Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-11-25
| lust Between
Yourselves
BY Philib II. Lone

Comics, as you know, are not
necessarily comical. In fact, in re-
cent years the trend in comics has
been in just the opposite direction
toward Observation-Disclosures adven-
ture that makes the fashioned
dime novel seem like nursery stuff
in comparison.
The comics published in news
papers have, for the most part,
maintained fairly high standard
of quality. Some have even achieved
a definite educational value. Three
in this class that come to mind i'm
mediately are High Lights of His
tory" which was a popular feature
of The Stars comic pages until the
artist, j. Carroll Mansfield, retired !;
Famous Fiction" still a Star fea-
ture, and True Comics" which, I'M
fortunately. will make its last ap-
pearance next Sunday.
1t is in the field of comic books
that the Observation-Disclosures has
been carried to such fantastic
lengths as to alarm many parents
and educators. These publications
which are neither comics" nor
books" in any generally accepted
meanings of the terms, enjoy news
stand sales running into the mil
lions and their producers are con-
stantly dreaming up new and
Weirder titles
Now, however, there seems to be
new trend in the comic book field
"a wholesome, educational trend
for which parents and teachers
should be thankful. How long it
will continue is, of course, anybody s
guess: but while it lasts it ought to
prove very good thing, indeed.
Signs of this new trend are to be
found in two books that came te
my attention last week, Picture
Stories From the Bible" (25 cents
and Picture Stories From American
History 90 cents, both published by
Educational Comics, Inc.
No doubt you will be somewhat
shocked at first, as was, to find the
word comics" associated with any.
thing pertaining to Holy Scripture
But, on second thought, you prob.
ably will realize that the term has
come to mean any kind of story
told through drawings, and that
the publisher intends no disrespect
AS a matter of fact, Picture
Stories From the Bible" is in good
taste throughout and carries in
dorsements from nearly dozen re-
ligious leaders. 1t pictures the ma
jor events in the life of Jesus, as
recorded in the Gospels of Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John (St. James
version and should be Of value to
Sunday school students. Don Cam
eron is the artist.
x X
Picture Stories From American
History" with art work by Allen
Simon. covers the period of dis
covery and exploration, and three
later volumes will carry on from
there. Also in preparation are pic
ture Stories From Science" "Pic-
ture Stories From Shakespeare
Picture Stories From Mythology
and Picture Stories From Natural
Science" If the forthcoming books
are as good as the two current ones
the publishers will have rendered
a worthwhile service to parents
and educators as well as to boys and
girls.
X X X X
Central High School is represented
in Young Voices" described by its
publishers, Harper g. Bros, as "a
new book of the best student writ
ing of the last quarter century
1t is an anthology of short stories
essays and poems which have won
prizes in Scholastic Magazines an
nual contests. The Washington
school is represented by a poem
written by Charlotte Davis in 1941.