, paper covered, but many of them are good,
and there comes occasionally publication pre-
tentious in the matter Of binding and notable In
quality and name of author any printed any
where. The substance of II all Ii that Chicago La
coming rapidly to the front publishing center,
and Is becoming, naturally, one OF the literary Gen.
tiers as well. Some strong men in the world Of
letters men who have already done striking work.
and who will be better known with each year that
passes, are included In the Chicago group.
The personal character, the surroundings, the
particular style of effort of the Chicago literary
contingent should not be without interest No one
of the group, probably, Is better known than
Eugene Field Wonderfully versatile In his work.
writer of dainty verse; teller Of stories that touch
the heart and ruthless delineator of what Is the
weak or vicious trait in the pompous among Phil
istines IL was inevitable that he should make
reputation. The fact that he has had newspaper
column, In which to indulge his grotesque fancies,
the "Sharps and Flats" column of the Chicago
Netos has assisted greatly in securing for him the
recognition he deserves He has done work out
side the newspaper, but of this work the public
something which will make people say that there
is an American Hans Christian Andersen, Il will
be book of short stories by Eugene Field. He
may like other work he has in hand better, but
none will do more to make his fame where fame
counts for something.
Opie p. Read, of THE ARKANSAw TRAVELLER,
humorist, story teller, giant in figure and little
child over the beautiful, Is another Chicagoan
whose name may be q national possession. Who
has not read his story of Lien Gansett" has missed
reading one American novel which Is photograph
Of life in one part of the country and tale which
somehow reaches the heart. IL has man and wo-
man in 1t. When Theodore Winthrop died In bat
tie the man who might have been the American
novelist went down There have been scores of
American novels so called, written aimee then, but
save one or two reminders In the work Of De-
Forrsst-nothing until Opie Read began to write
which even suggested the outdoor American vr-
ility of "John Brent" the real American whom we
recognize with his love affair.
John McGovern, editorial writer on the Chicago
Herald, has written novel, strong one, but of
the city purely, in "John Trentworthy." Meow
ern Is the Chicago Carlyle His sentences are like
stones from sling, his thoughts above precedent
Ingalls, Is in the United States senate. He Is stu
dent, has a brain, and is what, perhaps, the man
whose name Is used in the smile may not be-
a crusader. He must be heard from, for he is q
power naturally. On newspaper less bold and
just than the newspaper which he writes, in ITS
editorial tone he would be almost bull In china
shop. He Is at home where he Is, but there cannot
be his only field.
E. j. McPhelim, dramatic critic of the Chicago
Tribune, Is one of the Chicago writers who should
do more work for the magazines. He can do won
dsrfnl work-a choice poem, review which will
command attantion, q dramatic story-when he
cares to do So but he doesn't often care to do 3d.
Scourged, he would make a name swiftly.
A young man who Is just winning place among
verse writers Is Ernest McGaffey, q young attor-
ney, who, when not In his Office or In court Ia In
the country with rod or dog and gun He has
contributed verses and short sketches which have