1864-08-21-New York Times-Literary Gossip

Literary Gossip

New York Times, 21 August 1864, pg. 5, col. 4

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-- Though complaints are often made of the scarcity of American humorous writings, it is certainly not the want of encouragement that keeps back this branch of the Belles Lettres. Among publishers Mr. G.W. CARLETON and Messrs. PETERSON & BROTHER seem to have made it their specialite, and with very satisfactory results to themselves, Messrs. PETERSON's Library of American Humor embraces some twenty-five volumes, including the western scenes and stories, and is eagerly bought at home and abroad, foreigners finding in it more true characterization of the real American life of the forest, the prairie and the wilderness than in any other source. Mr. CARLETON's new book, by "Artemus Ward," on the Mormons, is ordered largely in advance, and forms a companion to the Squibob, Orpheus C. Kerr, Miles O'Reilly, Doesticks, and other books from the same publisher, that have afforded a pleasant and harmless recreation to thousands, at a time when the horrors of war needed all the alleviation possible.

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