The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-02
CURRENT PERIODICALS.

American Homes, the little magazine de-
voted to planning. building and beautify-
ing the home" contains in its April num-
Der some architectural plans for attractive
published at Knoxville. Tenn.
The Easter number of the Clack Book
Lansing. Mich.) is quite an ambitious at
fair. and for a miniature magazine con-
tains a surprising variety of literature,
much of it of admirable quality. Among
the contributors are George w. Cable, Clin-
ton Scollard, John Kendrick Bangs, Edgar
Fawcett. Emma Carleton and Maurice
Thompson.
Under the editorial management of MIR.
Gable. Current Literature shows some new
features, among others the Editors Sym
posium'-a discussion of literary matters in
the opening pages of the magazine. Busy
people who can devote but little time TO the
periodicals find in this a comprehensive
ummary of the work of writer's of the day,
with the choicest bits set forth in full.
"A Child of the Ghetto" by L. Zangwill,
in the current Cosmopolis, is an incident
of Jewish life told with such power and
skill that it fixes itself in the memory as
one of the few things likely to remain in
this day of literary hoods. 1T is a striking
of this magazine especially worthy of at
tention Is the series of literary recollec-
tons contributed by Max Muller.
The bicycle of the year 81 forms the
subject of an illustrated article in Cooley
for April. all the new fancies, fixtures and
improvements being described pic-orially
and otherwise. Sense in Rose
Culture is the title of a practical paper by
Eben +. Rexford. "Woman's Work in
Prison Reform and The Development of
the Reed Organ are other topics discussed.
An editorial review of a new edition of a
book by the late Bill Nye includes an esti-
mate of the humorist's work as a whole
and his rank in American literature. which
is at once sympathetic, appreciative and
just. "Nye's wit, :" says the writer in con-
clusion. lis diluted with hopeless journal
ism.' and yet il has the good qualities of
journalism. an up-to-dateness that the an
tipodal Walter Pater called the beauty of
the transitory.' Some of Nye's writings
are the best things of their sort ever done
by our people. His contributions to the
history of the country ought to live. And
the country. though II may not yet have
given the world anything else distinctively
national. has certainly developed its own
school of humor.'
Norman Hapgood, in discussing in the
Bookma the relations of the newspaper
reporter to literature, points out certain
dangers of mental and moral deterioration
to which the reporter is subject. but sees
also the more cheerful outlook: Although
the dark side is easiest to see and easiest to
state. he says. 1.-THE hopeful side exists
for the man who is strong enough to take
the opportunities and reject the tempta-
tions. Even on our worst papers are a
few men who use intelligently not only
their opportunities for observation, but
their opportunities for good action. TIL re-
porter sees men daily in critical situations.
in the first despair of business disgrace or
of personal bereavement, in the flush of
sudden success and in accident. and If his
interest in human nature be deep enough
and clear enough, each interview may in
form and strengthen him fundamentally.
He sees also where the needs OF the city
are: he has more facts, if he wishes them.
than most men; and if he have public
sonal power he could hardly AVE a more
favorable aid TO effective work. At least
one reporter in this town has done an
enormous amount for political and social
Improvement. and equal opportunities lie
before all. He is one of the few men who
are proud of the name of reporter. who
are impressed by their duties TO the public
and the possibilities of their own lives, and
who influence their papers more than they
are influenced by them"